Water is given prime importance when it comes to consumption by the body to survive. And rightly so. Since, water has myriad benefits. “Stay Hydrated” is a default health advice that you will see in multiple lifestyle articles.
Water is very closely associated with weight loss as well. Multitudes of explanations are available on the internet as to why drinking lots of water will aid you in your weight loss journey. But have you ever fact-checked these claims about the one thing you drink the most during the day. If not, then we are here to present you some facts and bust some myths associated with water.
WATER AND WEIGHT LOSS:
Let’s address the elephant in the room first. Some people drink water like it’s the antidote to weight gain. Well, it is not true that water helps in weight loss.
Water does not have any weight loss property. Water only acts as a medium for those herbs and condiments that, when taken with water, can influence your weight positively.
THE MORE, THE BETTER:
Well, this is not true for anything, even if it is said in the context of water. Drinking too much water can drastically lower your sodium levels, which can prove to be fatal. This particular phenomenon is known as hyponatremia or water toxicity.
THIRSTY DOES NOT MEAN DEHYDRATED:
Another misconception is related to thirst. People generally think that they are dehydrated. Thirst is a wrong measure for dehydration. Sometimes, the fluid level in the body drops by 4 percent before you even realize that you are thirsty. If you really want to see if you are drinking enough fluids, then you should notice the color of your urine.
THE ‘8 GLASSES OF WATER’ ADVICE:
Similar to the more, the merrier concept, many people abide by the advice of drinking 8 glasses of water every day. Although it might work for some, hydration levels are different for everybody. It varies on the basis of a person’s activity level, health, and diet.
WATER AND APPETITE:
Water is a great appetite killer. During the weight loss journey, a person is advised to drink water before meals so that their portion is reducing. Doing this, you will automatically consume fewer calories. Is bottled water better for you than tap? Or should you choose vitamin-enriched water over sparkling? Experts say, skip it all. None of these products are likely to make you any healthier. Below, we look at five major myths about the benefits of drinking water. But first, how do you know if you're drinking enough water? Experts say there's an easy way to judge. If you're not thirsty, your fluid intake is likely "just right."
Drink Eight Glasses Each Day:
Scientists say there's no clear health benefit to chugging or even sipping water all day. So where does the standard advice of drinking eight glasses each day come from? "Nobody really knows," says Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, a kidney expert at the University of Pennsylvania.
Drinking Lots of Water Helps Clear Out Toxins:
The kidneys filter toxins from our bloodstreams. Then the toxins clear through the urine. The question is, does drinking extra water each day improve the function of the kidneys? "No," says Goldfarb. "In fact, drinking large amounts of water surprisingly tends to reduce the kidney's ability to function as a filter. It's a subtle decline, but definite."
Lots of Water Equals Healthier Skin:
The body is already 60 percent water. So, if you take a 200-pound man, he's 120 pounds of water. Adding a few extra glasses of water each day has limited effect. "It's such a tiny part of what's in the body," says Goldfarb. "It's very unlikely that one's getting any benefit." His full editorial is published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. One study published in 2007 on the cosmetic benefit of drinking water suggests that 500 ml of water increases capillary blood flow in the skin. "But it's unclear whether these changes are clinically significant," says Goldfarb.
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