Does Drinking More Water Help You Lose Fat? Research Says Yes

If you want to lose more body fat, just drink more water. 

It may sound overly simple, but a recent review study concluded that drinking more water can support fat loss through several physiological mechanisms: boosting metabolism, increasing fat mobilization, and helping control appetite.

In other words, something as basic as increasing your water intake can help you burn more calories and eat fewer of them. Here’s a quick rundown of the three different mechanisms…

1. Water Can Increase Metabolism

One way water may promote fat loss is by increasing sympathetic nerve activity, which raises metabolic rate. When sympathetic activity goes up, the body burns more calories throughout the day.

Research confirms this effect. One study found that drinking 500 milliliters of water rapidly increased sympathetic nerve activity through increased norepinephrine release. In that study, metabolic rate increased by about 30% within 10 minutes of drinking the water and peaked around 30-40 minutes afterward. (See references at the end of this article for sources of all studies.)

This effect appears to be even stronger with cold water—especially water at temperatures of about 2°C (35–36°F) or lower.

That means drinking cold water may provide a small but meaningful boost in calorie burning.

2. Water Helps Release Fat From Fat Cells

Water intake may also promote fat burning through a hormonal pathway.

Drinking more water increases blood volume and raises pressure in the right atrium of the heart. This triggers the release of a hormone called atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). ANP binds to receptors on fat cells and

... Subscribe to read more!

Related Articles

• 
  Run, Don't Walk, For Fat Loss

  Want to maximize fat-burning during your cardio sessions? Bump up the intensity.

• 
  Drink Up For Fat Loss

  Learn how 2 cups of water can aid fat loss

• 
  Full-Body Workout for Fat Loss

  Maximize fat-burning while also possibly getting a boost in strength and size by rethinking your training split.

• 
  The Best Workouts for Fat Loss for Men

  Why having a clear, structured workout plan is essential for successful fat loss.