Can you drink TOO MUCH water?

iambrandice
iambrandice Posts: 157 Member
edited September 21 in Food and Nutrition
I know you're supposed to have at least 8 cups of water a day, but is there such a thing as too much water? Is it bad for trying to lose weight if you drink a lot more than 8 cups a day?

Replies

  • dumb_blondes_rock
    dumb_blondes_rock Posts: 1,568 Member
    listen to your body, if your thirsty, drink water. You can drink too much water, but thats if you are drinking like 3 gallons in a 30 min period or somthing. it the summer, you are constantly sweating, so your body probably jsut needs to replenish the water it is losing
  • kayemme
    kayemme Posts: 1,782 Member
    i think the rule actually is 1/2 your body weight in ounces... 8 glasses = 64oz, so that is appropriate for a person weighing around 130lbs.
  • themommie
    themommie Posts: 5,033 Member
    You can drink too much water. But you have to drink several gallons in a short amount of time. One of the local radio stations where I live held a contest last year , called hold your wee for a wii. The contestants had to drink as much water as they could within an hr without urinating. The lady that won ended up dying because it actually can poison your body.......
  • kayemme
    kayemme Posts: 1,782 Member
    The lady that won ended up dying because it actually can poison your body.......

    this happens every couple of years, seems like. it takes an enormous amount of water without letting it out (peeing) to die from drinking too much water. you'll be in a lot of pain before it would happen.

    so, generally speaking the answer is "no, you can't really drink too much water."
  • LotusF1ower
    LotusF1ower Posts: 1,259 Member
    I know you're supposed to have at least 8 cups of water a day, but is there such a thing as too much water? Is it bad for trying to lose weight if you drink a lot more than 8 cups a day?

    Yes there is such a thing and it can cause death. Too much water, can upset the electrolytes in the body. Deaths that have been cause by drinking too much water have usually occured during drinking contests. Below is an excerpt from the web regarding water and drinking too much of it:
    The kidneys of a healthy adult can process fifteen liters of water a day! You are unlikely to suffer from water intoxication, even if you drink a lot of water, as long as you drink over time as opposed to intaking an enormous volume at one time. As a general guideline, most adults need about three quarts of fluid each day. Much of that water comes from food, so 8-12 eight ounce glasses a day is a common recommended intake. You may need more water if the weather is very warm or very dry, if you are exercising, or if you are taking certain medications. The bottom line is this: it's possible to drink too much water, but unless you are running a marathon or an infant, water intoxication is a very uncommon condition.
  • katie54321
    katie54321 Posts: 18
    To drink to much water, you would have to drink like 50 cups a day! so don't stress, you won't drink to much. Actually drinking water is very good for weight loss. It cleans out toxins from your body, keeps you hydrated and able to exercise well! :smile:
  • JBennis1013
    JBennis1013 Posts: 377 Member
    you can definitely cause harm to your body if you drink too much water. I know that this is an extreme case, but a few years back a radio station held a contest where whoever could drink the most water in a certain time frame would win a wii gaming system. I believe the woman drank 2 gallons and died. I know its extreme, but your kidneys can only process so much.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories