Why is drinking too much water bad?
Article by Diet Bites
Excess Consumption of Water Can Have Lethal Results
Drinking too much water is not only bad for a body, it can do a fellow in. We're talking six feet under.
Why so?
Water plays a big role on our electrolytes. Too much can put an imbalance in the electrolytes which places the victim in need of emergency assistance.
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Although the human body requires about eight cups of water per day in order to operate without issue, there are times when more may be necessary - such as times during warmer weather, amid bouts of illness, or when performing mild-to-aggressive exercise or extended activity.
It's vital to keep the body hydrated during these situations - but take care because even then, too much H2O can spell trouble as we've seen in the case of some long-distance runners.
If you participate in extreme sports, be sure to get your doctor's input on what fluids are best when it comes to hydrating as well as refueling your energy needs. Doing such may just save your life.
Cups or Glasses?
One fallacy that we see with the USDA H2O recommendation is that it references glass rather than 'cup'. This is a vital point because a glass can range greatly. Some shot glasses may hold only a few teaspoons of liquid while jumbo sizes hold four, five, six or more cups.
If the shot glass is used, the H2O amount will be greatly unsatisfied and if the jumbo one is used - the amount could lead to serious health potentials, all negatives ones at that.
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Foods, Sources of Liquid Needs
H2O is the best choice of liquid in meeting our hydrating needs. It contains zero calories, no fat or cholesterol and is sodium free.
Other food sources also serve in meeting our daily needs in this area. Every food that we consume consists of a high percentage of water.
And we can also enjoy other liquids that will add nutritional value to our daily diet such as sugar reduced fruit juices which contain zero sugar substitutes. Most varieties range from 50 to 70 kcals per serving (1 cup) and are ideal to enjoy with the meal plate.
Another liquid which also contains two other important electrolytes (calcium and potassium) is milk. Enjoy in its reduced fat state for optimum benefits, both in reduced caloric values as well as increased calcium and potassium benefits. One cup of whole milk that is 3.25% milk fat contains 149 kcals, 276 mg of calcium and 224 mg of potassium. The same serving size for the 1% milk fat variety contains 102 kcals, 305 mg of calcium and 366 mg of potassium.
To get more water into your day, keep a glass or a container full at your desk or close at hand amid your busy day.
Also, a big benefit to getting your ample supply is - and you're going to love this, we're certain - that water aids in the digestive process which in turn can positively impact weight. Add fiber and you have an awesome fat-stomping combination.
Another plus is that when we are refueling with H2O rather than sugary liquids, the caloric savings can be substantial. Most regular sodas contain 140 to 180 kcals per cup. But who can stick to a cup? Most of the time where soda is involved, the individual drinks twice to three times that amount. Therefore, the significant savings! If we save 500 kcals per day in sugary liquids, that's a rate of one pound per week of fat loss.
In Summary
Although going over eight servings of water a day is fine as long as the amount doesn't present an imbalance doesn't impact precious vitamins and minerals, sitting down to a gallon of water can be lethal. Drink sensibly - even when it's just H2O.
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