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You do it all the time, but you don’t really know how much it gives your system a boost.

Recent research featured on WebMD has found that drinking water can help speed up weight loss. According to experts from Berlin’s Franz-Volhard Clinical Research Center, drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day can improve your metabolism.

For the trial, seven healthy men and women were asked to drink approximately 17 ounces of water, while their energy expenditure was being tracked. The results showed that the participants’ metabolic rates increased by 30 percent. The increases were monitored within ten minutes of drinking, and reached their maximum 30 to 40 minutes after. In women, metabolism was triggered by the increased breakdown of carbohydrates.

Researchers speculate that if a person consumed at least 1.5 liters of water a day for a year, she’s more likely to burn an extra 17,400 calories.

Of course, there are still a lot of factors that can affect weight loss, and water is just one part of it. If you really want to shake off those bulges, eat healthy, exercise daily, and live a positive lifestyle.