H2O Diet

Water is an aspect of the diet that many people ignore, consciously or unconsciously. When the pounds are being stubborn to lose, water is going to be the answer. The diet soda with zero calories has consequences with the weight loss. Contrary to popular belief hydrating your body is essential, not only for losing weight but for living a better, cleaner, more productive life.

Lack of water can lead to over eating. So, when you think you are feeling hungry, your body may in fact be signaling to you that you are thirsty. If you are not consuming enough water each day and you feel hunger pains, chances are, your body really is crying out for water. Foods have some concentration of water, in many instances people will find what they thought were hunger pangs were in fact, satisfied by water.

In the beginning of any diet regime water should be added to the top of the list as part of the weight loss process. During the first few days of drinking more water than your body is accustomed to, you’re running to the bathroom constantly. This can be very discouraging, and it can certainly interfere with an otherwise normal day at work. It seems that the water is coming out just as fast as it’s going in, and many people decide that their new hydration habit is fruitless. Listen to what your body is telling you, you need more water.

Hydrating the body will start process of urinating quite often, in most cases, literally every twenty minutes, Your body is flushing itself of the water it has been storing throughout all those years of “survival mode.”

Functions

The liver converts stored fat to energy. The liver has other functions, but this is one of its main jobs. Unfortunately, another of the liver’s duties is to pick up the slack for the kidneys, which need plenty of water to work properly. If the kidneys are water-deprived, the liver has to do their work along with its own, lowering its total productivity. It then can’t metabolize fat as quickly or efficiently as it could when the kidneys were pulling their own weight.

• Apart from 60-70% of your body being composed of water, water has an extensive range of functions essential to life.
• Assists digestion, absorption and assimilation of food. If you don’t drink enough water you can’t get the full benefit of nutrients in the food you eat.
• Assists excretion of waste from bowel and kidneys. If you don’t drink enough water you get constipated and put your kidneys under stress.
• Regulates body temperature. If you don’t drink enough water you compromise the evaporation process you skin uses to keep you cool.
• Your blood is 92% water. This is your body’s transport system distributing nutrients around the body.

How do you know if you are not getting enough water each day? This is a really important question because so many of us have deprived ourselves of water for years that we have become accustomed to doing without the full amount of water our body requires and we don’t recognize the symptoms of thirst.

The most common symptom is headaches. A major function of water is to flush toxins from the body. Your brain is 75% water, so even being slightly dehydrated can cause headaches.

Poor concentration/fatigue. If you body can’t get rid of the toxins it will struggle and you will feel less energetic as your body diverts energy to deal with the toxins.

Constipation. Your body will divert water to more essential functions and as a result your stools will be harder and more difficult to expel.

Reduced urine output or dark urine. Did you know that up to 200 liters of water is passed through your kidneys daily? Without a fresh supply of water for the kidneys to filter waste products out of the blood, your urine will become darker.

Furry tongue or bad breath. If you don’t have enough water passing through the mouth to wash away food particles, bacteria can proliferate and result in that “furry” feeling or bad breath.

Skin. Your skin should feel elastic. When you pinch the skin on the back of your hand it should snap back instantly.

You may notice, too, that your urine becomes a lighter color when you drink more water in a day. This is a good sign, it means you are keeping your kidneys healthy. Ideally, you want to be sure your urine is as clear as possible.

Caffeine

Yes, there seems to be a love affair with soft drinks and coffee that goes well beyond the normal average consumption. You don’t have to forgo soft drinks and coffee completely but it is wise to limit them, similarly your body will reward you.

Caffeine is a diuretic, and diuretics dehydrates. Caffeine may increase the heart rate, causing a few more calories to be burned, but this is at the expense of the muscles, which need water to function properly. This isn’t doing your heart any favors, either. It’s already working hard enough during your workout. Never mix caffeine and exercise. In fact, it is recommended that you start to hydrate yourself hours before the workout, increasing your stamina and intensity.

It has been estimated that 75% of American are not properly hydrated, helping increase the obesity rate. Water is the most simple solution to any diet program, it does not have to be prepared, its readily available, and can be prepared with some herbal teas for extra added benefits.