How much water should I drink?

Abowles27
Abowles27 Posts: 30 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I'm not entirely sure if I drink too much water. There were days I would drink 160 ounces of water but that was also when I was doing cross country which probably makes somewhat of a difference and I was also 118 pounds.

Replies

  • jthramann
    jthramann Posts: 25 Member
    The recommended amount is half you body weight in ounces, but more is fine.
  • David_AUS
    David_AUS Posts: 298 Member
    Minimum around - 70 oz per day is a general guide. Your body here is an article in Scientific America - I believe it is the rate of water consumption rather than the quantity that wold cause issue this is the paragraph I think will help answer your question (I suspect that you not drinking "too much water":

    ..."Every hour, a healthy kidney at rest can excrete 800 to 1,000 milliliters, or 0.21 to 0.26 gallon, of water and therefore a person can drink water at a rate of 800 to 1,000 milliliters per hour without experiencing a net gain in water, Verbalis explains. If that same person is running a marathon, however, the stress of the situation will increase vasopressin levels, reducing the kidney's excretion capacity to as low as 100 milliliters per hour."...

    http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-drinking-too-much-water-can-kill/
  • snappingosprey
    snappingosprey Posts: 28 Member
    Everyone is different and so some may get by with less, while others need more, water.

    Drink if you are thirsty and/or need to rehydrate.

    I wouldn't worry about a specific number, though, 8x8 is popular for remembrance reasons only. More if you feel thirsty.

    Keep in mind too much water can be dangerous. It can rob you of electrolytes, nutrients, and other critical elements such as sodium that is flushed away by consuming too much water. This can lead to water intoxication, which can be fatal.

    Consuming more water than you expel can lead to the above condition. How much you expel depends on a variety of factors.

    I would consult with your primary care doctor to see if they have recommendations.

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