Drinking water before each meal has been shown to help promote weight loss, according to a study from Virginia Tech. If you’re looking to lose weight, drinking 8-ounce glasses of water before meals can help you feel more full and help you eat more mindfully during meals.
The study was discussed on WebMD. It looked at water consumption as an effective weight loss strategy. It found that patients in their middle aged and older who drank two cups of water before a meal at 75 to 90 fewer calories during a meal.
If these patients substituted all drinks throughout the day with water, they were less likely to retain water weight and they lost weight more effectively.
It is said that to lose weight through diet alone, you need to cut your calorie intake by 500 calories a day. By the end of a week, you will cut enough calories to lose 1-2 pounds. Many people can achieve this simply by replacing high calorie drinks like juice, soda, and sports drinks with water. If you’re really after something that tastes good, consider unsweetened iced tea or a squeeze of lemon or lime in your water, just for variety.
If you’re craving foods, have a glass of water before heading to the fridge. While we think our bodies are craving food, we’re really just dehydrated! If you’re keeping a diet journal, try and replace those mid-day snacks with a glass of water instead. Also, note down when and how much water you’re drinking during the day. You should be having a 8 to 10 8oz. servings to stay hydrated and healthy!