By Craig Ballantyne

When it comes to losing weight, we often need to use every trick in the book. And according to researchers from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, one of those tricks might be having a little H2O before you eat.

Researchers had young (ages 21-35) and old (ages 60-80) subjects drink 1.5 to 2 cups of water 30 minutes before a meal. They were then allowed to eat as much food as they wanted. The researchers compared the results to the amount they ate during a meal without the water.

Drinking the water did not affect how much food the younger subjects ate, but it reduced the older subjects' food intake by about 10 percent. And it worked particularly well to curb the appetites of older men.

If you're over 35, grab a glass of water before you sit down to eat. It won't replace the need for a good diet and exercise. But it might help you control your appetite.

[Ed. Note: Fitness expert Craig Ballantyne is the creator of the Turbulence Training for Fat Loss system. If you want a free online source of information, motivation, and social support to help you improve your health, lose weight, and get fit, sign up for ETR's free natural health e-letter.]

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