Thread: Too much water flushes out nutrients??

although you should drink plenty of water, i've actually heard there is such thing as drinking too much water... how much is too much? i have no idea... if you're training on a regular basis, then obviously you'll need to drink plenty of water... however, i've heard a rumour that drinking too much water can lead to diabetes? not sure if that's true or not... also a good friend of mine claims her sister got water poisoning last year from drinking too much? i don't know if any of these rumours are true though... maybe someone else can clarify?

as for me, i pretty much just listen to my body... if i feel a thirst coming on i make sure i re-fuel... if i'm not thirsty, i don't drink anything... simple as that...

Drinking too much water can upset the electrolyte balance.

Unless you're getting noticable problems (like muscle cramps for instance), then you're probably replacing any lost ions from drinking a lot of water via your diet and any additional minerals you take.

32 OZ with creatine/protein sounds like a lot. I'd cut that in half.

As Chicken DAddy said it can cause problems with your electrolytes. On the other hand we are talking about major consumption of water. There is such a thing as poisoning. It is called water intoxication. Many inmates in penatentaries indulge in large quantities of water. We are talking in excess of 2 gallons of water ina very short amount of time. If you drink on average a gallon of water a day you should in no way have any negative effects.

I absolutely LOVE water!

I drink 1.5 gallons a day plus 2 protein shakes, coffee and sometimes crystal light without any issues. When you are drinking 5-6 L of water a day you should invest in an iron free Multi-mineral to take at the end of the to replace the minerals you depleted.

Ditto

thanks fo rthe answers all. I'll stick to the gallon a day but spread it out a little better.

Originally posted by The_Chicken_Daddy
Drinking too much water can upset the electrolyte balance.

Unless you're getting noticable problems (like muscle cramps for instance), then you're probably replacing any lost ions from drinking a lot of water via your diet and any additional minerals you take.

Does consuming a lot of water actually cause muscle cramps? Thats the first Ive heard of that, but it would answer a lot of questions i have.

Ever since I started drinking water like crazy, I would get muscle cramps in the wierdest places.

But they would HURT... really really hurt. For like two days. Everywhere, but more like places that Ive never had cramps before. Like on the right side of the back, or the neck, or the foot (for Pete's sake, thats the WORST) , or the quad. Even a crampy pain in the @ss (Literally - like the right butt cheek). Out of nowhere..

If its water, how is it causing this?? And if its not, what is?

Are you taking your multi-minerals?

umm.. no.. the headaches kinda went away. should I be? thats why i have cramps?

Generally, if you up the water without upping the micronutrients (potassium in particular), then you can essentially "flush" some out, upsetting the balance.

The balance being basically sodium and potassium on either side of a membrane. There's a few more involved, but them two are the key ones.

Lack of which one causes cramps?

Apologies, i should have mentioned that above. It's potassium loss that is usually a major problem regarding cramps.

And basically upsetting any balance at all can cause problems.

there is no true scientific understanding of what causes cramps.

ok..

Thanks guys..

It was wierd when I got out of the shower one night and my foot was cramped up on the arch. Out of nowhere, and at a really wierd spot. And the right side of my back, underneath the shoulder blade...

My body misses bananas..

Originally posted by Prince
there is no true scientific understanding of what causes cramps.

I was unaware of this.

However, drinking too much water can upset the sodium-potassium balance, which very much in theory now you've pointed it out, could cause cramps.

there is a lot of anecdotal info about cramps, such as water, potassium, etc., but no real science that I know of.

Me either.

For the most part it's a relatively boring topic, so doesn't particularly interest me enough to go into further reading.

Thanks TCD - last night I bought a good multi-mineral with a good dosage of Potassium Thanks for your advice

I remember a time when I was dieting and drinking water heavily...I would actually drink almost 2 gallons a day in order to flush my system.

One time after working out, I was cramping so bad, I actually thought I was going to die. It was one of the worst feelings that I have ever felt.

It wasnt until someone told me that too much water can be detrimental to your health.

Water is good but dont over do it like I have.