Your health: Drink more water to lose weight
The benefits of drinking plain water
Most Americans have an unlimited supply of clean water to quench our thirsts. Yet many of us instead reach for other beverages, such as sodas, juices, coffee and tea.
A recent study in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics provides evidence as to why we should choose water over other drinks if we want to control our weight, Harvard Health Publications reports.
For the study, researchers from the University of Illinois looked at data on the eating (and drinking) habits of 18,311 adults. Survey participants reported their consumption of plain water (which included tap water, water from fountains and water coolers and bottled water) as well as their consumption of other beverages. Participants were also questioned about their intake of “energy-dense, nutrient-poor” foods, like cookies, ice cream, chips, and pastries.
On average, participants drank 4.2 cups of plain water a day and took in 2,157 calories. About 125 of those calories came from sweetened beverages, and about 432 calories came from nutrient-poor foods.
The researchers found that the participants who drank the most plain water consumed fewer total calories, drank fewer sweetened beverages, and took in less fat, sugar, salt, and cholesterol.
In fact, they discovered that increasing plain water consumption by one to three cups a day could decrease calorie intake by 68 to 205 calories a day.
That could add up to a lot fewer calories over time — and result in significant weight loss.
Millennials struggle to afford health care
One in 5 adults ages 18 to 36 said they cannot afford routine health care expenses, according to a recent Harris Poll.
Many of those millennials are uninsured because of the cost, CNBC reports. An additional 26 percent said they can afford routine health care costs but with difficulty.
The Harris Poll surveyed 1,171 millennials and found that 7 in 10 consider cost to be a “very important” factor when looking for health care.
Even as the percentage of millennials without health insurance drops, 16 percent of young adults do not plan on having insurance in 2017, according to the survey. That includes 47 percent of those who are already uninsured. The most common reason: lack of affordability.