Could You Be Drinking Too Much Water?

We know that drinking plenty of water is important for our health, but did you know what drinking too much water can actually be a bad thing? Drinking too much water can lead to overhydration or water intoxication.

While it’s recommended that we consume eight glasses of water per day, your kidneys can only handle so much at a time. A healthy person’s kidneys can excrete about six gallons of water per day and no more than one liter per hour. That means if you drink more than a liter in one hour, you can become overhydrated.

The most common side effect is frequent urination, but there are other more serious side effects that can develop. Drinking too much water too fast can actually have a negative impact on your brain. Drinking large amounts of water increases how much water is in your blood. That water can dilute electrolytes like sodium, and when those levels drop too low hyponatremia sets in. At that point, fluids will shift to the inside of cells and cause them to swell, which can be life-threatening in some cases.

While you should still be sure to drink enough water, drinking too much too fast can lead to these conditions. Drinking the recommended eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day can easily be handled by your kidneys if you don’t drink it all at once. The kidneys can accommodate roughly 200 ounces per day, but if you try drinking all eight glasses in a one or two-hour period you can certainly become overhydrated.

You can still drink plenty of water as long as you pace yourself over the course of the day. Remember that beverages other than water can also contribute to overhydration, as can certain foods high in water content.

For a free water analysis contact Schultz Soft Water at 800-289-2807.