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How Water Can Help Lower Your Body Fat Percentage —
The Seven Most Important Facts
When the body has the optimal amount of water, it can function at a higher level of brilliance. For instance:
1. Endocrine function improves.
The endocrine system is instrumental in regulating mood, growth and development, tissue function, metabolism, and sexual function and reproductive processes. In general, the endocrine system is in charge of body processes that happen slowly, such as cell growth.
2. Fluid retention is alleviated — and excess salt intake is balanced.
It’s possible to retain up to five pounds of water weight within the natural fluid that surrounds cells. Heavier people may experience more water retention — sometimes as much as eight to ten pounds of fluid — especially if their intake of processed, convenient food is high.
3. More fat is used as fuel.
Without enough water, the kidneys cannot function properly and depend on the liver for help. The function of the liver, however, is to metabolize fat into usable body energy. If the liver is tied up doing some of the work of the kidneys, it cannot function optimally. This results in less fat being metabolized and remaining in the body longer.
4. Loss of hunger.
What seems to be hunger at first can potentially be a sign that your body is in desperate need of water and could be dehydrated. Since all metabolic activity and muscle function depends on water, you could very well be slowing down your metabolism by not drinking enough. Research suggests one glass of water first thing in the morning can increase metabolism by as much as 30%.
5. Muscle tone is maintained.
Water gives muscles their natural ability to contract and prevent dehydration. Since muscles are roughly 70 to 75% water, it only follows that the lower their water content, the less they are able to contract. This has a negative effect on muscle tone.
6. Waste materials are more easily excreted.
During weight loss and healthier eating, the body needs to get rid of waste more readily. The metabolized fat cells and all the waste by-products that are the result of detoxifying the body need adequate water to help flush them out of the system.
7. Constipation is relieved.
When the body needs to eliminate waste products from food, it needs water. If it is low in water, it will draw water from other sources, one being the colon. When this occurs, constipation will follow. To return to normal bowel movements, one to three per day, water is a necessary part of the equation.
