Adding a little more water to your diet isn’t a bad thing. Drinking during your meals helps you swallow, supports your digestive tract and makes you feel fuller so you eat less. How much water you should be drinking depends on your gender and activity level, but typically if you feel thirsty, you’re not getting enough.
Weight Maintenance
Drinking a couple glasses of water right before you sit down to eat can actually curb your appetite, lessening your chances of overindulging in that particular meal. In 2010, researchers presented water and weight loss research results at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society. During their study, all participants followed a low-calorie diet, but half of them also drank two 8-ounce glasses of water before breakfast, lunch and dinner. The control group did not drink the extra water. Research participants who drank water before meals consumed about 75 to 90 fewer calories per meal than those who did not. By the end of the 12-week period, all participants lost weight, although those who drank water before taking that first bite, lost an average of 5 pounds more than participants who didn’t drink before eating.
Digestive Benefits
Drinking water with your meals is essential for your digestive tract to work. Water acts as a natural lubricant for intestinal walls, helping fiber push waste out of your body. You will get some water from the foods you eat, although if you’re not well hydrated, it may not be enough to keep your bowels moving regularly. Ultimately, you can wind up suffering from constipation if you don’t have a little something to drink with your entrée.
Strong Teeth
Keeping your teeth healthy is probably the last think on your mind when you’re chewing on a perfectly grilled piece of tenderloin. Fortunately, you’ll be able to unknowingly keep your teeth strong, simply by sipping on water while dining. Tap water and some types of bottled water are fluoridated. This mineral is vital for strong teeth and helps prevent cavities. If you’re unable to brush after eating, have an extra glass of water instead or rinse out your mouth with water. You’ll remove some of the stuck-on food and get a little more teeth-building fluoride into your system.
Problems
On average, men need about 13 cups of total fluid daily, while women require around 9 cups, according to MayoClinic.com. You may need a little more if you’re highly active or live in a hot climate where you sweat a lot. Although rare, it is possible to drink more than you need. Chugging a lot of water during your meal dilutes your blood, making an imbalance of electrolytes that can lead to a condition known as hyponatremia. You’ll suffer from digestive problems, muscle fatigue and an irregular heartbeat. If you’re getting up to go to the bathroom several times during dinner or if your urine is colorless, you may be drinking too much water.
References
About the Author
Melodie Anne Coffman has been writing for various online and print publications since 1996, specializing in human and animal nutrition. After receiving her master's degree in food science and human nutrition, she opened up her own nutrition consulting business in the New England area.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All people need a bottle of water daily,
And also need a piece of Peace!
The person who want peace must take care of their health!
Please drink enough water to maintain your health.
I think IPYG member will also need a bottle of water in this hot summer.
Peace cannot be apart from our life. Water also need for our health.
I hope that the river of peace be flowed into my mind.
All Members! Please take care of your health.
Don't forget to drink water, Don't forget to act for peace!
Thanks for the simple reminderㅡIve been trying to drink lots of fluid recently to take care of.my health. This was a very informative blog post.
ReplyDelete