I am writing this post because I just discovered that I am probably drinking too much water, and this was purely by chance after a consultation with a nurse who mentioned to me that drinking too much water can cause problems.
I am sure that we have all heard that it you drink a lot of water in one go you can cause serious damage and even kill yourself. This is very rare and something that no one will ever get close to doing and not what we are focusing on in this article. What I have been researching is the effect of drinking a reasonable amount every day. I think I drink about 5 litres or 20 cups of liquid everyday and thought I was doing myself good but here’s the thing I am doing damage.
Some of the symptoms of drinking too much water everyday are:
- Slow metabolism
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Leaky bladder
- Lowered Blood pressure
- Cold Hands & Feet
- Reduced Concentration Ability
- Feeling Sleepy
- Depressed Mood
- Constant Thirst
The last point on this list is a major problem as drinking lots of water actually keeps you feeling thirsty and so this encourages you to drink more and it is a self perpetuating cycle. Some of the common things people say about water include that if your pee is coloured you are dehydrated or that thirst comes after dehydration. Both of these things are actually not true. In regards the pee, it is the body getting rid of waste, for example if you take a large dose of vitamin C then chances are your next pee will be bright yellow regardless of how hydrated you are.
There is no adequate rules on the amount of water you should drink and it is all dependent on your own body and that is something you should listen too. When you first start to cut back on your water in take you may have withdrawal symptoms, in particular you might feel really thirsty. Just give your body a month to adjust to your new regime and see how your health is then adjust your water in take to keep yourself feeling healthy.
I am going to be cutting back over the next month which I am actually not looking forward to but want to see what changes it makes to me physically and to how I feel. I will check back in and let you know how I get on.