Obesity hydrogen

Can hydrogen rich water help you lose weight?

Have you heard about hydrogen water? Numerous studies have shown that molecular hydrogen is a powerful antioxidant that helps to reduce oxidative stress and prevent or improve health issues throughout the body. Consumption of molecular hydrogen has been proven effective in the treatment of conditions such as heart disease, psoriasis, asthma, sleep apnea, and glaucoma, and new research shows that molecular hydrogen may also help to improve your metabolism, significantly reducing your risk for obesity and other metabolic conditions.

A 2011 study published in the scientific journal Obesity looked at the dynamic movement of hydrogen in the body, tracking the increase of hydrogen concentrations after consumption of hydrogen-rich water. Researchers found that hydrogen levels increased in the liver, improving liver health and reducing the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

The study also found that increased concentrations of hydrogen in the blood led to reduced levels of plasma glucose, insulin, and triglycerides – decreasing the risk for metabolic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Researchers noted that “long-term drinking H(2)-water significantly controlled fat and body weights,” even without changes to the subjects’ dietary intake.

How did consumption of molecular hydrogen help participants control fat and body weight? Researchers also looked at the affect that hydrogen had on gene expression profiles to see how the molecule was working at a cellular level. They noted that increased hydrogen levels led to the expression of a hormone in the liver called, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), which functions to enhance fatty acid and glucose expenditure. In other words, consumption of molecular hydrogen stimulated the metabolism and helped participants utilize glucose and fatty acids more quickly and efficiently.

This 2018 study, published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science, confirmed those results. In this study, researchers looked at the effects of molecular hydrogen on body composition, hormonal status, and mitochondrial function in middle-aged overweight women.

Half of the participants in the study consumed enriched levels of hydrogen while the other half were given a placebo. After four weeks, researchers found that the women who consumed hydrogen had significantly reduced body fat percentage and arm fat indices compared to the women who took the placebo. Women in the hydrogen group also had lower triglycerides and fasting blood insulin levels than the women in the placebo group. Researchers concluded that “orally administered H2…might be a beneficial agent in the management of body composition and insulin resistance in obesity.”

The research is clear that consumption of molecular hydrogen can help improve your metabolism and reduce the risk for obesity as well as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and other related health risks.