Can Water Help Me Lose Weight ... And 7 Other Hydration Questions Answered

By Rachael Moeller Gorman, contributing editor for EatingWell Magazine

Do you really need eight glasses of water every day? Should you filter your tap water? Get answers to these questions and more -- including if vitamin-spiked water is worth it.

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Do I Need 8 Glasses Of Water A Day?

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The Institute of Medicine says adult men need about 13 cups (3 liters) per day of fluid; adult women need about 9 cups (2.2 liters) of fluid. (You get about an additional 2 1/2 cups of fluid from foods.) "But one size doesn't fit all," says Leslie Bonci, R.D., C.S.S.D., director of sports nutrition at the Center for Sports Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and dietitian for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Your size and activity level affect your fluid requirements. Simply put, the larger and more active you are, the more you'll need. "The easiest thing that anybody could do on a daily basis is monitor their urine color," says Douglas Casa, Ph.D., A.T.C., who studies hydration at the University of Connecticut. "Lighter urine color -- like lemonade -- means you're generally well-hydrated. If it's darker, like apple juice, you are most likely dehydrated." Older adults' fluid needs don't change, but they're more likely to become dehydrated because their sense of thirst declines. Pregnant women and nursing mothers need slightly more water. Some medications, such as antihistamines and certain antidepressants, increase your fluid needs too. More From EatingWell: Why Drink Water? 7 Health Shockers That Will Make You Grab Your Water Bottle Are You Dehydrated? How proper hydration can help you run harder, think better, even improve our national security 4 Natural Workout-Boosting Foods

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The Institute of Medicine says adult men need about 13 cups (3 liters) per day of fluid; adult women need about 9 cups (2.2 liters) of fluid. (You get about an additional 2 1/2 cups of fluid from foods.)

"But one size doesn't fit all," says Leslie Bonci, R.D., C.S.S.D., director of sports nutrition at the Center for Sports Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and dietitian for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Your size and activity level affect your fluid requirements. Simply put, the larger and more active you are, the more you'll need.

"The easiest thing that anybody could do on a daily basis is monitor their urine color," says Douglas Casa, Ph.D., A.T.C., who studies hydration at the University of Connecticut. "Lighter urine color -- like lemonade -- means you're generally well-hydrated. If it's darker, like apple juice, you are most likely dehydrated."

Older adults' fluid needs don't change, but they're more likely to become dehydrated because their sense of thirst declines. Pregnant women and nursing mothers need slightly more water. Some medications, such as antihistamines and certain antidepressants, increase your fluid needs too.

More From EatingWell:

Why Drink Water? 7 Health Shockers That Will Make You Grab Your Water Bottle

Are You Dehydrated? How proper hydration can help you run harder, think better, even improve our national security

4 Natural Workout-Boosting Foods

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Contributing editor Rachael Moeller Gorman recently won a James Beard Award for her EatingWell story "Captain of the Happier Meal" (May/June 2010).

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Comments

[William Anderson LMHC]

08:57 AM on 09/28/2011

Some good info here. Here's some more, my blog article answering patients' question, "Will drinking lots of water really help me lose weight?" http://theandersonmethod.com/will-drinking-a-lot-of-water-help-me-lose-weight/

William Anderson, LMHC
Author of 'The Anderson Method - Secrets of Permanent Weight Loss'
www.TheAndersonMethod.com

[Kidney Stone Pain Center]

04:01 AM on 09/06/2011

After suffering from a severe attack of kidney stone pain about 18 months ago I now drink plenty of water in fact I drink bottles of the stuff. I even wrote a post on my blog called "Kidney Stone Pain Sufferers Should Drink More Water". I also eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and veg and NO processed foods (No more Big Macs lol). Also I rely on natural sources of vitamins and minerals and NOT supplements. Common sense seems to have left the building in this world of ours.

[OMGWTH]

06:46 AM on 08/07/2011

I found out firsthand, and very painfully, how bad dehydration can be. One night in the ER with severe kidney stone pain was enough for me to pull out my Brita pitcher and fill it up every morning. No problems since, knock wood.

[veritas88]

01:00 AM on 08/07/2011

The wonders of osmosis! Water is necessary for many chemical reactions in the body, including lipolysis. It seems water makes the body a more efficient "machine". Your body works better when properly hydrated.

[Adolescent Blues]

04:52 AM on 08/06/2011

I have what i call WATER THERAPY compulsory for all my clients(beauty/weight loss programme) Regular water drinking does not just help you shed weight it also act as the most ''cheapest and best moisturizer'' you can ever get. Glows your skin!!!

[TheSardonicAtheist]

07:26 PM on 08/05/2011

I go through my 1000ml bottle of water at least three times a day. Only downside is visiting the bathroom more frequently. Otherwise, drink up!

[Adolescent Blues]

04:49 AM on 08/06/2011

Sure lots of people worry about frequent urine but that's the best part cos that's when the toxins and other rubbish in the system are flushed out. I only worry about clean decent loos.....when am on the run...and outside busy working

[shellydacunha]

05:03 PM on 08/05/2011

We should be happy to HAVE enough to eat.. there are plenty of Americans doing without proper nourishment. It's irritated me for years that these "liberal" types minister an array of vitamins and kinesiology but only to people w/money to burn. They NEVER respond when I ask them why they don't 'donate' some time and resources to Latinos in L.A. who desperately need these things. Good Health seems to belong to those with disposable time and income. It's an indictment of the greed-driven world we're now living in. Nice legacy.

[posttheist]

01:31 PM on 08/05/2011

I drink a minimum of 64oz. of ice water a day. Lost a lot of weight when I started doing this. The water helped but the ice did as well since my body had to work harder to keep my body temp up.

[The Revolving Diet]

03:49 PM on 08/04/2011

Water is a hell of a lot tbetter for you than filling up on diet and regualr sodas filled with ridiculous amounts of sugar. I have always drank a lot of water and while dieting I find I drink more to help fill me up. A good protion of diets tell you to have a glass of water before a meal. The best advice so far out of all the diets I blog about is ....take a sip of water between each bite of food. You will notice you get fuller faster than having that glass before the meal and you are satisfied (even too full) after the meal is over.

Water helps your joints, clears complextion and cleans the pipes ( you pee a lot if you drink a lot)

There are issues with everything (chemicals, etc....) water is a necessity

[William Anderson LMHC]

11:31 AM on 08/04/2011

"Does drinking water help me lose weight?" is one of the most frequent questions I am asked as a weight loss expert. Here's a complete answer from my blog: http://theandersonmethodblog.wordpress.com/2011/05/11/will-drinking-a-lot-of-water-help-me-lose-weight/

William Anderson, LMHC
Author of 'The Anderson Method - Secrets of Permanent Weight Loss'
www.TheAndersonMethod.com

[thegrrrr8est]

07:57 AM on 08/04/2011

Funny how the command to drink 64 ounces of water a day coincided with the advent of water being sold in plastic bottles.

[abhorson]

05:45 AM on 08/04/2011

Not stuffing your face until your stomach hurts will help you lose weight.

Not getting in your car to go to the bathroom will help you lose weight.

Forgetting the words "sure, XL'it for me" will ... allow the paramedics to get you out the door without a crane.

Liposuction is NOT weight loss.

Lap bands are not a way of life....

[jcd8822]

01:00 AM on 08/04/2011

I arrived at my summer place May 13th. I started toting my 32 oz. mug full of water. I fill it three or four times a day. By this past week I had lost 22 pounds. I will admit I started eating healthier and quit eating as much as I use to. Sometimes I drink a homemade lime aide made with organic agave necter. Talk about great tasting on a hot day.

[Scottsman]

11:22 PM on 08/03/2011

Yes water in america will help you lose weight, its sooooooo full of Monsanto's chemical crap, cancer is a absolute. Enjoy the weight loss

[Giverny]

08:34 PM on 08/03/2011

My husband and I are water advocates also. When he was golfing a few years ago, his hands began to act arthritic when he read an article that said he might be not drinking enough water. He makes sure now to drink at least 9 eight ounce glasses and usually more per day. No aches and no more hand issues.