We typically think of using water softeners and filters as means to stay hydrated – but have you ever considered that drinking water might help you lose weight?

Whenever I want to shed a few pounds (which, let’s be honest, is 99% of the time), I usually try counting calories, obsessing over my meals, and exercising. I drink water, but I never concentrated on it as a means to lose weight.  That’s all changed since I read about the new research done by the American Chemical Society.
 
Their study shows that drinking water can help you lose weight and keep it off for an extended period of time.  While dieters have always been encouraged to drink plenty of water to lose weight, this is the first comprehensive study that proves it. The data was presented in August at a conference in Boston, MA.

The research study consisted of 48 obese men and women between the ages of 55 and 75. All 48 participants were placed on a low calorie diet, but half of the group drank 16 ounces of water before consuming each meal.   Those who drank water lost an average of 15.5 pounds over three months, while those who didn’t drink water lost 11 pounds.  That’s an additional 4.5 pound weight loss just from drinking water – I’ll take it!

So why would drinking water enable you to lose more weight? Well, other than the fact that drinking water is a natural way to detox your body and get rid of bad stuff, it also fills up your stomach.  You’ll be less likely to overeat because you’ve already filled up on so much water.  On top of that, water can help replace calorie-laden drinks like sodas, juices, and alcoholic beverages.  Water = zero calories.  Another win!

The lead researcher in the study, Brenda Davy, Ph.D., recommends bringing a refillable water bottle with you everywhere.  Using a refillable water bottle will enable you to drink water all day long, plus you won’t be creating waste with plastic. I’d recommend that you use a refillable bottle that doesn’t have BPA (Bisphenol A), a toxic chemical that is used in the majority of plastics.  LifSource sells a BPA-free water bottle online, located here.

The easiest way to ensure that you’ll have great tasting water without the waste and hassle of bottled water is to have a whole house water filtration system. LifeSource’s system hooks up to the main water line in your home, so all the water from every faucet in your home is filtered.  This makes refilling your water bottle a piece of cake! For those of you who may not own a home, you can always get a countertop filtration system, as I suggested in my previous blog entry.

 Conclusion – drink healthy water, lose weight!