Fuel Calorie Burn with Water

Proposition: Drinking water to burn calories.

Basis:

1. 1 calorie is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1g of water by 1Degree Celsius.
2. Mammals maintain an almost constant core body temperature
3. Maintenance of body temperature is achieved through thermogenesis and the energy expended gets accounted under a person’s Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

So, if a person consumes 1 Liter of water maintained at room temperature (24 Deg Celsius) his/her body needs expend certain amount of energy to bring the temperature of the water to the level same as that of the core body temperature. The rationale behind this statement is that the water consumed by a mammal moves from the digestive tract and enters the blood stream. Since blood circulates throughout the body it has to have a temperature comparable to the core body temperature. The excess water will eventually be expelled from the body through urination but not before having attained the body’s temperature.

Math:

1. Total rise in temperature = 37 – 24 = 13 Deg Celsius
2. Total Quantity of water = 1 Liter (Approx 1000 Grams)

Therefore total amount of heat expended = 13 * 1 * 1000 = 13 K Cal

If the efficiency of human body in terms of oxidizing glucose to generate heat is taken into account then the total calories burnt becomes even more impressive.

Conclusion: If the above stated proposition is true then it is possible to burn calories just by consuming water, and the amount of calories consumed will be directly proportional to the difference in temperature of the water and that of the body.

Implication: Apropos to the 3^rd point mentioned under the basis section, it is implied that consumption of water (food) that is at a temperature lower the body’s own will bring about an increase in BMR. This validity of this statement is questionable as the increase in BMR is transient and may be (is) accounted by a mass that cannot be accounted as body’s own.