Table of Contents
The risks of drinking too much water
The risks of drinking too much water include compromise of some vital functions, starting from the inability of the body to eliminate excess fluids through urine or sweating.
By introducing many litres of water, it is possible to favour depression disorders, anxiety, and panic attacks.
“The risk, in this case, is that of the so-called water intoxication, with a consequent dilution of the blood and minerals present and a significant electrolyte imbalance. ”
The low sodium level in the blood, called hyponatremia, can lead to agitation, irritability, nausea, vomiting, speech difficulties.
In severe cases, the brain can even “swell” and lead the individual to convulsions, coma, and even be fatal.
The low potassium levels in the blood, defined as hypokalaemia, can severely affect the cardio-circulatory system.
Find your favourite water to avoid the risks of drinking too much water
The different minerals present in the water and their different concentrations contribute to giving each one a specific flavour.
We can train ourselves to perceive, says nutritionist Nicola Sorrentino.
- The Dessert is mainly given by calcium.
- The Salty from Bicarbonates, Chlorides, Sulphates.
- The Bitterness from Magnesium, Manganese, Chlorides, Bicarbonate, Sulphates.
- The Acid from carbon dioxide.
How much should you drink per day?
- However, these are somewhat isolated cases. Most people run into the opposite problem of drinking too little.
- Generally, the average water consumption is 600 ml per day, about four glasses.
- Add all the other drinks, such as those sweetened with low-calorie sweeteners, fruit juices, and hot beverages such as coffee, cappuccino, or tea. You will not reach satisfactory levels of hydration.
- Adding everything together, you don’t get to the litre a day when the guidelines still speak of a litre and a half or two liquids to cover the needs.
- So what can follow guidelines to avoid the side effects of drinking too much?
- It is advisable to drink a maximum of two litres of water a day, but be careful not to consume them altogether.
- The indication is to drink often and divide the amount of water throughout the day, whether summer (especially) or winter!
- And if a correct and healthy diet is added to the two litres of water, our body can only react well and be always active and charged!
Drinking Too Much Water Hurts: Overhydration
- Drinking a lot of water swells or lowers blood pressure too much; these are two of the cons that some people complain about.
- However, these situations are reversible quickly.
- A healthy person eliminates excess water within a few hours through breathing, sweating, and above all, the kidneys.
- The belly returns flat, and the feeling of heaviness disappears. While rare, there are situations in which drinking too much is harmful to you.
- Overhydration or water intoxication is a low condition that can occur in two particular situations :
- A person gets to drink as much water as the kidneys cannot handle – a relatively rare situation that mainly affects athletes.
- Those who practice extreme and prolonged physical exercise by drinking more water and hypotonic solutions risk high sodium losses, hyponatremia, due to hyperhydration;
- A person holds too much water due to health problems.
- Water retention becomes pathological for people who suffer from heart problems (heart failure, for example), kidney failure or other kidney problems, or liver disease such as cirrhosis.
- In these cases, the amount of water to drink becomes excessive even in the range of needs since these people cannot eliminate moisture.
- Often, the therapy prescribed to them by the doctor also includes the use of a diuretic.
Also Read: Thermogenic Foods – Foods proven to have actual thermogenic effects
