Stop Mistaking Thirst for Hunger

As the weather starts to get warmer, many of us are starting to think about getting in better shape for the summer. It’s no surprise that involves a balance of exercise and being mindful about your diet – but most of us are so focused on what we’re eating that we forget entirely about what we’re drinking. I’m not referring to alcohol or soda – I’m talking about water.

More than half the human body is made up of water (averaging 50-60% for adults). Throughout the day you’re consistently using water to digest food, hydrate your organs and cells (and keep your skin fresh and glowing!), regulate your internal temperature though sweat, and a number of other activities that are crucial for you to function normally.

Your body signals you throughout the day when you need to replenish your water reserves and drink more, but here’s the critical secret:

Dehydration cues feel almost indistinguishable from hunger cravings.

This means unless you’re critically dehydrated (or very practiced at discerning your body’s signals), you’ll incorrectly interpret your body’s request for water as a need to snack.

Understanding this one fact revolutionized my lengthy weight loss journey and has helped me maintain my goal weight for years. It’s easy and tempting to reach for a snack – after all our brains literally receive a dopamine hit when we eat, especially sugary and fatty foods. (This is a lingering result of evolution designed to encourage our neanderthal ancestors to survive by eating high calorie foods.) But nine times out of ten we’re giving ourselves the wrong kind of fuel, eating unnecessary calories, and ensuring the dehydration cue will linger and create a vicious snacking cycle.

I’ll challenge you to try this for the next week: when you feel a hunger pang, drink a glass of water instead and wait ten minutes. Most of the time the craving will cease, but if you’re still feeling hungry you can trust it’s a legitimate hunger cue and eat something with full confidence. I found this cut over 1,000 unnecessary calories out of my diet every day and made both my skin and digestion noticeably better.

Diet and hydration are crucial factors in achieving and maintaining your goal body. We all deserve to feel comfortable in our own skin so stay tuned for more scientific recommendations and deliciously healthy recipes!