The benefits of drinking water are manifold - water flushes out toxins, speeds up your metabolism, prevents bad breath, regulates your body temperature, and so much more. But what about excessive water intake - like drinking 3 liters of water per day? Let's find out...
Facts About Drinking 3 Liters of Water Everyday
Did you know that up to 60% of your body consists of water? However, you may end up losing up to 64 ounces of water through your sweat, so it's really important to look at your hydration options carefully. While water is not a solution for all health-related problems, there are many benefits to drinking 3 liters of water everyday.
1. You lose weight faster
A celebrity trainer and fitness blogger said that if you consume at least 16 ounces of water in an hour, your metabolic rate can spike by 30% in the next 30 to 40 minutes. What does this mean?
This essentially means that drinking 3 liters of water per day can definitely help you lose weight faster. That's because water is one of the essential components for activating lipase, an enzyme responsible for the mobilization of fat.
Other benefits of drinking 3 liters of water per day are that you can stay off sugary drinks and be more physically active which will help you burn more calories during your workouts.
2. It improves the overall health of your skin
When you drink enough water, it gets absorbed through your kidneys and flushes out toxins that can cause skin problems. Staying hydrated means that you're actively working towards the clear and blemish-free skin.
However, drinking water will not remove your wrinkles which are a result of DNA damage from UV lights, etc. Water won't make those disappear because water has little to do with surface hydration.
3. It helps remove under-eye puffiness and dark circles
Basically, when your diet consists of high-sodium foods, the buildup of sodium can cause puffiness around your eyes and dark circles in some cases (although the latter is more hereditary and could be as a result of lack of sleep).
Drinking 3 liters of water will flush out excess sodium from your body and help reduce under-eye puffiness and dark circles.
Here Is How to Drink Enough Water
When you're aiming to drink 3 liters of water per day, simply drinking plain water can get boring, and you'll eventually drop the idea. Don't worry though - we have some awesome tips to keep you motivated and hydrated.
- Add flavor to your water
Adding subtle flavors like lemon, mint, watermelon, or cucumber can take the boredom of drinking plain water off the table. For best results, add fresh fruits and veggies to your water instead of artificial flavoring and concentrates.
- Track water intake with an app
Even if you're determined to unlock the benefits of drinking 3 liters of water per day, you may lose track if you get caught up with life. Download an app that sends you timely reminders to pick up your water bottle and chug according to your goals.
- Consume water-rich foods
Water-rich foods like cucumber, watermelon, and celery are great for snacking on. This is because of two things: their high water content means they're low-calorie snacks, and they can keep you hydrated without making the hydration process seem overbearing and boring.
- Sip water before meals
Sip water before your meals to stay hydrated. This can also help you lose weight as drinking water will make you feel full and reduce urges to eat more.
- Keep your water nearby
Keep your infusion bottle or water mug nearby. Keeping your water within eyesight will automatically prompt you to reach for it whenever you feel mildly thirsty.
Can Drink Excess Water Have Any Side Effects?
There are only a few negative side effects of drinking excess water, but you can't ignore the ones that do exist.
If you're drinking 3 liters of water per day, it's inevitable that you'll need to release the excess water through urine. This means you'll have to frequently seek out bathrooms if you're away from home.
Overhydration occurs when your body retains more fluid than your kidneys can process into the urine. This is also risky because excess fluid retention can hamper the balance of water and sodium in your blood. Overhydration can also cause other complications like congestive heart failure, liver disease, kidney problems, and uncontrollable diabetes.
Generally, the color of your urine is an indicator of your hydration levels: dark yellow urine means you're dehydrated whereas colorless urine could mean that you're overhydrated. Pale yellow urine means that you're optimally hydrated.
Make Hydration an Active Goal
There are many benefits to keeping yourself hydrated and choosing water as a hydration option is the best as it's always easily available. Try not to stray from your hydration goals, and you'll see the benefits soon.
Don't let the idea of too many bathroom trips discourage you from investing in the overall health of your body that can be helped by drinking 3 liters of water per day.