Did you know drinking too much water can kill?

Water is good, no doubt; whether for drinking, cooking, bathing, or for so many other things we use it for outside of our domestic needs.

Water is so important to life that scientists say while one may live without food for between 20 and 40 whopping days, the same thing can’t be said about water: you can only survive without water for a mere three to five days!

There’s absolutely nothing edible in nature that does not have its own water content. Take, for instance, a vegetable like lettuce which is 80 per cent water; or a fruit like watermelon that is 92 per cent water; or another vegetable like cucumber that is 96 per cent water. When you eat such foods, your water needs will be met without much ado.

And, would you know, water makes up about 66 per cent of the body’s weight. Perhaps this is why some people think that for the body to function optimally, we need to consume about eight cups of water per day. But scientists have pooh-poohed this, saying there’s really no proof that the average person who lives in temperate environment needs to drink that much water.

Our water needs vary

Indeed, food scientists note that though water needs vary, a person’s water consumption will be influenced by the food he eats, the temperature and humidity of his environment, his activity level and a host of other factors.

That is why scientists warn that it is very possible to ‘overdose’ on water, though water is very necessary for the sustenance of life.

A research published in the Scientific American warns that “There is such a thing as a fatal water overdose.” Indeed, a kidney specialist from Dartmouth Medical School, Heinz Valtin, says there’s no science that supports drinking eight cups of water a day, especially for those who live in temperate regions.

He notes that the way nature has fashioned the human body, any individual knows when he has drunk to his satisfaction. “This being the case, why force yourself to drink more?” he asks rhetorically.

Blood dilution

Another study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that about one sixth of marathon runners develop some degree of hyponatremia, or dilution of the blood caused by drinking too much water.

Haematologists say the human blood contains certain degree of salt, which makes it function optimally. However, when hyponatremia sets in as a result of drinking too much water, scientists say, it can lead to “insufficient salt in the blood,” which is what hyponatremia is all about. Scary, isn’t it? There’s more.

Scientists caution that, “Severe cases of hyponatremia can lead to water intoxication — illnesses whose symptoms include headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, frequent urination and mental disorientation.

Overworking kidneys

Nephrologists say the kidneys control the amount of water, salts and other water-based substances (solutes) leaving the body. And though the tendency to develop a painful condition called ‘kidney stones’ can result when the body lacks adequate water, the kidneys can also be harmed when a person drinks too much water within a short period.

A kidney specialist, Dr. Folarin Jacob, says, “The kidneys cannot flush out excessive water in the system, and this may make the blood to become waterlogged. This, in turn, can affect the brain as the excessive water travels round the body in search of an escape route.

“This ‘idle’ water can find its way into the brain, where it can cause edema (excess accumulation of fluid) and make the brain to swell. This can lead to seizures, coma, cessation of normal breathing (respiratory arrest), protrusion of brain tissues (brain stem herniation) and death,” Jacob explains.

Bloating

General physician, Dr. Kate Okoro, says taking too much water at close intervals can lead to bloating. “In order to avoid bloating, you should try and spread water consumption over the course of the day, instead of consuming a large quantity all at once,” she advises.

Bad for concentration

Another researcher, Dr. McCartney, in a study published in the British Medical Journal, says research indicates that drinking when you are not thirsty can actually diminish concentration, rather than boost it.

Bad for blood volume

Personal and Environmental Wellness physician, Dr. Ben Kim, also warns that drinking more water than you need can increase your total blood volume. “And since your blood volume exists within a closed system (your circulatory system), needlessly increasing your blood volume on a regular basis puts unnecessary burden on your heart and blood vessels,” he writes.

He advises that if you eat plenty of foods that are naturally rich in water, such as vegetables, fruits, cooked legumes and whole grains, “you may not need to drink much water at all.”

He also cautions that if you don’t use much or any salt and other seasonings when cooking, your need for drinking water goes down even further.

Kim, however, warns that if you don’t eat a lot of plant foods and if you add substantial salt and spices to your meals, you may need to drink several glasses of water per day.

Drink to your thirst

Kim summarises it thus: “Beware of mindlessly drinking several glasses of water per day without considering your diet, exercise habits, climate, and sense of thirst. And when you do find yourself in need of water, remember that you can get it from liquids and/or whole foods that are rich in water.”

- PUNCH.