WATER – the best things in life are free!

 With summer here and the temperature soaring, it’s more important than ever to drink enough water. We all know that being well-hydrated to ensure that your body functions correctly, but did you know that it can also help your weight loss?

Water aids weight loss in 2 main ways:

1. Dehydration can impair exercise performance, so by drinking enough water and being well-hydrated, you can ensure that you can exercise at your peak and thus burn the maximum calories in the process.

1. Often one confuses thirst with hunger. So, when you feel you’re hungry, but no food satisfies that hunger, you may find that a glass of water does the trick. Thus, by drinking enough water you can be sure that hunger pangs are related to actual hunger, rather than just needing more fluids.

So how much water do you need?

Although the old adage of about 8 glasses a day does apply, if you want a more accurate value, try this equation to calculate your water needs:

Amount of water (mls) = Weight (kg) x 30ml

For example, a 60kg woman, would need 60 x 30ml = 1800ml or 1.8 litres of water per day. Although one may need more than this to compensate for fluid losses on a particularly hot day or for intense exercise.

Remember that caffeine-free herbal teas also count towards your fluid intake!

Have a wonderful water-filled Summer’s Day!