Drinking an ample amount of water daily is not just vital for one’s overall wellbeing – it could also play a pivotal role in weight reduction efforts. While the NHS recommends six to eight glasses of water per day to maintain hydration, one nutritionist has suggested how much to have before meals to help keep the pounds at bay. Sushma Jaiswal, a dietitian from Bangalore, India, argued that two glasses of water before a meal will help those aiming to slim down. Her YouTube video starts by mirroring the NHS’s suggestion to stay hydrated but adds that personal factors such as age, gender, and body mass can influence this guideline. Sushma said: ” Research has proved that 12-13 glasses of water for a man and eight to nine glasses of water for a woman will result in weight loss. Now the thing is, if you drink one to two glasses of water before meals, that has a remarkable effect on weight loss, because you then tend to eat less food.” Water plays a crucial role in diets focused on weight loss by being calorie-free, potentially increasing metabolic rate, and assisting in appetite suppression when consumed before meals. Choosing water over sugary drinks also has the advantage, offering a straightforward strategy to decrease sugar and caloric intake, reports Gloucestershire Live . In addition, Sushma highlighted that having water before eating could lead to feeling full, which may help people consume less and support weight management strategies. Moreover, Medical News Today reported that feeling full sends a signal to your brain to stop eating. Water can play a significant role in creating this sense of fullness, potentially aiding in appetite control and helping to stave off hunger pangs. Water is also crucial for metabolising both the fat from our diet and stored body fat. Adopting the practice of quenching thirst with water can help prevent overindulgence and support weight loss efforts. It’s worth considering that sometimes when you feel peckish, it could be thirst rather than hunger. Choosing to take a sip of water instead of reaching for a snack could be just what your body needs to avoid unnecessary eating. Sushma expanded on this to say: “Those who drink two glasses of water before a meal lose weight faster and much more than the people who don’t. What water does is it carries all the nutrient to all your body cells. So water is very important in the weight loss procedure.” For those who aren’t fond of plain water, the expert recommended enhancing it with a splash of lemon or by infusing it with berries or herbs such as fenugreek seeds. Research continues to bolster the link between increased water intake and weight loss. Some health experts even describe water as a natural appetite suppressant. A study featured in the Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine involving 50 overweight women observed that consuming 500ml of water half an hour before meals led to reductions in body weight, body fat, and BMI. Additionally, these women experienced decreased hunger after maintaining this habit over an eight-week period. Another study, published in the journal Acta Physiologica , highlighted the role water plays in calorie burning. This particular research, involving twelve participants, found that after consuming 500ml of both cold and room temperature water, people showed an increased energy output, burning an extra two to three per cent more calories than usual in the 90 minutes following consumption. Moreover, drinking water can assist in flushing out waste from the body, which could potentially lead to a slight decrease in weight. When toxins and waste build up in the body, it can cause bloating, puffiness and fatigue. Bloating can result in a person’s waistline expanding.