How Many Cups of Water Should You Drink a Day to Lose Weight?
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Eight Glasses of Water
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"The kidneys cannot function properly without enough water. When they do not work to capacity, some of their load is dumped on the liver," states ColonHealth.net. One of the liver's main functions is to use stored fat as energy. If the kidney has to do too much work, it will not burn fat efficiently.
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Water Through Food Sources
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According to Dr. Ben Kim's website, "If you eat plenty of foods that are naturally rich in water, such as vegetables, fruits, and cooked legumes and whole grains, you may not need to drink very much water at all." In fact, if you stay away from high sodium foods and salt your need to drink water to lose weight goes down even more. Follow your body's thirst signals and drink water when you need it.
Bottom Line
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If you sweat a lot, eat high sodium foods or consume caffeinated drinks that lead to dehydration, then you will need to drink eight 8 oz. glasses of water to lose weight. However, those that consume foods with a high water count can get away with drinking less. Listen to your bodies' thirst cues and choose water over high calorie, sugary drinks to lose weight.
References
- Photo Credit drinking water image by PaulPaladin from Fotolia.com
