Can drinking water boost metabolism?
Drinking a lot of water is sometimes suggested as a simple way to stimulate metabolic rate. This means that energy expenditure increases, which can ultimately result in weight/fat loss.
Specifically, it is suggested that the ingested water is heated up to body temperature, which requires energy. However, is this really the case?
This study investigated the effect of drinking purified (distilled) water on resting metabolism (resting metabolic rate). Subjects completed two trials on which they consumed either 500 ml purified water or did fake drinking (bringing the glass to the mouth but not drinking).
Drinking purified water increased resting metabolic rate with 2.7%, while the fake drinking condition also increased metabolism with 1.5%.
This ~3% increase in resting metabolism is almost negligible and much lower than some earlier studies claimed. It is also lower than the theoretical cost of heating up the water from room temperature to body temperature.
It seems that some of the earlier studies used other methodology which may not be best for investigating this effect. In addition, it is likely that the energy for heating the water simply comes from body heat that would be lost anyway.
Therefore, drinking water may have a small effect on resting metabolism. However, this effect is probably too small to significantly impact your weight loss goals.
Study:
Charriere et al, Water-induced thermogenesis and fat oxidation: a reassessment. Nutr Diabetes 2015.
Go to the next infographic in the dieting series:
Rapid weight loss is bad for body composition?
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