Drinking More Water Daily Reduced Your Calorie, Sodium And Sugar Intake

A recent study published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics reveals that an increased intake of water by 1 percent lessened the total daily intake of calorie, sodium, sugar and cholesterol. The plain water includes water from the drinking fountain, water from a cooler or bottle. 

The study consisted of over 18,300 U.S. adults, which found that people who drink more water every day reduced their intake by 68 to 295 calories daily and 78 to 235 grams of sodium. There are about 7 to 21 grams of cholesterol and 5 grams to almost 18 grams of sugar that resulted in a decrease as well, according to Professor Ruopeng An, community health professor and the author of a study at University of Illinois Kinesiology, Science Daily reported.

The study involved participants who were asked to remember the foods they eat and fluids they drink for two days. Professor An computed the amount of water intake daily by each person from food and drink combined. Drinks such as herbal tea, black tea and coffee were included by Prof. An in the calculation of the total dietary water consumption of each participant.

The results showed that the participants have water intake of about 4.2 cups intake daily, 2,151 calories on the average - this includes 432 calories from foods such as snack mixes, pastries and desserts and 125 calories from sugar-sweetened beverages. Ruopeng An also discovered an increased daily water intake by one percent can decrease 8.6 calories, as well as reduced the participants' intake of discretionary foods, sugar-sweetened beverage together with their fats, sodium, cholesterol and sugar intake.

"The impact of plain water intake on diet was similar to race/ethnicity, education and income levels and body weight status," An said. "This finding indicates that it might be sufficient to design and deliver universal nutrition interventions and education campaigns that promote plain water consumption in replacement of beverages with calories in diverse population subgroups without profound concerns about message and strategy customization." 

You have to drink six or eight 8-ounce of water or other fluids each day, WebMD stated. Hence, if the climate is hot and you exercise much or you have the flu and urinary tract infection, you should drink more water than usual.