By: Katie Fisher

We all know how important water is for our health, but can it actually get you looking good in time for swimsuit season?

Michele Dudash, registered dietician and culinary expert, says you may be surprised how much water can help in your quest to slim down.

According to Dudash, in a recent study on water’s effect on weight loss, researchers followed overweight women who were participating in a Stanford-based weight loss program for one year.

At the end of the study, they found that women who drank more water also lost more weight, independent of how much they exercised.

So how can you start factoring water into your own weight loss plan?

Dudash says replacing sugary drinks with water is one of the quickest ways to cut calories, but there is some evidence that using water as your beverage of choice can help in other ways, too.

Drinking a glass of water before and during meals can help you to slow down your eating pace and feel full more quickly, saving on extra calories.

Confused about how much water you actually need to down to stay hydrated and healthy this summer?

Dudash says the one-size-fits-all recommendation of 8 eight-ounce glasses of water per day is not a magic number.

Every person’s water needs are unique and vary according to factors like activity level and the weather outside. Guidelines suggest an average woman needs 2.7 liters per day while an average man needs 3.7 liters per day, according to Dudash.

But these guidelines refer to the total water in your diet, which includes water in beverages like coffee and the water that is part of the foods you eat. Fruits, vegetables, and broth-based soups are examples of water-rich foods.

Dudash tells ABC15, in a research study that compared the diets of over 1,000 young women to their body mass index, researchers found that women who ate more water-rich foods were slimmer than those who ate less watery foods. The more water-rich foods you consume each day, the slimmer you are likely to be.
Check out Dudash’s other key points to help you “sip yourself slimmer” with water.

Drink water with meals and throughout the day when you feel thirsty
There is no need to force down gallons. Drinking an excessive amount of water can be harmful, so use common sense.

Aim for five-a-day
Fruits and vegetables are as rich in water as they are in nutrition and count towards your total water requirements.

Keep a pitcher of cold water in your refrigerator
Drinking ice water may even help you burn a few extra calories since energy is required to raise the cold water to body temperature.

Add flavor without adding calories
If you think plain water is too, well, plain, ginger and cucumber slices, mint sprigs and lime wedges or fresh torn basil leaves are refreshing ways to flavor your water.

For more tips on eating healthier every day, subscribe to Dudash’s blog at www.michelledudash.com

source: http://www.abc15.com/dpp/lifestyle/wellness/slim-down-secrets%3A-water-and-weight-loss—-how-to-sip-yourself-slimmer