Water melts body fat!

We’ve always known that drinking water might help us lose a little extra weight. But there’s new evidence that it can make a much bigger difference than previously realized. Read on for all the slimming details . . .

If we had a nickel for every time we’ve ignored a diet expert’s advice to drink more water, we’d be rich. But would we be slim? Not according to a groundbreaking new University of Michigan study that found adults who skimp on hydration “have significantly higher BMIS and 59% greater odds of being obese,” reveals lead researcher Tammy Chang, M.D. And it’s a surprisingly common problem. Chang’s team found clinically inadequate hydration in one out of every three people—which means milder forms of the condition are impacting millions more of us. That’s a big deal, since any form of poor hydration slows metabolism. Even if you think you drink plenty, “you may need more water than you realize,” reveals Dr. Chang. Any time you’re thirsty or your urine is dark yellow, you’re affected by poor hydration—and are upping your odds of weight issues.

If that doesn’t already have you reaching for your water bottle, we’re pretty sure this will: A new French analysis hints that even when we do get enough water, those of us with pounds to lose can still benefit from more. University of Lorraine’s Simon Thornton, PH.D., analyzed existing studies and determined that “increased hydration often leads to body weight loss.” He’ll help explain how it works, below. But first we figured you’d want to know how well it works. When Woman’s World readers tested the approach, sipping about 12 cups of water per day, they lost up to nine pounds in a week— no strict diet required. Wow!

stop-eating region of the brain. It’s the first proof of its kind of just how water curbs appetite, reveals Wageningen University’s Guido Camps, MSC.

Water boosts metabolism!

First, there’s preliminary evidence that the more hydration we have in our cells, the better our mitochondria function—and mitochondria are little mechanisms that help turn calories into energy.

Another unexpected factor: Because many of us ignore our body’s cues to drink—perhaps we’re too busy, want to avoid extra bathroom trips or just don’t like water—levels of thirst hormones can remain chronically elevated. This prevents metabolism from functioning properly, reveals Thornton. He says more research is needed to determine why this is, but, regardless of the reason, drinking H2O solves the problem. German scientists even found proof that just downing 16 oz. of water raises your metabolism by 30%!

Water revs fat burning! When studying adult volunteers, scientists found evidence that hydrating with water increased fat breakdown in cells. Extra water also increases blood volume, “a factor known to increase fat metabolism,” says Thornton. No wonder when water consumption increases, the weight lost “is due in large part to a loss of fat,” Thornton notes.

“Water works!”

Vowing to shape up for her kids, Katie Foster read that water could help. “I started drinking a quart first thing in the morning, and I could literally feel my body wake up,” recalls the Michigan mom, 34. “It

made it so much easier to be more active and make healthy choices at meals.” Continuing to sip all day, “water gave me an edge that helped me succeed.” Katie’s maintaining a 110-pound weight loss. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh mom Lisa Del Rey, 40, also swears by water. When the former yo-yo dieter finally began drinking a gallon a day, “weight that wouldn’t budge for months was melting off. I lost faster than on any crash!” Down 60 pounds in about a year, she now urges everyone to drink up. “I heard that drinking water would help with weight loss, but it didn’t register just how much it helps until I actually started seeing the results. If you want to lose weight faster, drink water!”