Research

indicates that drinking at least eight eight-ounce

glasses of water a day can help with weight loss. Water

also can contribute to the success of any exercise

program, since dehydration causes fatigue, and many

people who are too tired to exercise don't realize they

are dehydrated.

According

to the National Center for Nutrition and Dietetics, water

speeds weight loss by surpressing the appetite naturally

and helping the body metabolize stored fat. Drinking more

water also helps eliminate water retention.

"A

common complaint of women trying to lose weight is water

retention, so they don't drink water. Yet, when your body

senses it is dehydrated, it holds onto every drop -

the result is greater water retention," said

Christine Palumbo, RD, member of the Crystal Springs Good

Health Advisory Board. "When you drink enough water,

the body releases excess water and helps prevent the

bloating that is the primary symptom of water

retention."

Stay clear

of beverages with caffeine, warns Palumbo, because

caffeine acts as a diuretic, robbing the body of water,

while sugared drinks contribute to weight gain.

Drinking

more water also fits into getting fit. According to the

textbook, Exercise Physiology, when athletes are

dehydrated by just 4 percent, performance drops by 22

percent. The solution is to drink plenty of water, but

don't wait until you're thirsty.

"Thirst

is an imprecise indicator of dehydration. By the time you

are thirsty, you are already dehydrated," said

Lawrence Ross, M.D.

It's

recommended that active adults drink two thirds of an

ounce of water daily for each pound of body weight.

Other

health information is available through the web site at ,

www.water.com

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