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Does Drinking Water Trigger Weight Loss?

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 Perhaps so. Researchers studied middle-aged adults who were placed on a low-fat, low-calorie diet (1,200 calories for women and 1,500 for men). After three months, the subjects who drank two glasses of water before breakfast, lunch and dinner lost an average of 15.5 pounds, compared to the non-water drinkers who lost 11 pounds. The difference occurred because the adults who drank water ate 75-90 calories less per meal.

Also promising were the long-term losses. Researchers continued to monitor the water drinkers after the study concluded and found that they continued to lose weight.

Interestingly enough, earlier research on adults aged 18 to 35 did not produce the same weight loss. Researchers theorize that the stomach of an older adult takes longer to empty; hence, the discrepancy. Good news for seniors: in this instance, our aging bodies work to our advantage.

I've experimented with the strategy and find that I eat less if I've had two glasses of water before meals. I was also surprised that I didn't miss the calories, and I was not any hungrier than usual. As an added bonus, my skin looks better.

Dr. Carla Wolper, a faculty member of Columbia University, says that as long as we don't overdo it, the strategy is harmless and inexpensive.

Have we finally found a simple and accessible approach for weight reduction? Could it be this easy? I hope so.

Photo Credit: yoppy on Flickr

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