Is Drinking Too Much Water Bad For You?

Water is essential for good health, but Aquafresh explains what may happen when you drink too much.

 

Drinking too much water is rarely a problem most people face, usually it’s the opposite. But how much water should you really drink per day? While this is a simple question, there is no easy answer. Over the years, we have repeatedly heard that drinking at least eight glasses of water each day is recommended by medical professionals. But, in reality, it’s not that simple.

 

How much water is too much?

 

Every day you lose water through your breath, urine, evaporation and perspiration. For your body to function at its best, it is essential to replenish it by drinking water and foods that contain water. So, is it even possible to drink too much water? The short answer is yes.

We can’t live without water. But when you increase your water intake excessively, your body cannot process it efficiently and you may experience overhydration or water intoxication. In worst cases, it can cause damage to the brain, lead to a coma or even death. While drinking too much water is hardly a problem for healthy adults, drinking faster than your kidneys can process it can sometimes cause the sodium content of your blood to become diluted.

 

How much water should I drink each day?

 

The amount of water consumed is entirely dependent on each individual and their quantity and quality demands. Knowing more about your body’s needs will help you understand how much water to drink each day. So, listen to your thirst.

 

You may need to adjust your water consumption depending on several factors:

 

• Strenuous exercise. Remember to drink more water with any activity that makes you sweat to cover the fluid loss. Research recommends drinking 1 additional litre of water for every hour of exercise you do.
• Environment. As Queenslanders, we enjoy a subtropical climate. Hot climates will make you sweat and possibly cause dehydration, which adds to the importance for us to stay properly hydrated.
• Health. When you are sick, your body loses fluids. Your doctor will most likely recommend drinking more water. You can also consume supplements, such as hydrolytes

 

What signs to look out for when you’re drinking too much water:

 

• The colour of your urine (it will be very pale)
• Too many trips to the bathroom
• Nausea or vomiting
• Headaches
• Tiredness or fatigue

 

Why it’s important to drink filtered water

 

Did you know that not all water is created equal? You might have heard that although water authorities regulate the quality of tap water, there are still many things that can get into untreated water. Some of these concerns include:

• Chlorine (chlorine is put into water supplies to kill bacteria and other pathogens).
• Taste and odour (unpleasant tastes and odours can be caused by a variety of conditions).
• Sediment (sediment is usually only a problem in tank or creek water supplies or in areas where the municipal supply lines are very old).
• Heavy metals and dissolved solids (a blend of heavy metals and dissolved solids can be present in your water supply).
• Cryptosporidium and giardia (protozoan cysts are resistant to traditional chlorine disinfection and are not killed by ultra violet sterilisation).
• Chemicals (chlorination of water creates the presence of other chemicals as by products).
• Bacteria (bacteria can be a problem especially in tank or creek water supplies).

 

Filtered water can promote greater overall health and wellbeing, whilst reducing the risk of rectal cancer, bladder cancer and colon cancer.

 

ALSO READ: 10 Reasons Why You Should Be Drinking More Water

 

See our range of high quality water purifying systems at Aquafresh.