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Drinking More Water Could Help You Drop More Weight

Looking for a simple way to lose weight? It turns out water can do more than just replenish your thirst after a run. Researchers from the University of Birmingham in the U.K. found that drinking two cups of water 30 minutes before each meal helped participants lose weight during a 12-week study.

Eighty-four obese adults were recruited to participate in the study and were randomised into one of two groups. One group was told to “preload” with two cups of water half an hour before each main meal, in addition to water they consumed throughout the day. The other group was instructed to imagine that their stomachs were full. All participants were offered two weight-loss consultations, where they were given weight management strategies and standard healthy lifestyle advice.

After 12 weeks, the water-preloading group lost an average of 1.3 kilograms more than the other group. Further, the participants that reported preloading three times a day lost an average of 4.3 kilograms.

The water-preloading group also reported more feelings of fullness, greater satiety, and had higher compliance with the study procedure. These small amounts of weight loss can add up over a lifetime, and maintaining that weight-loss has a variety of health benefits. Drinking two glasses of water before each main meal is an easy way to help drop kilograms as part of a weight-loss program.

Not down with guzzling a bunch of H2O? Try these strategies to drink more water:

Add flavor: Muddle mint and cucumbers and add to a glass of water, or squeeze in some lemon or lime juice.

Keep it handy: Fill up a reusable water bottle and place it on the table for a visual reminder to drink up before eating.

Try tea: Herbal tea is a zero-kilojoule, caffeine-free way to stay hydrated. Try drinking chamomile and peppermint teas either over ice or hot.

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