Is it possible to get water poisoning? YES. Drinking too
much water can cause water poisoning, intoxication, or a disruption in brain
function. This occurs when there is an excessive amount of water in the cells,
causing them to swell. When the cells in the brain swell, pressure builds up in
the brain.
Avoid Over-Hydration
We're repeatedly reminded how beneficial water is to our
health and that we should drink at least two liters of water of it every day.
However, many people are unaware that there are upper limits to fluid intake.
Drinking too much water can be harmful to your health and even cause death.
Excessive water consumption causes a condition known as
hyponatremia in the body. This is a low sodium concentration in the blood
caused by excessive fluid intake. To clarify, fluid consumption includes
everything from water to sports drinks and coffee.
The notion of over-hydration appears to contradict the
traditional belief that a high intake is beneficial to our skin, kidneys,
detoxification, and so on. While water is generally very good news, it is not
always true that you can't have too much of it.
Overhydration Death
According to a press article, I read yesterday, a young man
on an alternative medicine diet died from dehydration. The vegan diet
recommended taking salt supplements and drinking plenty of water. However, it
resulted in the young man overdosing on water and his death from cerebral
oedema, or brain swelling.
This brain swelling is caused by the body's attempt to
correct an electrolyte or salt imbalance. When this occurs, our body attempts
to correct the problem by releasing more sodium into the bloodstream. This
causes water to enter cells. If there is too much water in the cells, they may
swell and burst.
Runners who run marathons
Marathon runners are also at risk of water overdosing, which
is more common than you might think. A study of 488 runners conducted after the
Boston Marathon found that approximately 13% had overdosed on the water to the
point where their sodium levels had dropped, though only 1% of those measured
were in the critical range.
In the world of running, this has resulted in many marathons
and long-distance races having fewer water stops along the way. Athletes are
also advised to drink while thirsty rather than staying ahead of thirst.
Cleansing Diets
Of course, for dieters and those on 'cleansing and detox
diets,' this medical issue may be an issue as well. Overdosing in water can
cause nausea and headaches, as well as passing out, comas, and even death. The
irony is that many of the side effects of excessive water consumption are
similar to those of dehydration.
Your body can only process a certain amount of water per
hour, approximately 30oz. If you consistently consume more than 60oz of water
per hour, you may enter the danger zone and suffer the consequences of water
overdosing.
Any diet that requires you to drink an excessive amount of
water is not necessarily healthy and can lead to the aforementioned issues.
Drinking two to three liters of water per day is recommended for optimal
hydration. Of course, this is dependent on your body weight and level of
exertion.
Wrapping Up
Is it possible to get water poisoning? Yes, it’s very possible to have water poisoning if you have too much of it. Please do not interpret this as a warning to stay away from water. Water is great because it helps you lose weight and stay healthy. Instead, this is a warning that too much of anything (even water) is bad for you.
