Researchers have finally found a magic drink that can help pounds melt like butter on a hot bagel.

It’s called water. Hey! True. Plain ol’ tap water — preferably run through a charcoal filter. Downing an extra 33 ounces a day — about 1 quart more than you’re already drinking — could help you shed an additional 2.5 pounds over the course of a year-long diet.

True, that’s not going to put you in a new pants size, but it might reduce the little muffin top that’s rolling over your waistbands. At least that’s how it worked in a study of women on various popular diets. Those who either upped their water intake or replaced sweet drinks with water lost about an extra 2.5 pounds. But it had to be water: Switching to or adding diet drinks didn’t do a thing.

Why does H2O give dieters an edge? It may help reduce calorie intake — if you’re putting it in your mouth, you’re not putting a cookie there. Or it may alter your metabolism in some helpful way. But, sorry, drinking water by itself — without cutting out the curly fries — doesn’t melt pounds. The women who benefited from the extra H2O were all on reduced-calorie eating plans.

The cheapest way to get quality water is to pour it through a charcoal filter (the type in refillable pitchers) or attach one to your tap. It knocks out chemicals such as chlorine, lead, and mercury. Just keep the filter clean: Dirty ones leach the bad stuff right back into your glass.

  • Share/Bookmark