Japanese water therapy is a practice that involves drinking water in a specific manner, often claimed to have health benefits, including weight loss. Although Japanese water therapy originated in Japan, it has become popular around the world. This article explains the practice of Japanese water therapy for weight loss purposes.
As per this practice, you have to drink 4 to 5 glasses (180 ml each) of room temperature water or warm water on an empty stomach every morning, 45 minutes before any food or drink (followers of this therapy believe that drinking cold water may result in hardening of fats and oils in your digestive tract, which in turn can result in various diseases). Beginners can take 1 to 2 glasses and then gradually increase the water quantity. After that, throughout the day, drink water as you normally would.
Additionally, most proponents recommend strict eating windows of 15 minutes with a break of at least 2 hours before you eat or drink anything else. This can further reduce calorie intake.
Advocates of this Japanese practice assert that it helps you lose weight, clear your digestive system, improve your gut health, and lower the risks of conditions like type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.
One potential risk of this water therapy is that you may become overly hydrated (also known as water intoxication). This can severely lower the concentration of sodium in your bloodstream, which in turn can result in various adverse health effects.
Although people practicing Japanese water therapy for weight loss claim that it is beneficial for weight loss, there is inadequate scientific evidence to support it. Research is mixed and inconclusive when answering the weight loss benefit of Japanese water therapy. Importantly, Japanese water therapy-specific studies are lacking.
By the way, it is important to understand that weight loss is a complex process that involves factors such as caloric intake, physical exercise, metabolism, genetics, and overall lifestyle. Instead of relying solely on water therapy, it’s more effective to adopt a balanced and sustainable approach to weight management. This includes consuming a healthy balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity, staying hydrated throughout the day, getting enough sleep, and consulting with healthcare professionals for personalized guidance.
