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Water suppresses the appetite naturally and
helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a
decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while
an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits.
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Here's why: The kidneys can't function properly
without enough water. When they don't work to capacity, some of their
load is dumped on the liver.
One of the liver's primary function is to metabolize stored fat into
usable energy for the body. But if the liver has to do some of the
kidney's work, it can't operate at full throttle. As a result, it
metabolizes less fat, more fat remains stored in the body and weight
loss stops.
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Drinking enough water is the best treatment
for fluid retention.When the body gets less water, it perceives this
as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop. Water is
stored in extracellular spaces (outside the cells). This shows up as
swollen feet, legs and hands.
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Diuretics offer a temporary solution at best. They force out
stored water along with some essential nutrients. Again, the body
perceives a threat and will replace the lost water at the first
opportunity. Thus, the condition quickly returns.The best way to
overcome the problem of water retention is to give your body what it
needs - plenty of water. Only then will stored water be released.
If you have a constant problem with water retention, excess salt may
be to blame. Your body will tolerate sodium only in a certain
concentration. The more salt you eat, the more water your system
retains to dilute it. Getting rid of unneeded salt is easy - just drink
more water. As it's forced through the kidneys, it takes away excess
sodium.
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The overweight person needs more water than
a thin one. Larger people have larger metabolic loads. Since we know
that water is the key to fat metabolism, it follows that the
overweight person needs more water.
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Water helps to maintain proper muscle tone
by giving muscles their natural ability to contract and by preventing
dehydration. It also helps to prevent the sagging skin that usually
follows weight loss - shrinking cells are buoyed by water, which
pumps the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and reslilient.
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Water helps rid the body of waste. During
weight loss, the body has a lot more wast to get rid of - all that
metabolized fat must be shed. Again, adequate water helps flush out the
waste
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Water can help relieve constipation. When
the body gets too little water, it siphons what it needs from
internal sources. The colon is one primary source. Result?
Constipation. But, when a person drinks enough water, normal bowel
function usually returns.
So far, we've discovered some remarkable truths about water and
weight loss:
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