is it unhealthy to drink more than 2 liters of water per day?

Question

a few weeks ago I started drinking 2 liters of water daily as recomended by everyone. the problem is that i usually drink more! is it unhealthy to drink so much water? or on the contrary, the more the better?

Answer 1

Yes, it is possible to drink too much water, though I suppose it depends upon whether or not you're very active, in which case you would need more than the average person. Your body needs a certain amount of sodium in the bloodstream and if you drink too much water you can actually end up having a stroke (my mom actually knows a man who's now in a wheelchair because of that--he was literally drinking 8 glasses of water/day and when he went in to see his doctor, the doctor said that is too much, though I'm not sure if he was a person who would go and work-out every week). I talked with my old high school bio teacher and my doctor and both said that a good rule of thumb is to drink enough water so that: 1) You rarely feel thirsty throughout the day, 2) You produce between 1-2 liters of colorless or slightly yellow urine a day (1-2 liters is the average output of adult urine per day). Though don't freak out if your urine is yellow sometimes after you eat foods that are rich in vitamins--if your body doesn't need them, they don't get absorbed and you will end up urinating them out.

Answer 2

it depends. if you go on a long bike ride, are walking around at an amusement park all day, or go for a run, then no its not unhealthy. but if youre sitting at a desk job then its really not doing you anymore good than you having to use the bathroom every hour. drinking too much when your body doesnt need it lets your body absorb a lot of water, and also does not let food digest completely, so your body is robbed of some of the nutrients it would have normally gotten if you had not drank so much. just drink small amounts of water (8oz.) at regular intervals (hourly or so). this is more important than how much you drink.

Answer 3

If you are exerting yourself and it is very hot outside you may need to drink more than 2 liters a day. Drink when you are thirsty and a lot of water is good for you. Probably keep it under 4 liters a day and you will be fine. Hope you have ready access to the bathroom.

Answer 4

This is just a guidline. If you do strenuous excercise or sweat heavily for more than 1/2 hr or so, drink more water. Guidelines are back to just follow your thirst. Other liquids should be included in the 2 liters. Contrary to popular belief, although diuretics, caffeinated beverages and even coffee still hydrate you.

Answer 5

Simple water -- when it's pure and free of contaminants -- is truly a "wonder drug." Without chemicals, additives, or anything unnatural, a steady dose of 8 glasses of water a day (ideally ½ your body weight in ounces of water) will:

* Improve Your Energy
* Keep Skin Healthy and Glowing
* Reduce Headaches and Dizziness

Water is an important "healing tool" for people with a history of kidney stones. Since water dissolves calcium in the urine, downing at least 8 glasses daily reduces the risk of stone formation. Drinking water is also valuable in preventing urinary tract infections in both men and for women, flushing impurities out of the system.

Pls check the folowing link, 'WATER CONSUMPTION AND HEALTH, Is 8 fluid ounces, 8 times a day the best advice?':

http://www.itmonline.org/arts/water.htm

Answer 6

no, its not. They say you should have up to at least a litre a day of water especially in the summer, but with this heat and losing water through sweating, you may need. It is possible to overhydrate your body, but that is something that happens mostly with athletes who drink too much while running etc...you're fine. Just make sure that you dont drink so much water that you are too full to eat. Cuz that happens easily.

Answer 7

Depends whether you're counteracting it with other fluids. I drink at least 3 litres a day (my skin loves it!), but I make sure I drink other fluids, like tea and juice, to keep my electrolyte level up. Some people actually get "drunk" off of too much water.. They drink so much that it thins out the blood, and they can actually dehydrate themselves from doing so. But that's far and rare in between, and usually happens to athletes who don't balance out their eletrolyte level. That's why it's important to drink other healthy fluids as well. As long as you feel healthy with drinking tons of water and not lightheaded or anything, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Everyone's body is different and will handle different levels of water. As long as you know your level, you're fine.

Answer 8

You don't need to drink 8 glasses of water a day. You certainly don't need 1/2 your body weight (in oz.) per day. You don't need ANY arbitrary target amount per day.
Drink when you're thirsty. Period! Don't live your life trying to accomplish something that has no scientific validity and is just an old wives' tale!!

http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp
http://calorielab.com/news/2006/05/28/8-glasses-of-water-a-diet-urban-legend

Answer 9

More than that amount of water is only unhealty if you have a disease or condition that would make an excess of water harmful to you (fluid restricted). An example of this would be acute congestive heart failure. Outside of that, water is healthy for you and the more the better.

Answer 10

Of course not! More water you drink - more benefits and healthier you get. But you shouldnt drink large quantities at one go - say 1 ltr per drink!!! Take them at intervals - say 1 glassfull per every 15 minutes....!!!