I don’t know about you, but I have been on the diet roller coaster my entire life. I have probably tried every diet that has come down the road. And with every single diet, it tells me to drink tons of water. Do you know? Does water have calories?
Most drinks have calories, so I always tried to save calories by not drinking the ones high in sugar like soda. But what are calories? Let’s answer this question first.
What are calories?
The pure definition of what a calorie is begins with heat. A calorie is a scientific measurement that states the amount of heat needed to raise one gram of water temperature by one degree Celsius. Yes, this sounds very technical, but in this case, the term calorie refers to the amount of energy our food gives to our bodies. We require this energy for bodily functions. Calories help us move and help our organs, like our heart, to work correctly.
While 30 calories are 30 calories, there is a difference between healthy calories and empty calories. Healthy calories also provide nutrition, such as vitamin D, vitamin C, and vitamin E. There are also empty calories. Empty calories are foods like cake and cookies.
The root beer that I am craving right now is also considered an empty calorie. If you read the label on the container, you will see that it has a lot of sugar, flavoring, and carbonation. None of these items listed are healthy; hence these calories are empty.
Alright, I know you are thinking, what does this have to do with water? Grab yourself a glass of water, and let’s talk about this.
Does water have calories?
Before answering this question, let’s consider the choices of water. You can have tap water, electrolyte, purified, distilled, and spring water. None of these water types contain fats, carbohydrates, sodium, fiber, or sugar. Water has no calories.
The calories in water change if you add things to it, such as fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Another add-on comes from the flavor packets that are available at the store. Some are calorie-free, and others add calories, so make sure to read the label.
In a nutshell, though, plain water does not have calories. Beyond the add-ons to water, there is another source of water that one needs to watch. This source comes from foods that are high in water content.
These hydrating foods include watermelon, tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, oranges, brussel sprouts, broccoli, and spinach. Yes, I know these are also low-calorie foods, but always keep in mind that the water in them is no longer calorie-free.
Why is it important to drink water?
At this point, I have to confess that I’m not too fond of water even though I know it’s healthy. Growing up, I would not drink water, and it appears reflecting back that I got my required liquid from other drinks and food. It’s not a bad way to get my fluids, but drinks and food add calories, as we know. Some of these drinks are very high in calories.
I had to have eye surgery a few years back and, my surgeon suggested that I give up caffeinated drinks. I had to develop a relationship with plain old water or drink other things with too many calories. And you know the water wasn’t so bad. I changed my habits and have stuck with water drinking.
Okay, I will not pretend that I do not crave a can of root beer, which would be a lie, but I drink it occasionally now. RootBeer has caffeine and salt in it. I found that it was draining the moisture out of my body. My skin was so dry, and I was always thirsty, which I would address by pouring another glass of root beer.
Why Is Water So Important To The Human Body?
Your body requires hydration to work correctly; all the way from your inner cells to your outer skin needs water. Did you know that your body will tell you when you are dehydrated? Your body will give you hints when it is dry, such as thirst. When you are thirsty, it is necessary to drink water to prevent dehydration.
Not consuming enough water can make it difficult to perform specific tasks, and you can get headaches when you are dehydrated.
Another important reason to drink water is to regulate your body’s temperature. When you get hot, your body cools itself through sweat, releasing water through your skin. Remember that even if you are dehydrated, you will still sweat. Your body still has to cool itself off. But dehydration can cause all kinds of problems like cramps and dizziness.
Not drinking enough water can also cause brain fog and bad moods. The brain does not function as well when you are dehydrated. Water helps flush body waste, and it helps your stomach digest food well.
Drinking water can help reduce the number of exercise-induced asthma attacks, as stated in a recent study. When you are low on fluids, your lungs don’t function as well, and you are prone to have an increase in exercise-induced asthma.
Finally, drinking water aids in weight loss due to two factors.
- The water is replacing a high-calorie drink, which will reduce the total number of calories you consume.
- The second reason is that drinking water will give you a full feeling. This feeling does have the potential to reduce the amount of food you consume, which means your caloric count for the day is less. You may have noticed that I said the potential to reduce the amount of food you consume. Many studies have shown that while the number of calories consumed is important, simply recognizing that you are full is another part of the weight loss puzzle to consider.
How much water do I need?
To answer this humble question, we need to look at two things—first, your sex, and second your level of activity. If you are a female simply sitting around you, need 11.5 cups of water a day just for your body’s daily function. On the other hand, if you are a male, you need 15.5 cups of water a day. Now, if you are sweating and your environment is hot, you will need more water.
If you try to drink tons of water at one time, you will find yourself sitting in the bathroom all day or in the ER with an electrolyte imbalance.
Water, Weight Loss, And DNA
As with any complicated system like a car, there are other factors to consider when losing weight other than just drinking water. It is important to think about how your body works as a whole. Your DNA is a good place to start and can give you surprising answers.
While your body’s DNA won’t answer every question, it takes a look at nutrients, factors that contribute to weight loss, how your body reacts to exercise, and food. All of these factors plus more make up the blueprint of your body. When you understand how these pieces of the puzzle make you unique, you will have insight into losing those unwanted pounds.
The DNA test I keep talking about is the GxSlim DNA test. It is a simple cheek swab sample that can tell you so much. Once that is done, you send off the swab and wait for the results. You’ll get these results in a couple of weeks and set up a consultation with a DNA is the Way representative to go over the information. We will answer your questions and give you suggestions, a diet plan, and recipes to get you started.
Grab yourself a glass of that miracle water without calories and have a rest while we get what you need to get started.