Should I use water therapy for weight loss? What should I drink instead? I’ll answer these questions and many more about water therapy for weight loss in this article, so keep reading.
Water plays a vital role in maintaining general health and well-being. Drinking enough water helps us stay hydrated, keeps our skin looking fresh and youthful, flushes out toxins from our bodies, and aids digestion.
The human body consists of 60% water. Therefore drinking eight glasses of water daily is essential to detoxify your system. Drinking 2 liters of water daily will help you burn fat faster.
There is a lot to cover today, so let’s start with why drinking water helps you lose weight.
Does Water Therapy Work For Weight Loss?
Definitely yes! Most of us know the benefits of drinking water. It cleans your body, boosts metabolism, facilitates your workouts, and increases calorie burning, to name a few. It will help you feel fuller, making you less inclined to walk to the fridge for a snack.
Let’s Talk PH Levels
You may remember reading about pH when learning chemistry. You learned that water comprises two types of ions: anions and cations. These ions are negatively charged and positively charged, respectively. Anions attract electrons while cations repel them.
As a result, the overall charge of the solution is neutral. When the pH of a substance changes, the concentration of either type of ion increases or decreases. Fewer negative ions will be present if the amount of positive ions increases.
Conversely, if the concentration of negative ions increases, then the number of positive ions decreases.
So, what does all this mean for your drinking water? Your drinking water should have a neutral pH between 7 and 8. Water with a high pH level has a low concentration of hydrogen ions. Water with a low pH value has a high concentration of hydrogen ions. In other words, it is highly acidic.
That’s why I use a water purifier at home because I want to ensure that my drinking water always has the correct PH level.
And for your information: Most carbonated drinks contain between 94% and 96% water and hence have a pH between 2.5 and 3.5, making them highly acidic.
5 Reasons Why Drinking Water Helps You Lose Weight
1- It makes you feel full
When we get hungry, our bodies signal us to stop eating. Water helps fill the empty spaces inside our stomachs, giving us the feeling of being full.
We often feel hungry even though we are thirsty because thirst signals tell us that we need water.
When we drink a glass of water, we might not realize that we are already thirsty. If you notice yourself thinking about food at lunch, try drinking a glass of water first. You will feel less inclined to eat, which leads to weight loss.
2- Water cleans the body
When you drink water, your kidneys filter out toxins and excess salts through urine. Your blood pressure lowers because your heart doesn’t need to pump as hard. If you’re not drinking enough fluids, your kidneys may retain liquid resulting in swelling and bloating in the abdomen.
Constipation can occur when your stool gets dry or hard from dehydration. Drinking more water improves digestion and helps you stay regular. Being well-hydrated also reduces bloating and belly fat.
3- We need water to burn fat
Without water, you will not be able to burn fat. You need water to break down fats and carbs into energy. Fatty acids are broken down further into glycerol and free fatty acids. Glycerol is then converted to glucose which provides energy for your cells, making them function.
When glycogen stores run low, muscle tissue converts protein into glucose, providing an immediate source of fuel. Water also helps regulate blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and brain activity.
4- Drinking water can help you cut back on calories.
Soda, juice, and sweetened coffee or tea are all calorie-dense liquids, especially when consumed in excess. Most people drink far too much of them. Sports drinks and alcohol contain even more calories. Replacing any of those with water or other non-caloric beverages could help you lose weight.
I want to add to this that drinking water also increases calorie burning. One study found that when subjects drank 500 ml of water before exercising, they burned an extraseven7 calories per hour compared to those who didn’t drink any water.
5- Drinking water is essential for your workouts
Exercise should always be a part of your fitness routine. It improves your overall health and well-being. It also increases energy levels, boosts self-confidence, and provides an excellent opportunity to meet new friends. But it would be best to keep yourself adequately hydrated while working out.
Dehydration causes many problems, including muscle cramping, fatigue, headaches, and dizziness. You could even end up injuring yourself. So, stay hydrated!
Let’s now talk about the different types of water therapies and how they work.
Different Types Of Water Therapy For Weight Loss Explained
1- The Japanese Water Therapy.
Japanese Water Therapy is a great way to keep your gut healthy. It cleanses your body and helps you lose weight. Drinking water before eating will help you feel full longer and boost your metabolism. It also helps cure constipation, UTIs, high blood pressure, and other health issues.
Drinking lots of warm water helps you with your weight loss. Japanese people take water therapy quite literally, including the following steps – Drink four to five cups of lukewarm (160 to 200 ml each) water early in the morning on an empty stomach.
Don’t eat anything before 45 min. After every meal, skip eating or drinking again for two hours.
You shouldn’t stand and drink. It is recommended to avoid alcohol the night before the treatment. Don’t stuff yourself with water at once if you get difficulty. Try drinking 3-5 glasses initially, take a short break and then finish everything. When your body adapts to large quantities, change them from 5-6.
2- The Cold Water Therapy
Did you ever wonder why cold water has many health benefits? You may have heard that drinking cold water helps you lose weight, reduces stress, relaxes muscles, increases energy levels, etc. All of these claims are true, but what if I told you that there is another reason for drinking cold water?
Well, let me tell you! Cold water contains minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chlorine, bromide, and others. These minerals help us stay hydrated, detoxify our body, boost metabolism, and protect our cells.
Also, when you drink cold water, you get rid of toxins because the temperature of the water lowers them. So, you see, the truth is out there!
3- The Warm Water Therapy
Hot water helps to make the digestive system better by stimulating enzymes and helping them to break down molecules quicker. Warm water also helps to burn calories and fats and thus aids weight loss.
Cold water works best when taken before meals and helps to flush out toxins from the body.
However, if you drink hot water while eating, then it will leave you feeling full and bloated. Also, it is not advisable to drink plain water after dinner.
Drinking warm water is most beneficial 30 minutes after your meal.
4- Salt Water Therapy/ Salt Rush
This is an extreme water therapy that is not for everybody.
Salted water helps to remove toxins from your body. Salt water also helps you lose weight. You should drink at least eight glasses of water every day.
Saltwater therapy has the best results doing the following.
-Add one to two teaspoons of Himalayan sea salt (non-iodized) to one liter of water. Mix them well until the salt has dissolved.
-Drink it quite slowly. Say in 10 to 20 minutes.
-To get the most out of this, do it on an empty stomach.
Consult with a doctor before doing a salt rush.
Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, weakness, and so on.
Don’t try this if you have high blood pressure, digestion issues, or kidney or cardiac problems.
You may need to visit the toilet repeatedly because your body will lose 4½ kg of water after the salt rush.
Benefits Of Drinking Water On An Empty Stomach
1- It boosts your energy levels
Water increases your red blood cells and oxygen levels. This will help you feel more awake and energized throughout the day. You should always drink plenty of water before eating anything.
Water helps prevent heartburn and other digestive problems. If you prefer not to drink water, try herbal teas like chamomile or peppermint.
2- Eases aches and pains
Drinking enough water daily will help maintain muscle health and lubrication. Drinking enough water can reduce acid waste buildup, which can lead to bone problems and joint pain.
Morning water intake can help alleviate back pain and joint aches. Water helps clear headaches.
Chronic headaches are often caused by unintentional dehydration. Dehydration causes poor blood flow and increased fluid pressure in your brain. Drinks high in sodium can worsen headaches because they cause extra fluid retention.
Stay hydrated by keeping your eyes on the big picture—drink when thirsty, not just when you think you need it.
3- Boosts your metabolism
Water helps boost your metabolism. After drinking about 16 ounces, men and women see increases in their metabolic rates of 30 percent. Water also fills you up, making you less likely to overeat.
Finally, water removes waste products from your body. When you drink plenty of water, you’re less likely to store those extra calories as fat, which results naturally and healthily in weight loss.
4- Better skin
And as an extra benefit for you metrosexual guys reading this. Drinking water first thing in the morning also makes your skin look healthy.
Drinking water on an empty stomach helps maintain the proper moisture levels in your body, preventing dryness and wrinkles.
FAQ’S Corner
Why Should I Drink Water On An Empty Stomach
Staying hydrated is essential for your skin’s health, metabolism, and energy levels. Water also helps you feel full longer, making it easier to avoid overeating.
The best time to drink water is in the morning because it will help you start your day right. You should aim to drink 16 ounces of water at this time each day.
How Much Water Should I Drink?
You should drink at least 2.5 liters of water each day. The exact amount depends on how active you are and your weight. The general rule is to consume 65% of your body weight in ounces. If you weigh 200 lbs., you should drink 130 ozs., which is almost 4 liters.
Conclusion
Drinking enough water (water therapy) is essential to losing weight. It helps you feel fuller, keeps your muscles strong, and can even help with long-term weight loss.
Drinking water while exercising can also help keep you going longer since it will prevent dehydration. Taking a water bottle with you can remind you to drink water throughout the day.
Drinking a liter of water before breakfast is something I’ve been doing for years no,w and I must say I feel better since I started doing that.
How much water do you drink daily?
Please let me know in the comment section below.
