water
By Trace86
@Trace86 (5030)
United States
January 16, 2007 3:32am CST
I have been drinking alot of water lately. My friend at work said I was drinking too much. I am thirsty, I am not diabetic, and it tastes good. I am not forcing myself to drink.
I read somewhere that you should drink as much water as possible to lose weight.
So who is right, can I drink too much water or will it all come out if it's not needed? As long as I'm not getting leg cramps or heart palpitations, does it matter if I keep drinking?
4 responses
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
17 Jan 07
Yes, one can drink too much water. This is a condition known as water intoxication. It is actually pretty uncommon. What happens is you dilute the sodium (salt) in the blood too much. Then, when the blood vessels have too much water, the extra seeps into the tissues cells. The blood draws sodium from the cells trying to regulate how much is in the blood. The swollen cells cause pressure in the brain causing seizures and coma. A healthy adult, with good kidney function can handle upwards of 12 liters of water per day...provided it is taken in over time. Most people need about 3 liters of fluid per day. For more info:
http://chemistry.about.com/cs/5/f/blwaterintox.htm
2 people like this
@MakDomMom (1474)
• United States
18 Jan 07
Thank you for posting this information for all to read and see.
@Trace86 (5030)
• United States
19 Jan 07
That is the most important part: That woman drank way too much too fast. Drinking as much water as I do is not unhealthy because I spread it out over the whole day. I also take my vitamins and eat semi-regularly. I also only drink when I am thirsty. And unlike the lady on the radio, I use the bathroom quite frequently.
@EdwardF (431)
• United States
16 Jan 07
You were right to consider being a diebetic and that you were becoming dehydrated. Glad to hear you aren't.
It may not seem like it, but water is the most necessary nutrient of them all. So necessary that people can't survive for more than a few days with out it. More than half of your weight is water. So drink, drink, drink and be marry.
@tigrashadow (1086)
• Australia
16 Jan 07
drinking about 4 litres or so of water a day is good...but if you drink way too much then your body may not be able to process it fast enough...if you are worried ask your doctor....
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
16 Jan 07
What they recommend is 8 glasses of water per day. Each glass being 8oz. Now this is for someone at ideal body weight. For each 25lbs over weight you should add in an extra glass of water.
So long as you are not forcing yourself to drink large ammounts in a short time you should be fine. If you drinking when you are thirsty that's fine. I wouldn't worry. Double check with your doctor, letting him know how much you do drink to be sure but over all from what I'm here you should be fine. You just don't want to be drinking several liters of water in an hour type thing. That can be a bit too much.
