Tag: Excess water

For a healthy adult in a temperate climate, adequate daily fluid intake is typically around 2.7 to 3.7 liters, or about 9 to 15 cups, making 10 liters of water a day a dangerously excessive amount. This level of intake can overwhelm the body's natural regulatory systems, leading to a potentially fatal condition known as water intoxication.

While drinking water is essential for health, consuming too much too quickly can lead to a dangerous condition known as water intoxication or hyponatremia. The human kidneys can only process a maximum of 0.8 to 1.0 liters of water per hour, meaning rapid, excessive intake can overwhelm the body's natural fluid balance.

While dehydration is a more common concern, overhydration, or water intoxication, can occur when the body takes in more water than its kidneys can excrete. This can dilute crucial electrolytes like sodium, leading to a dangerous imbalance called hyponatremia.

Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder, affecting up to 20% of hospitalized patients. Given this, it's critical to know: should you drink a lot of water with hyponatremia? The answer is a definitive no, as excessive water intake can drastically worsen the condition.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine suggests an average adequate daily fluid intake of 3.7 liters for men and 2.7 liters for women, but what do 4 liters of water do to your body? While this amount can be beneficial for some, it can pose significant risks for others, particularly when consumed too quickly.

Less than 150 milligrams of protein is normally excreted in urine per day, a testament to the kidneys' efficiency; therefore, the concern that **drinking too much water can flush out protein** is a common myth that misinterprets how the body regulates nutrients. While adequate water is vital for health, excessive intake poses a different set of risks entirely, none of which involve a healthy body simply 'flushing out' its vital proteins.

While dehydration is a common concern, a lesser-known but serious condition called hyponatremia can occur from excessive fluid intake. This phenomenon raises the important question: can you drink too much water daily? The answer is yes, although it is rare for most healthy individuals.

A 2014 study in the journal *PLOS ONE* found no evidence of dehydration among healthy men who consumed moderate daily coffee compared to those drinking water. This surprising fact challenges the common myth and provides a foundation for answering the question: **Does coffee get rid of excess water?**