Photo: John Flinchbaugh / Flickr

Many people have tried drugs and supplements, crazy maple syrup diets, and in some cases even major surgery to lose weight. To no avail. Now it looks like the answer to weight loss might be as easy as sipping on a glass of water. You can drink water without a prescription, you needn’t worry about nasty side-effects, and it’s very cheap. Too good to be true? According to American scientists, no, not at all. According to a recent report, just two 8 ounce glasses of the latest weight loss elixir before meals will help you shed unwanted pounds.

Scientists report results of a new clinical trial confirming that just two 8-ounce glasses of the stuff, taken before meals, enables people to shed pounds.

How it works

It’s simple, really. Water has zero calories, and fills you up. As a result you feel fuller, and you’re likely to eat less. Water also works better than sugar-free diet drinks, too. And it’s much cheaper, and healthier.

The study

The study monitored 48 adults aged between 55 and 47. The participants were divided into two groups: one who drank two glasses of water before meals, and one who didn’t. Over 12 weeks on a low-calorie meal plan, those drinking the water before eating lost around 15.5 pounds. Those who didn’t drink water lost only around 11 pounds.

So it seems drinking water definitely works – as long as it’s combined with a healthy diet not too high in calories.

So don’t just exercise and eat well. Drink water, too. Just don’t drink too much of it, as that can be just as bad for your health as drinking too little. Experts suggest drinking between eight and ten glasses of water a day. Also consider investing in a water filter so what you’re drinking is as healthy as possible.

Tags: drinking water, lose weight, water filter