The TRUTH About Water and Weight Loss
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted January 4, 2024
If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times. Folks insist one of the “best ways” to lose weight is to drink a LOT of cold water.
(Some online tips even advise drinking up to a gallon of it daily.)
Fans of water as a weight loss tool claim that drinking buckets of cold H2O causes you to burn a bunch more calories and makes you feel less hungry while you do.
But here’s the thing. This advice is not only misleading, but it’s ALSO potentially dangerous…
They say a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. And that is the case with the mistaken notion that drinking MASSIVE amounts of cold water will help you lose weight.
The misunderstanding comes from people misinterpreting studies.
You see, scientists HAVE tested whether drinking water can burn calories. Two studies found that drinking water DOES increase calorie burn.
But the most critical finding of those studies is often overlooked. And that is, the extra calorie burn wasn’t anything significant.
In fact, it only amounted to around an extra 20 calories burned daily. Not enough to have any meaningful impact on your weight.
Scientists have also tested if water makes you feel full, and it does… sort of.
In the studies where this was tested, folks KNEW they were being tested to see if water made them full. This is called an unblinded test.
So, it’s entirely possible (even likely) that these findings resulted from the power of suggestion or the so-called, placebo effect.
Now, to be clear, water IS vital to your health. And most older adults don’t drink enough of it.
But this DOESN’T mean you should drink a gallon a day or gulp down buckets of it quickly. After all, it IS possible to drink too much water.
To figure out if you’re drinking enough, monitor your urination schedule. You should be going at least every two hours.
And when you go, your urine should be a light-straw color—not necessarily clear, but definitely not bright yellow.
P.S. Want to shed some weight? Check out these EASY ways to LOSE a few pounds.
Source:
Girona M, et al., “Cardiovascular and metabolic responses to tap water ingestion in young humans: does the water temperature matter?” Acta Physiol (Oxf). 2014 Jun;211(2):358-70. doi: 10.1111/apha.12290. Epub 2014 Apr 15. PMID: 24684853.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
View More Free Articles
Doctor-Approved Method to Ditch Blood Pressure Meds
In a world where drug solutions dominate healthcare, it’s refreshing to discover that best remedies sometimes don’t involve a single pill. A groundbreaking study shows simple relaxation techniques could be your secret weapon against one of America’s deadliest health conditions. Best of all? It’s free, easy to start right away—and your results are bound to...
Trouble Hearing? Your Heart Could Be at Risk
With research exploding and data pouring in, scientists are uncovering some weird (and surprisingly helpful) health connections. Today’s odd couple? Hearing loss and heart failure. Turns out your ears and your ticker are more connected than you ever imagined. A major study published in the journal Heart looked at over 164,000 people for nearly a...
Stay Up Late? It Could Destroy Your Mental Health
If you dread mornings but come alive at night, there’s concerning new research you need to know about. A recent study found that “night owls” are at higher risk for depression. But before you rush to set your alarm to get up with the sun tomorrow, there’s more to the story… Chronotypes are essentially your...
Go from Flabby to Fit with this Common Vitamin
If you’re like many of us, you woke up one day, looked in the mirror, and realized you’re no spring chicken anymore. Even worse—when you weren’t paying attention—it seems you somehow misplaced the muscles of your youth and have gone from fit to flabby. Aging has a way of humbling us like that. But scientists...
Seasonal Allergy “Off Switch” Discovered in the GUT
“Doc, why am I suddenly suffering from seasonal allergies when I’ve never had them before?” It’s a question I get all the time—and my answer might surprise you. Stop looking up at the trees—and start looking down at your gut… Your sneezing fits, itchy eyes, and runny nose might have more to do with what’s...
“Canary in the Coal Mine” Test Sniffs Out Brain Issues Early
One of the most common questions I get is how to tell if you’re starting to experience cognitive decline. I get it—losing your memory is scary, especially when it sneaks up on you. But here’s some exciting news that might put your mind at ease. A fascinating new study suggests that your nose might be...
BEAT Stubborn Leg Swelling Without Dangerous Diuretics
“I need help with edema.” —Swollen Hi Swollen, When patients complain of edema—fluid retention that causes feet, ankles, and legs to swell—I explain that, while conventional medicine immediately prescribes diuretic drugs, nature offers us effective solutions we can try first. I’ll share those in just a moment, but first, let’s take a quick look at...
Mental Health Linked to 30% FASTER Aging [6-Step FIX]
Your mind and body are more connected than you might realize—and a groundbreaking new study proves just how profound that connection really is. In fact, it’s this mind-body link that helps explain why battling depression can put you on the fast track to physical decline. Depression is the most common mental health condition worldwide. We’ve...
The Air You Breathe Is Silently Stealing Your Memory
You already know that air pollution damages your lungs. Chances are you’ve heard it can also harm your heart. And I bet you won’t be surprised when I tell you it claims millions of lives annually. But now, alarming new research suggests polluted air might also damage your brain. This study found that long-term exposure...
Get Intermittent Fasting Benefits Without Going Hungry
Intermittent fasting, which involves cycling between eating and fasting periods, is effective. There’s plenty of evidence for that. It’s not just weight loss, either. Intermittent fasting has significant benefits for metabolic health. However, many people find fasting difficult to stick to—and others can’t do it at all due to medical issues—so they miss out on...