The he simplest, quickest metabolic boost could be as easy as a few cups of water. In a study from the Journal of Endocrinology & Metabolism, 14 healthy, normal-weight participants (seven men and seven women) were studied for the effect of drinking 500 ml (about 2 cups) of water on energy expenditure and oxidation rates. Drinking 500 ml of water “increased metabolic rate by 30%. The increase occurred within 10 minutes and reached a maximum after 30–40 minutes.”

Burn More Calories Resting

This finding is not an outlier. The International Journal of Obesity says “drinking water significantly elevates the resting energy expenditure (REE) in adults” and that “low water intake is associated with obesity and lesser success in weight reduction.”

To examine the effect of drinking water on the REE of overweight kids, 21 overweight but otherwise healthy children drank extra cold water and their metabolism was measured before and after ingestion for 66 min. Their metabolism experienced “an increase of up to 25% in REE following the drinking of 10 ml of cold water… lasting for over 40 min.”

Water Obese Kids

To examine the effect of drinking water on the REE of overweight kids, 21 overweight but otherwise healthy children drank extra cold water and their metabolism was measured before and after ingestion for 66 minutes. Their metabolism experienced “an increase of up to 25% in REE following the drinking of 10 ml of cold water…lasting for over 40 minutes.”

2 Glasses 3 Times A Day

In a study on 50 overweight girls, the effect of drinking 1,500 ml of water, over and above the participant’s daily water intake, on body weight, body mass index (BMI) and body composition was assessed.

This study was conducted for eight weeks, during which the girls were instructed to drink 500 ml of water, three times a day, half an hour before breakfast, lunch and dinner, which was above their daily water intake.

10 Pounds Lost To Water

With the only change in their diets being additional water, the girls drinking the water dropped 9.78 pounds compared to less than one pound in the control group. The weight loss “results were highly significant statistically.” The girls lost body weight, BMI and had improved body composition scores.

Cold Water Effect

It would seem colder water would have an even greater effect. About 40% of the metabolic effect originated from the body warming the water from 71 to 98 °F.