Water, How 8 glasses a day keeps the fat away

By Donald S. Robertson, M.D.

Incredible as it may seem, water is quite possibly the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off. Although most of us take it for granted, water may be the only true “magic potion” for permanent weight loss.


Here’s why: The kidney’s can’t function properly without enough water. When they don’t work to capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver.

One of the liver’s primary functions 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 full throttle. As a result, it metabolizes less fat, more fat remains stored in the body, and weight loss stops.

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 onto every drop. Water is stored in extracellular spaces (outside the cells). This shows up as swollen feet, legs and hands.



If you have a constant problem with water retention, excess salt may be to blame. You body will tolerate sodium only in a certain concentration. The more salt you eat, the more water your system retains to dilute it.

But getting rid of unneeded salt is easy–just drink more water. As it’s forced through the kidney’s it takes away excess sodium.


Water helps to maintain proper muscle 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 plumps the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and resistant.


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 water, normal bowel function usually returns.

So far, we’ve discovered some remarkable truths about water and weight loss:

* The body will not function properly without enough water and can’t metabolize stored fat efficiently.

* Retained water shows up as excess weight.

* To get rid of excess water you must drink more water.

* Drinking water is essential to weight loss.


Water should preferably be cold — it’s absorbed into the system more quickly than warm water. And some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually help burn calories.


Morning: 1 quart consumed over a 30-minute period.

Noon: 1 quart consumed over a 30-minute period.

Evening: quart consumed between five and six o’clock.

When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, its fluids are perfectly balanced. When this happens, you have reaches the “breakthrough point.” What does this mean?

* Endocrine-gland function improves

* Fluid retention is alleviated, as stored water is lost.

* More fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat.

* Natural thirst returns.

* There is a loss of hunger almost overnight.

If you stop drinking enough water, your body fluids will be thrown out of balance again, and you may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain and loss of thirst. To remedy the situation you’ll have to go back and force another “breakthrough.”

Posted on October 21, 2009, in Health Studies and tagged . Bookmark the permalink. 1 Comment.

  1. Thanks for one more interesting information. Where else could anybody get this kind of information in such a perfect way. I really enjoyed reading it.

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