5 signs that you’re drinking too much water
Are you sipping on water even when you’re not thirsty? Well, that
means you’re overhydrating yourself. You see, feeling thirsty is your
body’s way of telling you that you need to hydrate yourself. But, going
overboard with fluid consumption will do more harm than good which
defeats the very purpose of consuming all that extra water.
All celebs, friends and family members recommend that you drink as much
water as possible throughout the day. What no one bothers telling you is
exactly how much is too much? According to a study published in the
journal Nutrition,
overhydration can mess up with your health to an extent that you won’t
be able to sustain certain nutrients and minerals inside your body.
Needless to say, this can result in deficiencies and related health
ailments.
So, how do you get to know that you’re overhydrating yourself? Well, here are 5 signs to look out for:
1. Fatigue
Water helps in maintaining the body’s electrolyte balance. Electrolytes basically help in keeping our energy levels high. If you drink too much water, this balance goes for a toss, making you feel tired and drowsy.
Do you know that the most common electrolyte imbalance is called hyponatremia characterised by low sodium in the blood? Most of the symptoms of overhydration occur due to this.
2. Clear urine
A clinical nutritionist suggests that the best way to check the hydration level of your body is to check the colour of your urine. If it is dark yellow, you are dehydrated. However, if it is very light yellow, your hydration level is fine. When it is crystal clear just like water, you are overhydrated.
According to a head dietician and nutritionist, a key symptom of overhydration is frequent urination. What’s more, it might cause you to wake up multiple times during the night to answer nature’s call. This will not only disrupt your sleep cycle but also flush out important minerals from your body.
3. Muscle cramps
Do you know that your muscles need sodium to stay strong? A lack of it can lead to muscle weakness, spasms, and cramps. Drinking too much water is one of the prime causes behind the deficiency of sodium.
When you drink too much water the sodium in your blood gets diluted. It ends up getting flushed out of your body via sweat and urine which can result in a deficiency.
4. Swollen lips, face, and legs
She suggests that a low level of sodium in the blood leads to this. If you eat a salty diet, experiencing bloating is normal. But, low levels of sodium causes the cells of your body to retain more water. Due to this, your lips, face and legs end up looking swollen.
5. Headache
Here another symptom of overhydration caused due to low sodium in the body. You know that your body cells tend to swell up due to a decline in sodium levels. This also leads to major fluid retention in your brain. Due to the swelling up of the cells, you experience a throbbing headache.
Too much of anything is bad. The same goes for water! So, keep a watch on your water levels and don’t go overboard.