Most people are chronically dehydrated which means that they are not drinking enough water throughout the day. There are 2 main reasons that not drinking enough water causes you to gain weight…
1. Thirst often feels like hunger – which leads to overeating
Most of the time when we think we are hungry and find ourselves reaching for a snack, it’s actually due to thirst that’s simply disguising itself as hunger. This leads to regrettable food decisions throughout the day – and all of these undesirable calories add up and work against your body fat and energy levels.
2. Dehydration slows down body functions – including your metabolism
It’s been reported that 75% of Americans suffer from Chronic Dehydration which leaves the body vulnerable to weight gain, illness, injury and further increases the risk of contracting any number of viruses.
The human body is made up of 11 important organ systems, including the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, excretory, nervous, and endocrine systems — they also include the immune, integumentary, skeletal, muscle and reproductive systems.
All the systems work together to maintain a healthy human body — and all the systems rely on proper hydration to deliver vitamins, nutrients, and minerals to stay healthy and recover quickly.
For just a moment think about your car and the two important fluids that keep it on the road — gas and oil. Your car needs enough fuel to keep it moving and the right amount of oil to keep all the parts running smoothly.
Without gas or oil the engines seize up and the car is unable to move and is vulnerable and exposed to the elements.
Water is like gas in your car, it keeps you fueled. And electrolytes, vitamins and minerals are like the oil in your car ensuring that all the systems in your body work as they should.
Losing weight, battling infection, fighting off sickness, building and repairing muscle, lowering stress, and maintaining a healthy and happy life all require proper hydration levels. Without water and the right nutrients, you’re fighting an uphill battle with weight loss.
If you liked this post you may be interested in our War of the Waistline Healthy Lifestyle Challenge in which water is a habit that we focus on building throughout the 6-week challenge.