Can you drink TOO much Water?

[Smythe]

But its fine to have 10-12 pints beer in an evening which is about 6 litres.........although you do tend to piss it out just as fast as you drink it lol

 

[Lord Bamber]

But its fine to have 10-12 pints beer in an evening which is about 6 litres.........although you do tend to piss it out just as fast as you drink it lol

Now this is the bit I dont understand

 

[Safeway]

I know Im going to get laughed at here but Ive been trying to drink lots more water recently as I dont think I drink enough, especially as I work in a hot and humid enviroment and sweat alot.

What I was wondering is can you have too much?

Im currently drinking anywhere between 3 and 6 litres a day and while Im pretty sure thats not going to do me any harm I dont know if thats doing more good than bad, or visa-versa?


Oh great know all world of NSC can you help me??




Thanks in advance for all the oh-so whitty comments that are bound to crop up

As I lifeguard, I would have thought you would be more aware than most of the dangers of taking in too much water.

 

[FFF]

Im still not sure of the 6 litres in a day though?

Working hard in a hot environment and sweating a lot, I would say 3-6 litres is fine.

Whilst I find it quite interesting, I honestly don't think we need to worry about drinking too much water.

There are more deaths per year from people licking a 9v battery than there are from water intoxication.

 

[Lord Bamber]

Working hard in a hot environment and sweating a lot, I would say 3-6 litres is fine.

Whilst I find it quite interesting, I honestly don't think we need to worry about drinking too much water.

There are more deaths per year from people licking a 9v battery than there are from water intoxication.

Que random thread on weird way's to die!

 

[FFF]

But its fine to have 10-12 pints beer in an evening which is about 6 litres.........although you do tend to piss it out just as fast as you drink it lol

Pissing it out being the ideal option.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

What I was wondering is can you have too much?

Im currently drinking anywhere between 3 and 6 litres a day and while Im pretty sure thats not going to do me any harm I dont know if thats doing more good than bad, or visa-versa?

6 litres is definitely far too much and could be dangerous.

 

[Notters]

6 litres is definitely far too much and could be dangerous.

No it isn't! 6 litres isn't THAT much at all. You'd have to drink a hell of a lot of water to do yourself any harm.

One key thing to remember, however, is that you shouldn't drink too much around meal times, for two reasons:

1) It will dilute stomach acid and stop your food digesting properly.
2) It will wash a lot of vitamins out of your system.

 

[FFF]

No it isn't! 6 litres isn't THAT much at all. You'd have to drink a hell of a lot of water to do yourself any harm.

One key thing to remember, however, is that you shouldn't drink too much around meal times, for two reasons:

1) It will dilute stomach acid and stop your food digesting properly.
2) It will wash a lot of vitamins out of your system.

Spot on Notters.

It's worth remembering also that approximately 80% of our water intake comes from drinking water (and other drinks), and the other 20% comes from food.

 

[severnside gull]

when I'm dieting I drink a minimum of a litre around 30 minutes (minimum) before each meal and half a litre in the evening. Add to that tea and coffee etc and I guess I am taking on board around 4 to 5 litres a day. It suppresses the appetite and rehydrates the body and you lose weight without ill effects.

very very difficult indeed to drink too much water - it can really only be dangerous in circumstances that most people won't experience (serious volumes in an extreme short period, as in minutes, or in combination with toxins etc).

In the circumstances Ali J describes I suspect 3 litres would be a minimum in order to maintain hydration and within reason could be exceeded quite safely

 

[timbha]

just drink when you fancy it, your body tells you what it wants - it's better to sip than gulp, especially when exercising.

 

[BlockDpete]

One of the runners in the London Marathon I did in 2007 died of hyponatremia, so yes over consumption of water is a risk.

I would say you only really need to drink enough to keep your wee a clear or straw colour. If it gets darker than that, then you are dehydrated.

You are also probably dehydrated if you go a long period without going to the loo.

 

[FFF]

just drink when you fancy it, your body tells you what it wants - it's better to sip than gulp, especially when exercising.

Nonsense. By the time you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

I'm always amazed by other people in my office who can get away with drinking tea all day long while I guzzle litres of water. For some reason I'm very susceptible to dehydration headaches, especially after a night's sleep when my fluid levels have dropped due to lack of drinking, although two pints of water with breakfast usually sorts me out.

 

[timbha]

Nonsense. By the time you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated.

didn't say when you are thirsty/dehydrated, i said when you fancy it/when your body tells you

 

[readingstockport]

If your piss is straw coloured and doesn't smell then you are properly hydrated.

If it is 'clear' then you are drinking too much water/expelling to much water from your body (ie by being pissed - a diuretic drug)

If it is yellow and smells then you are dehydrated and need to drink more.

Bear in mind the quantity of water you drink at anyone time will alter the way your body processes it. About 250 ml every 20 minutes is roughly the figure from what I ahve been taught.

 

[Lord Bamber]

I'm always amazed by other people in my office who can get away with drinking tea all day long while I guzzle litres of water. For some reason I'm very susceptible to dehydration headaches, especially after a night's sleep when my fluid levels have dropped due to lack of drinking, although two pints of water with breakfast usually sorts me out.

Im absolutely amazed by the stick insect people who drink tea all day and shove buckets of biscuits inside themselves arent fat bastards.

 

[Mr Burns]

If your piss is straw coloured and doesn't smell then you are properly hydrated.

If it is 'clear' then you are drinking too much water/expelling to much water from your body (ie by being pissed - a diuretic drug)

If it is yellow and smells then you are dehydrated and need to drink more.

Bear in mind the quantity of water you drink at anyone time will alter the way your body processes it. About 250 ml every 20 minutes is roughly the figure from what I ahve been taught.

This is exactly what I was told on a trip in the African outback. Up until then never thought why a night out on the booze made your wee wee run clear

 

[nwgull]

I've heard that piss colour is the best indicator also. Mine seems to keep fairly pale with the odd cup of water here and there, I'm sure some of the women I work with drink far too much water.

 

[Uwinsc]

I think what has to be remembered is the conditions you are in will change the safe amount, if you are sitting in front of the telly all day in a cool house you are going to need a lot less water than someone who is active in a hot humid environment. 3 litres in such an environment would not be enough. Thats the recommended intake for the average person in average conditions.