Weight Loss Tip #88- Drink water before meals

It is well-known that water can aid weight loss as it boosts metabolism and helps burn a few more calories. It also helps to get rid of the excess waste in the body which further promotes weight loss. But did you know that drinking a glass of water before meals can help you lose weight? The reasoning is quite simple—water fills your stomach and reduces your food intake. Plus, choosing water instead of sugar laced beverage can save you more than 100 calories per glass.

Evidence:
In a recent study published in the Journal Obesity, scientists observed a group of obese people who were on a low-calorie diet for about three months. Half the people in the group were asked to drink a glass of water before meals. The result? People who drank water before meals lost an average 7 kg as compared to the other group that lost 5kg on an average [1].

In another study found in Journal Obesity, there was a 13% reduction in calorie intake in overweight people who consumed water before breakfast [2].

Tips:

• If water does not satisfy your taste buds, you can eat a fruit with high water content like a banana before your meals.
• You can also opt for green tea before meals if you do not prefer drinking water. Green tea is rich in antioxidants that can bolster your metabolism while you get your water intake.

Previous tip

You may also like to read:

• Weird ways you didn’t know you could lose weight, which are completely proven by research
• 10 ways you can increase your water intake

---

For more articles on weight loss, visit our weight loss section. For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. For health related Q&A, click here!

Reference:

[1] Dennis EA, Dengo AL, Comber DL, Flack KD, Savla J, Davy KP, Davy BM. Waterconsumption increases weight loss during a hypocaloric diet intervention inmiddle-aged and older adults. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2010 Feb;18(2):300-7. doi:10.1038/oby.2009.235. Epub 2009 Aug 6. PubMed PMID: 19661958; PubMed Central
PMCID: PMC2859815.

[2] Davy BM, Dennis EA, Dengo AL, Wilson KL, Davy KP. Water consumption reduces energy intake at a breakfast meal in obese older adults. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008Jul;108(7):1236-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2008.04.013. PubMed PMID: 18589036; PubMedCentral PMCID: PMC2743119.

1. Prev:Weight Loss Tip #89 — Try this quick white pumpkin juice
2. Next:Weight Loss Tip #87- Exercise 45 minutes daily