Does eating ice help with weight loss?

Lots of clients have the habit of eating ice continuously throughout the day. I get the question often “Does this help or hurt my weight loss program?” Let’s take a deeper look at just how ice effects the body’s metabolism and fat burning features.

Like many behaviors and habits, eating ice is a small part of a lifestyle conducive to weight loss. If someone is trying to lose weight and already eats ice regularly, that action will not inhibit the achievement of his ultimate goal. However, eating ice to lose weight will not create measurable results without him adding another more effective weight loss method.

 

The Metabolism of Ice

In order for the body to metabolize ice water, it must be heated to normal body temperature, which is 37 degrees Celcius. That process burns just under 1 calorie per oz. Someone who downs eight glasses of cold water each day burns about 62 calories. That is a far cry from the 3,500 calories that compose a single pound of body weight. Drinking eight glasses of water per day for seven days burns about 430 calories per week or 6 lbs., 8 oz. each year. Eating ice causes weight loss but certainly does not singlehandedly require a new, smaller wardrobe.

 

The Bigger Picture: A Tall Glass of Cold Water

Drop those ice cubes into a tall glass of cold water and the plot thickens, while the waistline heads in the opposite direction. Water is the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off. The human body is comprised of about 70 percent water, which naturally suppresses appetite by filling the stomach. The kidneys also depend on water to filter wastes from the body. If there is a water shortage, the liver serves as a back-up to the kidneys.

 

Hydration Impacts Metabolic Rate

The liver is responsible for metabolizing stored fat to be used for energy. However, when it is called upon to do the work of the kidneys, it cannot operate at its full capacity. As a result, the liver metabolizes less fat and weight loss is unlikely. Even slight dehydration causes a 2 to 3 percent decline in resting metabolic rate (RMR), which is the number of calories burned during periods of inactivity. Since the RMR accounts for most of the calories burned on a daily basis, even a slight drop in it has a significant, long-term effect.

 

To Sum It Up

When the body gets the water it needs to function properly, it burns more fat, fluid retention is alleviated, and the stomach does not feel as hungry. Eating ice contributes to overall water intake and also plays a role in the loss of unwanted pounds — minuscule, yes, but something is better than nothing.

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