How Much Water Should You Drink a Day to Lose Weight Published on March 13th, 2013 Written by: Tony Schober I’ve seen water recommendations all over the map for weight loss. Some bodybuilders drink in excess of 2 gallons of water a day, while others think anything more than a half gallon is overkill. So who’s right? The Argument is Wrong From the Start First of all, trying to give a blanket water recommendation is impossible. People are eating different foods that have different impacts on liquid intake (many whole foods are very water dense), and they have a wide range of differences in physical activity. Yes, water is extremely important for weight loss and good health. However, it is not the end-all-be-all. Adding more water up and beyond what you need is not going to give you any added benefits. In fact, it can cause you more harm than good, as it can affect electrolyte balance. Focus on the Quality of Your Liquid Intake Just as how the quality of your food choices is what’s most important for health and body composition, the quality of your water intake is also what’s most important. You should be working towards eliminating the majority of your non-water liquid intake from your diet and replacing it with water. If 90% of your liquid intake isn’t water, that should be your primary goal. It’s time to get rid of the sodas and other sugary drinks, and start replacing them with water. Getting your liquid intake to 90% is one of the single best things you can do for your health and for losing weight. How Much Water Should You Drink? The Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board recommends a fluid intake of 91 ounces for women, and 125 ounces for men [1]. For men, this is about 1 gallon per day. Keep in mind that fluid intakes can be influenced by: Physical activity – the more active you are, the more fluids you will need. Temperature – when it’s hot outside your body will sweat and release fluids to cool itself. The hotter it is, the more fluids you will need. Carbohydrate – carbohydrates need water to form glycogen. If you eat a diet that is high in carbohydrates, your water requirements will increase. Food quality – the more whole foods you eat, the less water you will need. Most whole foods have a high water density, and up to 20% or more of your water intake can be gotten from simply eating whole foods. On the other hand, processed food increase the requirement for liquids. Drink When You Are Thirsty Your body is pretty good at telling you what you need. If you already have 90% of your liquid intake as water, then listening to your body is going to be your best bet. I drink a little more than a gallon of water a day, but I don’t force it. I have a 20 ounce glass of water with each of my 5 meals, and I might drink a couple more glasses during the day when I’m thirsty. Add in my liquid intake during my workout, and the water content from my food, and I’m probably around 150 ounces. And yes, I drink water exclusively. Water makes everything in your body work more efficiently. From fat loss to lubricating your nose, it is involved in every human function. Make sure you are staying hydrated, but don’t take a good thing and make it bad. Stay in touch with your body and don’t force it.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:07:24 +0000
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