Drinking too much water?

[EhtoZed]

3 years ago I had a kidney stone, and ever since I've been drinking a lot of water. Usually 3-4L (12-16 cups) a day. I also have a cup of OJ with breakfast and a cup of V8 with lunch as well as some fruit.

Now, my dad got another kidney stone this past week and had to have it removed by a doctor. When he told the nurse how much water he was drinking (about the same as me) she told him he shouldn't drink all that liquid as just water otherwise you might be missing out on electrolights and such.

So, what I'm asking then is how much water is too much? Is half water/half juice (or something else) better? I've been drinking like this for 3 years now. The only other stuff I usually drink is beer or wine. More often beer when I'm hanging out with the guys. Is there some magic ratio that I was never told of?

[Northcott]

It could be, but I've never heard of it. Many, many athletes drink nothing but water or green tea (the fad of the day) and sometimes milk and/or protein shakes. Coffee's another favourite. But they drink several litres of water a day, and there's no hint of an electrolyte imbalance.

I'm curious to see if anybody's got more information on this.

[EhtoZed]

Well, I've been doing it for three years and I've never had a problem. Never been sick, never felt tired or worn out. So, going by my body's response it doesn't seem to be hurting me.

[Phantom Stranger]

Well there's that new buzz theory that too much water will in a sense flush your system too often, robbing it of the vitamins and minerals and other shit we need to get going like electrolytes. I haven't done a lot of reading/viewing on it so not too sure on the validity of it.

[Varaj]

My understanding is that there is growing concern that chronic reduced plasma osmolarity causes long term degradation in health. That is the primary reason behind the FDA changing water conception recommendations.

[EhtoZed]

Here's what wikipaedia says.

For drinking

About 70% of the fat free mass of the human body is made of water.[citation needed] To function properly, the body requires between one and seven liters of water per day to avoid dehydration; the precise amount depends on the level of activity, temperature, humidity, and other factors. Most of this is ingested through foods or beverages other than drinking straight water. It is not clear how much water intake is needed by healthy people, though most experts agree that 8–10 glasses of water (approximately 2 liters) daily is the minimum to maintain proper hydration.[15] For those who have healthy kidneys, it is rather difficult to drink too much water, but (especially in warm humid weather and while exercising) it is dangerous to drink too little. People can drink far more water than necessary while exercising, however, putting them at risk of water intoxication, which can be fatal. The "fact" that a person should consume eight glasses of water per day cannot be traced back to a scientific source.[16] There are other myths such as the effect of water on weight loss and constipation that have been dispelled.[17]

Original recommendation for water intake in 1945 by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council read: "An ordinary standard for diverse persons is 1 milliliter for each calorie of food. Most of this quantity is contained in prepared foods."[18] The latest dietary reference intake report by the United States National Research Council in general recommended (including food sources): 2.7 liters of water total for women and 3.7 liters for men.[19] Specifically, pregnant and breastfeeding women need additional fluids to stay hydrated. According to the Institute of Medicine—who recommend that, on average, women consume 2.2 litres and men 3.0 litres—this is recommended to be 2.4 litres (approx. 9 cups) for pregnant women and 3 litres (approx. 12.5 cups) for breastfeeding women since an especially large amount of fluid is lost during nursing.[20] Also noted is that normally, about 20 percent of water intake comes from food, while the rest comes from drinking water and beverages (caffeinated included). Water is excreted from the body in multiple forms; through urine and feces, through sweating, and by exhalation of water vapor in the breath. With physical exertion and heat exposure, water loss will increase and daily fluid needs may increase as well.And from the link on footnote 20. http://www.iom.edu/?id=18495&redirect=0


Dietary Reference Intakes: Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate

The Food and Nutrition Board released the sixth in a series of reports presenting dietary reference values for the intake of nutrients by Americans and Canadians. This new report establishes nutrient recommendations on water, salt and potassium to maintain health and reduce chronic disease risk. Highlights of the report include:


The vast majority of healthy people adequately meet their daily hydration needs by letting thirst be their guide. The report did not specify exact requirements for water, but set general recommendations for women at approximately 2.7 liters (91 ounces) of total water -- from all beverages and foods -- each day, and men an average of approximately 3.7 liters (125 ounces daily) of total water. The panel did not set an upper level for water.
About 80 percent of people's total water intake comes from drinking water and beverages -- including caffeinated beverages -- and the other 20 percent is derived from food.
Prolonged physical activity and heat exposure will increase water losses and therefore may raise daily fluid needs, although it is important to note that excessive amounts can be life-threatening.
Healthy 19- to 50-year-old adults should consume 1.5 grams of sodium and 2.3 grams of chloride each day -- or 3.8 grams of salt -- to replace the amount lost daily on average through sweat and to achieve a diet that provides sufficient amounts of other essential nutrients.
The tolerable upper intake level (UL) for salt is set at 5.8 grams per day. More than 95 percent of American men and 90 percent of Canadian men ages 31 to 50, and 75 percent of American women and 50 percent of Canadian women in this age range regularly consume salt in excess of the UL.
Older individuals, African Americans, and people with chronic diseases including hypertension, diabetes, and kidney disease are especially sensitive to the blood pressure-raising effects of salt and should consume less than the UL.
Adults should consume at least 4.7 grams of potassium per day to lower blood pressure, blunt the effects of salt, and reduce the risk of kidney stones and bone loss. However, most American women 31 to 50 years old consume no more than half of the recommended amount of potassium, and men's intake is only moderately higher.
There was no evidence of chronic excess intakes of potassium in apparently health individuals and thus no UL was established.

[doc]

When I had my kidney stone I was told to dring liquads but to alternate the water with Cranberry juice.

[Dacke]

It is not clear how much water intake is needed by healthy people
1 gallon per day for an active character. Double that if wearing metal armor, halve it if you spend the entire day in the shade or resting (quarter for both). A Heat Protection proficiency check also halves the consumption, but I'm not sure if it's cumulative with the halving for being in shade.

Small races need half that much, and Large races need four times as much. Thri-kreen only need 1/7 as much water.

[EhtoZed]

1 gallon per day for an active character. Double that if wearing metal armor, halve it if you spend the entire day in the shade or resting (quarter for both). A Heat Protection proficiency check also halves the consumption, but I'm not sure if it's cumulative with the halving for being in shade.

Small races need half that much, and Large races need four times as much. Thri-kreen only need 1/7 as much water.
I always thought those numbers were really small for a fucking desert setting. Especially since I'm drinking almost a gallon a day and I sit at a desk while I'm doing it.

[Bagpuss]

Most of this is ingested through foods or beverages other than drinking straight water. It is not clear how much water intake is needed by healthy people, though most experts agree that 8–10 glasses of water (approximately 2 liters) daily is the minimum to maintain proper hydration.

Just to be clear the 2 liters of water a day, is what is mostly ingested through foods and beverages, and not needed to be taken on top. I know it says 20% of water intake comes from food, but food alone goes a long way to meeting that 2 to 4 litres, I've seen a study which said it was something like 60% or more can come from food. When you consider 70% of the human body is water, that generally means 70% of other meats you eat are water; fish, fruit and veg have even higher water contents, although of course some of this is lost depending on how it is cooked.

That said drinking a little extra water doesn't do you any harm, but doesn't do a lot of good either, unless you have it with food it tends to pass rapidly through the gut to the bladder. Drinking water on it's own isn't the best way to hydrate your body.

[Dacke]

I always thought those numbers were really small for a fucking desert setting. Especially since I'm drinking almost a gallon a day and I sit at a desk while I'm doing it.
You could always handwave it by saying that the same process that have made Dark Sun characters more badass (essentially +2 to all stats) also made them better able to cope with heat.

Then again, the exact same rules (without the Heat Protection proficiency, IIRC) were used for the Al-Qadim setting, which doesn't have that excuse.

[Kastil]

I found this:

It's Not How Much You Drink, It's How Fast You Drink It!

The kidneys of a healthy adult can process fifteen liters of water a day! You are unlikely to suffer from water intoxication, even if you drink a lot of water, as long as you drink over time as opposed to intaking an enormous volume at one time. As a general guideline, most adults need about three quarts of fluid each day. Much of that water comes from food, so 8-12 eight ounce glasses a day is a common recommended intake. You may need more water if the weather is very warm or very dry, if you are exercising, or if you are taking certain medications. The bottom line is this: it's possible to drink too much water, but unless you are running a marathon or an infant, water intoxication is a very uncommon condition.

This Article here (http://chemistry.about.com/cs/5/f/blwaterintox.htm) also talks about water intoxication.

I drink a lot of water during the day because I'm prone to bladder infections so I try to keep my system clear but everyone is different.

[Ancalagon]

My "educated gut feeling" is that if you aren't very active (ie not sweating), 2 L is enough, and up to 4 L should be no problem at all. If you constantly stress your kindness by drinking too much water, you may cause damage to them in the long term.

Your thirst is also a good indicator of how much you should drink. Be aware that excessive thirst can be a sign of diabetes.

Ancalagon

[Northcott]

If you constantly stress your kindness by drinking too much water...

Is this why I'm so mean?

[Ancalagon]

Is this why I'm so mean?


:o

I guess I had too much wine...

[Brynja]

Is this why I'm so mean?

Fuck that you aren't kind.

Are you always running around intoxicated by water? ;)

[Northcott]

Fuck that you aren't kind.

Are you always running around intoxicated by water? ;)

I'm on my 15th litre since lunch hour, bitch!!!

[Brynja]

Water intoxication-

Cooking with Krusk!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvo7UMc-sYo

[Brynja]

By the end he is so wasted it is hilarious.

[Ancalagon]

By the end he is so wasted it is hilarious.

It's like D&D Jerry springer!

... I wonder if they will have to update them for 4e :P

[Brynja]

there are tons of them. i have no idea if they will or not.