The Best Weight Loss Drink

Posted on Jul 26th 2010 11:00AM by Jonny Bowden

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Would you buy a drink that promised to increase your alertness and promote a bit of weight loss? What if I said you could get it for free, then would you give it a try?

It's not one of those fancy elixirs made of exotic juices, an over-priced energy drink or even a vitamin-touting beverage.

It's plain, good-old-fashioned water.

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center led by Dr. David Robertson have shown that ordinary water does more than just quench thirst. It has some other unexpected physiological effects: it increases the activity of the sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system, which raises alertness, blood pressure and helps to burn calories.

You may be thinking, "But I don't want to increase my blood pressure," (unless you have very low blood pressure to begin with). Not to worry: The researchers found that water did not significantly raise blood pressure in healthy young subjects.

However, it does promote weight loss. How much exactly?

Robertson calculated that it might be as much as five pounds a year if a person drank three 16-ounce glasses of water a day and nothing else changed.

"This is not going to be the answer to the weight problem in the United States," he said in a statement. "But it's interesting that activation of the sympathetic system is enough to do that."

Jonny Bowden, author, nutritionist and weight-loss coach, cuts through all the misconceptions about diet and fitness to help you transform your body, your health and your life. Visit his website to learn more.

17 Comment

Tags: blood pressure, jonny-bowden, water, weight loss, weight-loss

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Nades 7-27-2010 @ 3:31PM

Water is the best diet drink out there. I can attest to that. Too bad it took me 16 years to decide to do this, but finally last week I said "no more quick fix weight loss scams" I buckled down and made up my mind to lose weight sensibly. Have been drinking my water throughout the day, and eating smaller portions of simple healthy meals and walking in the mornings for about 40minutes. And I am already down from 202lbs to 198lbs. I know thats not much, but at least its a start. Water, fruits, Veg, smaller portions and some exercise. Wish me luck :)

Terri 7-27-2010 @ 4:14PM

Good luck and keep it up. One day at a time. It isn't easy and whether it's water weight or not...it's lost. You're doing great.

beth 7-27-2010 @ 5:55PM

you are doing great
i am doing almost the same thing along with you
keep it up i have been for about 3 weeks now and feel great and 13 pounds lighter.
i am up to an hour walk morning and evening.

drinking plenty of water, no juice, no soda etc.
the walking really invigorates me, i have 50 pounds to take off hope to do it by this time next year or sooner.
stick with it! good luck!

Berni 7-27-2010 @ 3:40PM

You lose that much just by using the toilet!
That's water weight.

Sue 7-27-2010 @ 6:53PM

why do you find it so hard to give credit when its due,, remember the saying if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all>>>>>> try it sometime!!

haley 7-28-2010 @ 9:04AM

I so agree. When it comes to weight loss, I have found that keeping it simple is the best bet. Eat less calories, drink water and WALK!

I am not a fan of diets that involve taking pills or buying prepackaged food. Sure,you may lose weight short term, but you are not learning how to eat in the real world and you are just going to gain it back once you start eating real food again.

I have lost 50 pounds over the last 2 years, and I have done it by watching my calories, eating less processed foods and getting in some kind of exercise every day. I have no desire to be skinny, just healthy and curvy! There is always room in my daily diet for a treat.

I usually walk 20 minutes every day and I wear SmartSole exercise insoles hTtp://www.fitbodysole.info. They are body toning insoles similar to Reebok Easytone that help you burn extra calories while you walk or work out as well as tone and tighten. Why not burn a few more calories while shopping. I read about them on my weight watchers board and the code phit10 gives you a 10% discount.

Paul 7-27-2010 @ 5:32PM

Drinking water on a consistant basis and sufficient quantities is not easy at first, but then it becomes a habit. I add a squeeze of a fresh lemon, lime, or an orange occasionally for flavor and variety. And it's easy to nurse a bottle of water at work if only to get the eyes off of the computer screen, then it has TWO benefits.

gary 7-27-2010 @ 6:36PM

i would like to know where you can get free water.

Doyle 7-27-2010 @ 6:43PM

I am a water drinker but tend to drink most of my water in the evening. I like to drink my water very cold and am wondering if drinking cold water vs. warm or room temperature would have any effect on weight loss?

catie 7-27-2010 @ 7:42PM

Yes, cold water is better because your metabolism has to work harder to heat it to body temperature. I read that recently and it sounds logical to me.

Denise 7-27-2010 @ 7:41PM

yes, it does. I dotn think it is a lot but your body does burn calories to warm the water up to your body temp. You can look it up and it explains the science behind it.

Carole 7-27-2010 @ 7:16PM

Yeh Gary, where is that "free stuff" I got my water bill today and it's far from free. But I can say this, since I started drinking more water I do feel better. And eat less. It keep's me somewhat full. I know I'm not going to lose the weight I gained in 3 days. It took me 5 year's to gain it. If I spend a year taking it off so be it. But I'll be healthier. And drinking water does help me eat less.

Carole 7-27-2010 @ 7:19PM

Oh I forgot to mention that we live in a city with really old water/sewer pipes (i'm not sure they are connected totally) so I have to buy water for it to be drinkable. So it's definitely far from free.

Denise 7-27-2010 @ 7:35PM

Nades, Good for you. That is the best way to lose weight. Moderation people. Cut calories, exercise, stay hydrated by drinking water and guess what??? you lose weight :) No gimmicks, no need for fad diets..such a simple concept that people cant follow.

You can still have Mc Donalds one day, just not 5 days a week. Moderation is key.

marshell roper 7-27-2010 @ 8:05PM

I lost 86 pounds a year ago and when I moved to a new state I gained it all back. I had to start over with new doctors, new form of health insurance and I found the love of my life. Not, to mention that I had to re join the GYM which I could not join until I got my finances straight from the move.It took me a year to get my life back in order, and to gain the 86 pounds back that I had lost. It was very stressful for me, but now things are looking up and I am back in the GYM and I plan on losing 86 pound and more. I have already lost 22 pounds of what I had gained back. I feel awesome with getting back into shape! I will never give up on my health!!!

Jim 7-27-2010 @ 7:55PM

As an avid water drinker all my life, I have always told people, who ask me how I stay so thin, that I just drink water; no sodas at all. I suppose that is why I weigh 150 lbs. and stand at 5'9" tall. I also don't ever eat fast food, either. If you follow those two things, you will lose weight, even if you excercise very little or not at all, although I DO excercise regularly.

marshell roper 7-27-2010 @ 8:13PM

As to my previous post,I forgot to point out that drinking water played a big part to my losing those 86 pounds. Every time I felt the need to eat for no reason or to have a snack for not reason, like I did in the past, I would reach for my water and drink. Yes, I did live in the bathroom a lot, but the benefit was worth it. My skin stayed (is) beautiful and those cravings for unnecessary foods would leave and I would make it through the day and night without binging. Water is awesome with staying healthy and sticking to your diet(eating right)!!!!