Wed, Nov-19-03, 19:28
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Senior Member
Posts: 564
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Plan: Atkins
Stats: 226.6/209/154
BF:
Progress: 24%
Location: Sydney, Australia
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Quote:
Originally Posted by adkpam
It is possible to drink too much water. But it is not likely. As you increase your water intake, your thirst response becomes more calibrated. Many people, from the lifelong tendency towards dehydration in our society (air conditioning, most heating systems, the caffeinated beverages, the high sugar beverages) lose touch with their thirst sensation, or commonly, mistake it for hunger.
When you drink adequate amounts of water, your thirst becomes more sensitive, and you start craving the extra water that your body needs.
Cases of water poisoning occur in cases where people drink lots of water very fast (a recent hazing case resulted in death because of this.) Normally, your body will not let the extra water be appealing, your stomach will signal that it is full, etc. I wouldn't worry about drinking too much water, when the by far more common problem is too little.
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I will add to this if I may...
There was a case recently in England where a singer in a stage musical got water poisoning, because there was a heat wave, and he had the heat of stage lights + running around sweating on stage. He found that despite drinking 5+ litres of water a day, he was STILL THIRSTY. Water poisoning occurs when other vital minerals get flushed out by going to the bathroom so frequently, and also because the fluid levels are so high that there's not a high enough concentration of other minerals. I think salt is one of the critical minerals but I'm not 100% sure. His case was made worse by his sweating, which dilutes salt levels.
Also, I have heard of people retaining water because of drinking too much water, the cure for them is to drink NO WATER for a day or two and then it all comes out... however this should be done only under medical supervision It happened to a friend of mine who was pregnant at the time, and I do NOT recommend this course of action unless it has been recommended by a doctor!!!
Katt
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