Water is the best beverage if you want to lose weight

​ Washington D.C: Toss out the expensive weight loss pills and fruit juice diets and start drinking a lot of water for a healthier and thinner you, according to a recent study.

The University of Illinois study that examined the dietary habits of more than 18,300 U.S. adults found the majority of people who increased their consumption of plain water, tap water or from a cooler, drinking fountain or bottle, by 1 percent reduced their total daily calorie intake as well as their consumption of saturated fat, sugar, sodium and cholesterol.

People who increased their consumption of water by one, two or three cups daily decreased their total energy intake by 68 to 205 calories daily and their sodium intake by 78 to 235 grams. They also consumed 5 grams to nearly 18 grams less sugar and decreased their cholesterol consumption by 7 to 21 grams daily.

Researcher Ruopeng An said that the impact of plain water intake on diet was similar across race/ethnicity, education and income levels and body weight status.

An noted that this finding indicates that it might be sufficient to design and deliver universal nutrition interventions and education campaigns that promote plain water consumption in replacement of beverages with calories in diverse population subgroups without profound concerns about message and strategy customization.

The study was published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.