Your body is made up of up to 70 percent water. Drinking water increases fat metabolism. Proper hydration will increase your metabolic rate and assist in hormonal control. Every chemical reaction requires at least one water molecule. Therefore, the more water you drink, the more fat you will break down. Researchers in Germany believe that drinking cold water increases your metabolic rate by 30 percent for up to 90 minutes. On the flip side, dehydration can decrease the presence of fat burning hormones including, growth hormone and testosterone, which are released when exercising.

Drink the majority of your water between meals and avoid drinking too much with food, as it can interfere with digestion. For optimum fat-loss, I recommend consuming one ounce for each pound of lean body mass every day. Also, because alcohol and coffee can lead to an electrolyte imbalance and mineral deficiency it’s important to limit your intake of both.