12 Unexpected Reasons to Drink More Water This New Year

By Laura Schwecherl

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With the holidays finally behind us and healthy habits on our minds, many are trading pitchers of beer for glasses of water. Whether it’s a New Year’s resolution to drink more H2O or you’re still fending off that January 1st hangover, we’ve uncovered some convincing reasons to knock back more water in the New Year.

Water It Down—The Need-to-Know

Water is the second most popular beverage in the U.S. after soft drinks. This is a scary stat, since sugary soda is a huge health hazard, upping the risk of obesity, stroke, and other heart problems An update on the dangers of soda pop. Kaplowitz,G.J. University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry, Department of Oral Medicine, Dental Assistant, 2011 Jul-Aug;80(4):14-6, 18-20, 22-3 passim; quiz 29-31. Soda consumption and the risk of stroke in men and women. Bernstein, A.M., de Koning, L., Flint, A.J., et al. Wellness Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Lyndhurst, OH. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2012 May;95(5):1190-9. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.030205. Epub 2012 Apr 4. Sugar-sweetened soft drinks and obesity: a systematic review of the evidence from observational studies and interventions. Gibson, S. Sig-Nurture Ltd, 11 Woodway, Guildford, Surrey UK. Nutrition Research Reviews, 2008 Dec;21(2):134-47. doi: 10.1017/S0954422408110976.. However, these dangers can be avoided if people choose to drink water, which doesn’t have negative side effects. So help put the sugary stuff to the side and make water the number one drink of choice. The benefits really are endless. (Just take a look!)

• Fluid balance. Roughly 60 percent of the body is made of water. Drinking enough H2O maintains the body’s fluid balance, which helps transport nutrients in the body, regulate body temperature, digest food, and more.
• Calorie control. Forget other diet tricks—drinking water could also help with weight loss. Numerous studies have found a connection between water consumption and losing a few pounds Drinking water is associated with weight loss in overweight dieting women independent of diet and activity. Stookey, J.D., Constant, F., Popkin, B.M., et al. Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, California. Obesity, 2008 Nov;16(11):2481-8. doi: 10.1038/oby.2008.409. Epub 2008 Sep 11. Water consumption increases weight loss during a hypocaloric diet intervention in middle-aged and older adults. Dennis, E.A., Dengo, A.L., Comber, D.L., et al. Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia. Obesity, 2010 Feb;18(2):300-7. doi: 10.1038/oby.2009.235. Epub 2009 Aug 6.. The secret reason? Water simply helps people feel full, and as a result consume fewer calories.
• Muscle fuel. Sweating at the gym causes muscles to lose water. And when the muscles don’t have enough water, they get tired Pilot study: Effects of drinking hydrogen-rich …read more

  Source:: Greatist