Is there such a thing as too much water? Let’s consider this. Water is important to cooling your body and to eliminating waste from your system. You have to remember that more than half your human body is water. You receive water and hydration from numerous sources and are not limited to drinking only water. Most recommendations suggest 8 8-ounce glasses of water a day.
If you are like me though, the idea of trying to gulp down 64+ ounces of water is not really that appealing. New studies suggest that only about 80 percent of your water is obtained through drinking it; the other 20 percent comes from your food. The National Academies of Science state that women should consume about 91 ounces of water, but men should consume around 125 ounces.
Where Else Do We Get Water From?
As stated above, we find water in other sources including:
- Juice
- Milk
- Coffee
- Tea
- Soda
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Some meats
Consider if you will, that your body will tell you when it is thirsty, If you live in a very hot climate – it will ask for more water. For people trying to lose weight, you should also recognize that sometimes you might mistake thirst for hunger. Our bodies will hunger for food when it is heading towards dehydration because it wants the water found in the food.
When Hungry, Have a Glass of Water
So dieters might try the following solution to decrease their dehydration as well as reducing their caloric intake without starving themselves. When you feel hunger, drink a glass of water before getting something to eat. The water may be exactly what your body is looking for and even if it is not, it can actually partially fill your stomach and you will actually eat less food and your body will retain less water. It’s a win-win situation for a healthy diet if you are looking to cut back on your calorie intake.
Interestingly enough, the study that found water consumption can be found from a variety of sources. The same study found that sedentary people who do not exercise or perspire a great deal do not need to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day, instead they need only four or five glasses of water. Still, water is a very vital resource and while you may think it’s impossible to drink too much water – it’s not.
Excessive water can cause hypnonatremia. Hypnonatremia is a condition where excess water consumption leads to reduced salt in the blood stream. Symptoms may include headaches, extreme diarrhea, weakness, confusion and in some rare cases – changes in personality. The most severe cases can cause respiratory arrest, coma, seizures or death.
Rest assured, however, water intoxication is not likely to happen. Most people can handle 12 liters of water a day and as long as you have normal kidney function – you should be fine. But it’s a situation worth understanding – if you are concerned about your kidney function or salt levels – discuss it with your physician.
Part of the reason we became aware of this situation is that my husband’s 95-year-old grandfather experienced a potassium and sodium imbalance related to his water consumption. It was creating an undue amount of stress on his heart and respiratory system. The doctor is treating his condition by having him take a water pill daily in order to flush the excess from his system and allowing his potassium and sodium levels to maintain normally.
It was a very simple fix, but an important one to know and to recognize.