When Drinking Water Can Harm Your Body!

Water Consumption Should be On Par with Electrolyte Consumption

​Water is the elixir of life. It is good for health, weight loss, radiant skin and what not! The reason why water holds so much prominence is due to the fact that we need water to live, regulate body temperature, keep muscles and joints flexible, flush out waste and keep body cells healthy as they are made up of water.

Physicians, nutritionists and dietitians recommend their patients to drink ample water as it helps them to consume less food, eat more slowly and replace sugary beverages. Never once have we ever heard our doctor advise us to drink less water. But every rule has an exception and so does this rule! Certain groups of people are asked to drink decreased quantity of water:

1. Endurance athletes who are at a greater risk of hyponatremia (dangerously low sodium levels in blood) which can result due to excessive water consumption and too little electrolyte consumption during exercise.
2. Overconsumption of water can lead to water intoxication which can disrupt brain function. Other serious side effects of intoxication include rhabdomyolysis, cerebral edema, seizures or cardiogenic shock.
3. Individuals with depression or addiction problems are more at an increased risk of hyponatremia as a result of medications, stress and excess water consumption.
4. People with eating disorders too drink too much water to suppress hunger or sometimes, when they are too low-weighted, they drink excess water just before weigh-ins to hide their low weight from the physician.
5. Sometimes, even healthy eaters overload water-rich foods such as fruits, veggies, green teas or plain water throughout the day.
   
   

In order to flush the excess unwanted water out of the body, cells expel it in the form of urine every few hours or so. Some tips can help you determine if you are drinking an appropriate amount of water:

Understand basic rules: The quantity of water you need depends on your body weight, physical activity level and climate. The general rule is for men to drink around 3.7 liters water and for women to drink 2.7 liters. Drink water whenever you feel thirsty and don’t keep gulping every now and then simply for the sake of drinking.

Consider electrolyte intake: The right quantity of water for your body depends on your own body, environment, diet, activity level and your electrolyte levels too. Note that the issue here is not excess water consumption but the consumption of excess water in the absence of enough electrolytes consumption to keep your body in fluid balance. Individuals who heavily sweat such as athletes or those involved in more than 60 minutes of strenuous activity must ensure to replace lost electrolytes and fluids due to sweat.

Diagnose symptoms: Urine coloration (pale yellow) is a clear indication of enough water consumption. Sometimes during intense exercise sessions, hyponatremia is preceded by symptoms such as headache, muscle weakness, vomiting and confusion.
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Meet an authorized personal: If you feel that your liquid and electrolyte consumption don’t balance well, meet an RDN who can help you figure the right proportion for your body composition. Athletes too can get in touch with a sports nutritionist to meet their fluid needs. The best way to get in touch with a sports nutritionist/RDN is to visit the website www.firsteatright.com. Most people drink appropriate quantities of water as a reflex action. Also, practically it is least impossible to drink exceedingly high quantities of water to the point that it can cause harm to your body.