The new water cure

We’ve long heard that drinking more water can help us slim down— and we’re now guzzling it in record-setting quantities. So why are 75 million of us still dehydrated and overweight? Turns out, everything from processed food to our heated homes can interfere with water absorption, so “we may not get enough water into our cells, where it’s crucial for metabolism and countless other functions” explains Dana Cohen, M.D., author of Quench: Beat Fatigue, Drop Weight and Heal Your Body Through the New Science of Optimum Hydration. The fix? A game- changing type of water found in many common foods. This ultra-hydrating water ignites so much fat burning that women report dropping up to 40 pounds in 30 days!

Most water is H2O— or so we thought. Groundbreaking research from Harvard and Cornell has found that the water in our cells and in plant cells is actually H3O2. It’s gellike water that’s been charged by electrolytes. This gel water acts as fuel “for every action of every cell,” notes Gerald Pollack, PH.D., head of the University of Washington’s Pollack Water Lab. The science is complicated, but it boils down to this: Gel water is magic. It primes our cells to function optimally. “Weight loss becomes easier than we ever thought possible. We also think better, move better, sleep better, age better,” Dr. Cohen notes. Increasing gel water “is one of the best things you can do for your body. I’ve seen amazing results in hundreds of patients.”

Slimming hydration— as easy as 1-2-3! STEP 1: Eat water

European research shows consuming plants that are rich in gel water— including most fruit and veggies—“is up to twice as hydrating as drinking water,” says Dr. Cohen. Gel water from plants passes more readily into our cells—and it’s denser and less likely to leak out of damaged or aging cells.

Dr. Cohen recommends six servings of gel-water–rich foods daily. Add an extra serving for every dehydrating grain-based food you eat. And avoid processed foods, which siphon off fluid during digestion. What about meat and dairy? There’s evidence that ghee and clarified butter are extremely high in gel water; other options have yet to be tested but are likely hydrating. Also key: Eat healthy fat. “Water enters cells through an oilguarded membrane,” Dr. Cohen says. “Good fats, especially omega-3s, keep membranes supple, increasing absorption.”

STEP 2: Upgrade your sip

Keep drinking plain water— just give it a gel upgrade by adding fruit like citrus or by sipping it with foods that are rich in potassium (like bananas and broccoli) or magnesium (like avocado and dark chocolate). A pinch of sea salt can help too. “You’ll get electrolytes that transform regular water into gel water,” Dr. Cohen explains.

STEP 3: Let it flow

Your fascia— spongy connective tissues that crisscross your body— acts like “an intricate water delivery system that’s activated by small movements,” says Dr. Cohen. So tape your fingers, jiggle your legs, twist in your seat. Fidgeting gets hydration flowing! Bonus: Per a Mayo Clinic study, fidgeting can burn 350 calories a day.

The results? Wow

Pittsburgh mom Pamela Brace, 47, has seen the power of gel water. When her local Curves recommended a plan that emphasizes hydration, she replaced chips with sliced veggies, cookies with gel-water-boosting cashews, soda with lemon water and added tons of veggies to her nightly Lean Cuisine. Gentle workouts at Curves helped disperse water through Pam’s body— and she felt reborn. “I’ve never been able to stick to diets before,” she says. “I lost 180 pounds in 14 months. I think everyone should try this!”

Use breakthrough science to get “gel water” into your cells— and drop up to 10 lbs a week