Dear Lynn:

Is there such a thing as drinking too much water?
--Peapod

Dear Peapod:

Yes, and there is even a technical term for it: water intoxication!

In healthy people, the amount of water we drink is controlled by our thirst mechanism, located in the brain. We consume water in the form of liquids (juice, milk, soda) and also in foods (primarily fruits and vegetables). The only foods that DON'T contain water are commercially dehydrated foods.

Healthy adults require approximately three quarts of fluid each day. About half of this comes from food, with the remainder from beverages, hence the advice to drink eight cups of liquid each day. If you exercise, are breastfeeding, are ill, or live in a hot climate, your fluid needs are higher than the three quarts each day.

However, it is possible to drink too much water if you put your mind to it. We're talking A LOT OF WATER, more than is possible under normal circumstances. Often associated with other obsessive-compulsive behaviors, drinking large amounts of water can be hazardous. Too much water in our system causes the dilution of essential electrolytes in our blood stream, which has implications for control of heart beat. My recommendation is 8-12 cups of fluid, combined with additional fluid to support exercise or hot conditions. If you're drinking more than this, consult your physician.

Sincerely,
Lynn Grieger, RD, CD, CDE

RESOURCES:

• Back to Celebrate Summer!
• Water, water everywhere ... Are you getting enough to drink?