Why Drinking Too Much Water Can Be Harmful To Your Health

Dr. Lee Seong-cheol is the director of Duam Internal Medical Clinics in Gwangju

More than half of our body is made up of water. Our bodies continuously send us signals to drink more water or excrete it in order to maintain an internal fluid balance. As a result, a dry mouth or a feeling of thirst lets us know that we are dehydrated and need to replenish our fluids, whereas a feeling of fullness from drinking enough liquids is one of our bodies’ ways of telling us to stop drinking.

How much water is enough? We lose two liters of water a day, through urine, perspiration, breath and defecation. Most foods, especially fruit and vegetables, contain some water. Tea and coffee contain water and are not as diuretic as previously thought. The average person requires a minimum of six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day to sustain a healthy environment in the body. Drinking one to two liters of water a day will make you look and feel better.

It is possible to drink too much water – in general, anything over four liters a day (the exceptions are athletes and people in extremely hot climates). Drinking two liters of water makes you feel good, but drinking four liters won’t make you feel twice as good! That is because when a person drinks too much water in a short period of time, the kidneys cannot flush it out fast enough and the blood becomes waterlogged. Drawn to regions of the body where the concentration of salt and other dissolved substances is higher, excess water leaves the blood and ultimately enters the cells, which swell like balloons to accommodate it. From the cell’s point of view, this condition of “water intoxication” produces the same effects as would result from drowning in fresh water.

Less seriously but more likely, too much water with meals might impair your digestion. The general rule of thumb is to avoid drinking water from about 15 minutes before you eat until at least one hour after you eat. If you must eat and drink, then take small sips, choose a warm drink over a cold one, and hydrate before the meal.

The best option really is to not drink much during meals, however. Begin your morning by drinking a glass or two of pure water and then make a habit of repeating this between meals. Soon you will be well-hydrated and will not crave large amounts of water during your meals.

Duam Internal Medical Clinics 두암내과

Address: 985-7 Duam-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju

Consultation Hours: Weekdays 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Saturdays and public holidays 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Closed on Sundays

Phone: 062-262-7112

For more information on Lee Seong-Cheol’s Duam Internal Medical Clinic, please visit www.duamclinic.com