We've all been told time and time again that drinking water is good for our health. That’s right, plain old H2O can help give your metabolism a boost and keep your hunger at bay. Staying hydrated is essential for overall well-being and can play a significant role in weight management. This article explores the benefits of drinking water for weight loss and delves into the potential advantages of using copper and hydrogen water bottles as part of your hydration strategy.
The Power of Hydration: How Water Aids Weight Loss
Drinking adequate water may help people lose weight. Researchers are still unsure why drinking more water helps a person to lose weight, but many studies show some positive correlation between increased water consumption and weight loss. Here are several ways in which water can contribute to weight loss:
Appetite Suppression and Satiety
When the stomach senses that it is full, it sends signals to the brain to stop eating. Water can take up space in the stomach, leading to a feeling of fullness and reducing hunger. A person may also think they are hungry when they are actually thirsty. Drinking a glass of water before reaching for something to eat can help curb unnecessary snacking.
Boosting Metabolism and Calorie Burning
Some research indicates that drinking water can help to burn calories. Water may also temporarily increase the body’s resting energy expenditure or the number of calories burned while resting. Drinking cold water may further enhance water’s calorie-burning benefits because the body expends energy, or calories, by heating up the water for digestion.
Your metabolism is like an internal engine, and revving it up through exercise helps burn unwanted calories and fat. One of the best things you can do is to always have a water bottle or tumbler with you. If that’s not enough, set reminders on your phone. Try setting them for times when a drink break would be logical - such as before meals or in the late afternoon - as our bodies tend to naturally dehydrate as the day progresses.
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Waste Removal and Detoxification
When the body is dehydrated, it cannot correctly remove waste as urine or feces. Water helps the kidneys to filter toxins and waste while retaining essential nutrients and electrolytes. When the body is dehydrated, the kidneys retain fluid. Dehydration can also result in hard or lumpy stools and constipation. Water keeps waste moving by softening or loosening hardened stools. Water also helps the body to recover from digestive problems, such as diarrhea and indigestion. When waste builds up in the body, people may feel bloated, swollen, and tired.
Fat Metabolism and Lipolysis
Without water, the body cannot properly metabolize stored fat or carbohydrates. The process of metabolizing fat is called lipolysis. The first step of this process is hydrolysis, which occurs when water molecules interact with triglycerides (fats) to create glycerol and fatty acids. Drinking enough water is essential for burning off fat from food and drink, as well as stored fat.
Enhancing Exercise Performance
One of the most important components of any weight loss plan is exercise. Water helps muscles, connective tissues, and joints to move correctly. It also helps the lungs, heart, and other organs to work effectively as they ramp up activity during exercise. Being hydrated reduces the risk of things that can get in the way of a good workout, such as muscle cramps and fatigue. Always drink water before, during, and after exercise to avoid dehydration.
Substituting High-Calorie Beverages
A dramatic reduction in calorie intake by substituting water for higher-calorie beverages could certainly lead to long-term weight loss. While it's hard to design a study to prove this, indirect evidence suggests a link between substituting water for high-cal beverages and weight loss.
In addition to water, smoothies and juices are a great way to stay hydrated and get the carbs, proteins, antioxidants, and healthy fats needed to power a workout.
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Daily Water Intake Recommendations
There is no standard recommendation for how much water to drink. Some people require more or less water, depending on a variety of factors, including:
- Activity level
- Age
- Body size
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Sun exposure
- Health status
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests estimates for the total water required daily. Most people get around 20% of their required fluid intake from food. The table below shows estimates of how many cups of water males and females need per day from food and drinks combined and from drinks alone.
It is important to note that some beverages can be dehydrating, so do not count toward a person’s daily fluid intake. Examples include sugar-sweetened and alcoholic beverages.
Practical Tips to Increase Water Intake
The following tips can help to increase water intake:
- Drink at least one 8-ounce glass of water with each meal.
- Carry water in a reusable water bottle.
- Drink extra water when exercising or during physical activity.
- Drink extra water when it is warm, humid, or very sunny.
- Keeping a glass of water near the bed.
- Eat more soups and liquid-rich meals, such as curries, stews, and smoothies.
- Eat fruits and vegetables with high water contents, especially berries, grapes, melons, tomatoes, celery, cucumbers, and lettuce.
Exploring the Benefits of Copper Water Bottles
The usage of copper vessels for storing food and water and for cooking has been prevailing in India for a long time. The bright yet pale and pinkish-orange metal is popularly known for its extremely high heat conduction. And copper is broadly used as jewellery, crockery, construction materials, decorative art, etc. Copper tends to wear a tarnished texture whenever it is exposed to air. In the latter 1860s, it was publicised that copper remarkably contributes to our immune system. Copper hosts a plethora of antimicrobial properties that deliberately eliminates numerous fungi, bacteria, and viruses. When you store drinking water in copper vessels, it efficiently undergoes the oligodynamic effect. Apart from killing highly resistant microbes, copper water has fascinating medicinal properties. You would probably not know that the copper bottle health benefits are endless. And amongst them, losing weight is the most prominent factor. In fact, what could be greater than losing weight just by drinking sufficient water regularly? But did you know that storing water in copper bottle benefits your overall health and also helps you lose weight? Yes, it does. It’s mainly because copper-infused water possesses the unique characteristics of cleansing the digestive tract. On the other hand, copper also works as a natural detoxifying agent that helps in cleaning your entire system. As our environment is getting extremely polluted with every passing day, it’s high time we pay heed to hygiene. Store water in copper utensils that can stay fresh and cold for a significantly longer time.
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Antioxidant Properties
Storing water in copper bottles is a remarkable source of antioxidants. And these antioxidants have proved to combat all the free radicals which are responsible for stimulating cancer cells. So whenever you are exposed to the sun's harmful rays, make sure you consume copper water.
Cardiovascular Health
Copper plays a huge role in regulating cholesterol levels and triglycerides in the blood and also maintaining blood pressure. But if a person is diagnosed with copper deficiency in their early childhood, they’re likely to develop hypotension.
Iron Absorption
The protein molecule within the red blood cells plays a pivotal role in the body's functioning. However, a significant lack of haemoglobin might also cause anaemia. But studies have revealed that copper water can typically help in breaking down the food we consume. And that’s how it promotes better absorption of iron into the body.
Bone Health
Chronic conditions, like osteoporosis, can significantly cause extensive pain in the bones and joints. So consuming sufficient water in copper bottles is very likely to cure this chronic condition.
Antimicrobial Properties
Copper is a truly beneficial mineral that exudes the properties of a natural antibiotic. And when the metal comes in contact with the harmful microbes in water, it immediately destroys them. Storing water in copper bottles for at least 8 hours will eliminate all the bacteria in the water.
Heart Health
It is believed that a significant lack of copper within our body can deliberately cause deposits of plaque. Nevertheless, copper deficiency also has the potency to weaken your heart muscles. Sometimes, it might also reduce the ejection fraction and typically react to stress. Thus, cardiologists usually recommend cardiac patients incorporate copper water into their diet.
Wound Healing
Whether it is in the form of a mineral or metal, copper is antimicrobial and antibacterial in nature. So when anyone experiences a severe or small injury, it’s recommended to cleanse the affected area with copper water.
Brain Function
The brain is regarded as the most vital organ of the human nervous system. Most importantly, the majority of brain functions depend on several factors, such as stress-free life, healthy habits, etc. Several studies have also revealed that consuming copper water can simulate the functioning of the body.
Skin Health
Owing to the fascinating benefits of copper, this metal has become an integral part of beauty products. It’s mainly because of the natural antioxidant properties of copper.
Potential Side Effects of Copper Water
While looking into the copper water bottle benefits, the side effects cannot be overlooked. Remember that consuming excessive copper water can eventually lead to copper poisoning. Thus, you might experience vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, etc. Nevertheless, proponents of copper water consumption suggest you limit copper water intake to 3x710 ml per day.
Hydrogen Water: An Emerging Hydration Trend
Hydrogen water is regular water that's been enhanced with molecular hydrogen gas, known as H2. Hydrogen is a tasteless, colorless, odorless gas that can combine with other elements, such as oxygen. Regular water is made up of three atoms: One oxygen and two hydrogen. That's why you see water called "H2O." Hydrogen is said to have certain benefits. The theory is that adding the extra H2 to water will improve your health. The research thus far on hydrogen water's health benefits is limited. Manufacturers sometimes sell hydrogen water bottled with the gas already added to it. You also can buy systems to make hydrogen water at home, similar to the products that carbonate regular water.
Potential Health Benefits of Hydrogen Water
Scientists believe there may be some benefits to drinking hydrogen water. But many aren’t sure they’re greater than those of regular water. Staying hydrated in general is a great way to stay healthy. Many medical experts agree that more research is needed to discover or verify any advantages of hydrogen water. Based on early studies, the following are potential health benefits:
- Reduce side effects of radiation therapy: One study of 49 people with liver cancer showed that drinking hydrogen-rich water for 6 weeks during radiation therapy could improve quality of life during treatment.
- Improve athletic performance: Hydrogen water is said to increase energy, reduce inflammation, and reduce recovery times after workouts.
- Prevent disease: Hydrogen water may contain antioxidants. Antioxidants help prevent oxidative stress.
- Treat COVID-19: Hydrogen water showed potential in the treatment of COVID-19.
- Fight metabolic syndrome: A few studies have looked at how hydrogen water might work against metabolic syndrome, which plays a role in heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
- Help people on dialysis: A few studies have shown that hydrogen water may help people who are getting dialysis for kidney disease.
- Treat cancer: Hydrogen water showed anti-cancer properties in one study involving colorectal cancer.
- Aid mental health: A study of cancer patients found that those treated with hydrogen water had less anxiety and improved mood.
- Improve liver function: In studies of people with hepatitis B and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, treatment with hydrogen water improved liver function and reduced the amount of fat stored in the liver.
Potential Risks of Hydrogen Water
Experts don’t believe there are any risks to drinking hydrogen water. But they’re not sure if its benefits are greater than those of normal water, or of staying hydrated in general. Drinking too much water poses the risk of hyponatremia. This occurs when your kidneys can’t get rid of excess water and the sodium content in your blood is diluted. Hyponatremia can be life-threatening. But you need to drink a lot of water for hyponatremia to occur. Usually, only athletes doing intense exercise are at risk.
Detox Water: A Refreshing Hydration Alternative
Detox water is water that has been infused with the flavors of fresh fruits, vegetables, or herbs. It’s sometimes referred to as fruit-infused water or fruit-flavored water. Because it’s made by infusing flavor, rather than juicing or blending, detox water contains very few calories. That makes it a popular drink for detox regimens like the “lemon water detox.” Detox water is also often recommended in weight loss plans, especially in place of high-sugar drinks like soda and fruit juice.
How to Make Detox Water
Making detox water at home is very simple. All you need is water and a selection of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Simply chop your ingredients and add them to hot or cold water, depending on your preference. The more of an ingredient you use, the stronger the flavor will become. Crushing or bruising fruits and herbs can help release more of their flavors. If you’re making a cold drink, you can leave the detox water in the fridge for 1 to 12 hours to allow the flavors to infuse more deeply. Be sure to remove the ingredients after this time, though, so they don’t begin to decompose.
Benefits of Detox Water
Drinking detox water could help you lose weight, improve your digestive health, and make you happier. However, it’s worth noting that you’ll also get all these benefits from drinking regular water.
- Helps with weight loss: Drinking water may help you lose weight, and this applies to detox water too. Water has been shown to temporarily raise your metabolic rate, so you burn more calories.
- Improves digestive health: Hydration is important for digestive health and maintaining regular bowel movements.
- Improves mood and energy levels: Even mild dehydration can affect mood, concentration, and energy levels.