To much Water ?

[SabrinaBird]

Hey Guys,
Is it possible to drink to much water ? Just a curious question. I am drinking atleast 80 oz. by lunch time and then I quit counting after that. I drink it all day long. It's like I can't get enough of it.
Thanks !! !!

Sabs

[Brook]

Re: To much Water ?

Ketosis tends to make us thirsty. It's a symptom of a beautiful thing.

In answer to your question - Yes. It is possible to drink too much water, although it's unlikely for your average, every day person.

It's commonly called "water intoxication" (dillutional hyponatremia/hypokalemia) and it happens when someone drinks too much water too fast. We're not talking about large amounts of water over the course of the day, but doing things like sucking down a liter and a half of water in under 10 minutes after sweating profusely. Water intoxication is a vaild issue, albeit rare, and is typically an issue for endurance/extreme atheletes and military personnel that are training hardcore in nasty conditions.

What happens is that by taking in such large amounts of water in a short time you dillute the concentration of sodium and/or potassium in your blood stream. This can cause anything from mild headaches to dizziness to muscle cramps to seizures to even death.

Water intoxication is something that sneaks up on endurance/extreme atheletes, usually. Typically it goes like this: They've been working out to the extreme, sweating profusely (losing sodium and potassium via sweat!!), and then they chug down huge amounts of water to try to quench their thirst. The amount of water they drink will literally put pounds on them and as their bodies process the water, it dillutes their blood stream even further and that's when they're in big trouble. People really do die from it.

HOWEVER-

If you find that you're feeling oogey- dizzy and off kilter- after drinking your water, or that you're retaining water (edema) and getting puffy and pitted it's time to back off on the water intake. If you find that you're getting muscle cramps that aren't semi-normal for you, again, it's time to back off. For the most part though, this can be counteracted by increasing your sodium intake and mineral supplementation or simply spreading out your water intake more over the course of the day. Our bodies require balance and if it's off balance it will let you know!!! Believe me, the symptoms of hyponatremia/hypokalemia are not fun, pretty, or easy to miss.

For your average, every day, normal and healthy person - Drink up!! It's fabulous for you - but common sense is key!

When I'm being a good girl, I'll easily down 120-180oz of water over the course of the day and it's wonderful! My eyes and skin are brighter, I feel better, etc.

(disclaimer: the only reason I know squat about it is because my youngest child has a rare endocrine disorder that makes her chronically hyponatremic. These are issues we deal with every day, and when I say the symptoms are ugly and hard to miss..that's what I mean!)

[SabrinaBird]

Re: To much Water ?

Thanks Brook ! I was just curious and now I'm glad I asked ! I have never heard of that before (water intoxication). That's scary.
I wanted to ask because of my newest addiction. I crave water all day and now I know that's not such a bad thing.
Thanks for the fast response !

[not2late]

Re: To much Water ?

Hey Guys,
Is it possible to drink to much water ? Just a curious question. I am drinking atleast 80 oz. by lunch time and then I quit counting after that. I drink it all day long. It's like I can't get enough of it.
Thanks !! !!

Sabs

Yes it is possible to drink too much water. Although, if you normal functioning kidneys your body will be able to eliminate that excess water. If your kidneys do not function normally, you won't and the excess water can dilute your body's electrolytes (sodium, potassium, etc.). When that happens, things can get nasty.

I tend to be more conservative in terms of water intake than the other mods and old-timers. So I advocate no more than "the 64 ounces of water plus 8 ounces for every 20 pounds you are overweight" rule because I don't know if your kidneys are okay and I don't know if you have any kind of medical condition that can either cause or contribute to diminished kidney function.

[Brook]

Re: To much Water ?

Thanks Brook ! I was just curious and now I'm glad I asked ! I have never heard of that before (water intoxication). That's scary.
I wanted to ask because of my newest addiction. I crave water all day and now I know that's not such a bad thing.
Thanks for the fast response !

There are worse things to be addicted to, for sure!

You're welcome

~Brook

[fluffyman]

Re: To much Water ?

Taking a good multi v as recommended in DANDR will help prevent any possible water intoxication. Keeping your vital nutrients flowing into your body will offset what you lose due to fat burning and drinking/passing water.

Rick