Too Much Water?

Question

People always say “drink plenty of water”. I have had about 7 glasses so far today, and there are plenty more to come. Recently I just can’t seem to get enough of the stuff. Is there such a thing as too much water?



Also what is the difference between normal water & chilled water

Answer 1

Sure, 10 glasses of water a day is good for you, just not all at once. Read this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication
...And you'll see why.
A sad and ironic story related to this is the story of
Jennifer Lea Strange:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Strange

However, as long as you don't drink a lot of water at once, you should be alright.
Remember, everything is good in moderation.

And as for your second question,
I've heard that water at room temperature is better for you than chilled water.
But really, I believe it's just personal preference.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

water intoxication is the last thing an intelligent person has to be concerned with...

the recommended 64 oz. of water a day is for the sedentary individual. for people that are athletic or exercise the intake needs to be more than that. body size, time of year, relative humidity, etc. also cause the water intake to differ from person to person. everybody certain does not require the same amount of water.

the key is to keep yourself hydrated, once you "feel" thirsty the body is already dehydrated.

* when the water is chilled the body must raise the temperature of it in the stomach before it can be utilized. this does not cause a significant amount of calories to be burned

Answer 3

Why Too much ? Dont go to Too much for anything. 8 to 12 glasses of Water enough if you dont get more thirsty. If you feel more water , no problem drinking more. It is you who will decide. Ok ? As for chilled Water, ok you can drink Chilled, normal , warm whatever you like. BUT must be Clean Water. Ok ? Satisfied ???

Answer 4

Its not how much you drink but how fast. Before just assuming that it will all 'come out in the end' read this:

Can You Really Drink Too Much Water?

In a word, yes. Drinking too much water can lead to a condition known as water intoxication and to a related problem resulting from the dilution of sodium in the body, hyponatremia. Water intoxication is most commonly seen in infants under six months of age and sometimes in athletes. A baby can get water intoxication as a result of drinking several bottles of water a day or from drinking infant formula that has been diluted too much. Athletes can also suffer from water intoxication. Athletes sweat heavily, losing both water and electrolytes.

Water intoxication and hyponatremia result when a dehydrated person drinks too much water without the accompanying electrolytes.
What Happens During Water Intoxication?

When too much water enters the body's cells, the tissues swell with the excess fluid. Your cells maintain a specific concentration gradient, so excess water outside the cells (the serum) draws sodium from within the cells out into the serum in an attempt to re-establish the necessary concentration. As more water accumulates, the serum sodium concentration drops -- a condition known as hyponatremia. The other way cells try to regain the electrolyte balance is for water outside the cells to rush into the cells via osmosis. The movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from higher to lower concentration is called osmosis. Although electrolytes are more concentrated inside the cells than outside, the water outside the cells is 'more concentrated' or 'less dilute' since it contains fewer electrolytes. Both electrolytes and water move across the cell membrane in an effort to balance concentration. Theoretically, cells could swell to the point of bursting.

From the cell's point of view, water intoxication produces the same effects as would result from drowning in fresh water. Electrolyte imbalance and tissue swelling can cause an irregular heartbeat, allow fluid to enter the lungs, and may cause fluttering eyelids. Swelling puts pressure on the brain and nerves, which can cause behaviors resembling alcohol intoxication. Swelling of brain tissues can cause seizures, coma and ultimately death unless water intake is restricted and a hypertonic saline (salt) solution is administered. If treatment is given before tissue swelling causes too much cellular damage, then a complete recovery can be expected within a few days.

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.

Answer 5

Slikemema ... The first answer you received from Alex says it all. Any other answer that is not consistent with Alex's info is not steering you the right way. The key IS moderation and to realize there is such a thing as water intoxication..

Answer 6

YES! You can actually die, if you drink too much water in a short amount of time!
There was actually a case of this happening about a month ago!
There was a radio contest,and they had people seeing who could drink the most amount of water in the least amount of time.
Well, there was a women who had small children, who was trying to win the contest. Well, she won alright,but she also DIED from drinking all that water!

Answer 7

Yes. You can have too much water. You should take vitamin and mineral supplements if you plan to drink a lot of water.

In extreme cases, children and adults have died from drinking too much water.

A German physician I know stongly suggests that people only drink water at room temperature, unfortunately he did not explain his rationale.

Answer 8

too much water will just make you pee, and chilled water is just colder and will make you burn more calories because it takes your body more energy to warm it up

Answer 9

you body obsorbs room temperture water better