Water

k8edge
k8edge Posts: 380
edited September 29 in Health and Weight Loss
I drink ridiculously large amounts of water...

I only log 9-10 glasses but I usually drink about 15 glasses a day... sometimes up to 20 (8oz glasses) with about 2 or 3 glasses of hot green tea. I just constantly drink water and feel horrible when I don't get enough. Is it possible to drink too much water? I know sodium has something to do with it... I am no expert.

Replies

  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    You can drink too much. But I don't know how much is too much. You could google it by just asking the question. Water, How much is too much.
  • jbucci1186
    jbucci1186 Posts: 440 Member
    as long as you're not drinking like six cups at a time, you're fine. a healthy adult's kidneys can process about 15 liters of water per day
  • Atlantique
    Atlantique Posts: 2,484 Member
    It's possible, yes, but very unusual. You'd have to drink several gallons within an hour or two in most cases.
  • yalmira82
    yalmira82 Posts: 37
    I have heard that drinking large amounts of water can cause serious problems. I know it thins your blood. I am talking about gallons. Google it! But that is awesome you drink alot of water. I wish I did. I only crave water when I excersise.
  • bluevwgurl
    bluevwgurl Posts: 220 Member
    per ask.com:

    It's Not How Much You Drink, It's How Fast You Drink 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.
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    I found this online if you want to read it.

    http://chemistry.about.com/cs/5/f/blwaterintox.htm
  • Thriceshy
    Thriceshy Posts: 708 Member
    I drink ridiculously large amounts of water...

    I only log 9-10 glasses but I usually drink about 15 glasses a day... sometimes up to 20 (8oz glasses) with about 2 or 3 glasses of hot green tea. I just constantly drink water and feel horrible when I don't get enough. Is it possible to drink too much water? I know sodium has something to do with it... I am no expert.

    Yes, you can develop what is called hyponatremia (which is actually low blood sodium) or "water intoxication," but it's not common, and you have to drink a lot of liquids in a short period of time. It's actually more common to infants who are given water or watered down formula instead of breastmilk. Every once in a while you'll hear of someone dying from hyponatremia--seems to me a woman died a couple of years ago from guzzling too much water for a radio station contest.

    With your intake spread out over the course of a day, I wouldn't be too concerned.

    Kris
  • k8edge
    k8edge Posts: 380
    Thanks!

    I drink about 24 ounces in about 20 min... Then I refill.

    per ask.com:

    It's Not How Much You Drink, It's How Fast You Drink 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.
  • dodd319
    dodd319 Posts: 228
    I drink a ton of water as well. Yesterday I logged 13 8-oz of water but I'm sure I forgot 1 or 2. Many years (about 10) ago I "tried" to see how much water I could drink before something happened. I think I was on gallon 3 or 4 in a few hours and I started puking. Back then I didn't care at all about eating healthy & exercising.
  • Helkaahaien
    Helkaahaien Posts: 11
    According to the Mayo clinic a woman should drink about 2.2 liters (9 cups) a day min. but you should keep drinking if you feel the need to. If you have Headaches, Thirst, Dry mouth, Muscle weakness, Fatigue or Lethargy, Dizziness, or Lightheadedness keep drinking.

    everyone is so different but your body will tell you when you've had enough. I drink at least 90oz a day myself but I do workout every day and have had a problem with dehydration since I was young so I drink a lot of water.
  • kristiedavis1
    kristiedavis1 Posts: 95
    There is medical evidence to suggest that people who drink excessive amounts of water can develop a condition known as water intoxication. Typically this happens only to young children or marathon runners when they consume large amounts of water in a short period of time. It is rare for problems to occur if you have normal functioning kidneys and your fluid consumption is over a period of time. I drink between 12 and 15 eight ounce glasses a day and have discussed this with my physician who gave me the above information. I am always cautious of output and making sure what's going in is coming out. I am certainly not a doctor - this is only information that has been given to me.
  • VaBeachNurse
    VaBeachNurse Posts: 65
    Drinking excessive amounts of water can be fatal.

    Water intoxication, also known as hyper-hydration, water poisoning, or overhydration, is a potentially fatal disturbance in brain functions that results when the normal balance of electrolytes in the body is pushed outside of safe limits by over-consumption of water.

    Normal, physically, nutritionally and mentally healthy individuals have little reason to worry about accidentally consuming too much water. Nearly all deaths related to water intoxication in normal individuals have resulted either from water drinking contests in which individuals attempt to consume large amounts of water, or long bouts of intensive exercise during which electrolytes are not properly replenished, yet excessive amounts of fluid are still consumed.

    Water can be considered a poison when over-consumed just like any other substance. The recommendation from the medical field is to drink at least 1 to 2 liters per day depending upon body mass. Water intoxication would only occur at levels far higher than that.
  • achampionsheart
    achampionsheart Posts: 1,020 Member
    per ask.com:

    It's Not How Much You Drink, It's How Fast You Drink 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.

    i drink between 12-14 glasses a day, but i spread them out through the day....i know that sodium follows water out of the body (when you urinate)...that is why when you eat alot of sodium you need to drink water so that some of the sodium leaves your body...
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