Are There Times to Waive Water?
By Sara Butler
Drinking water tends to be one of those things that’s always a good idea. After all, sufficient water intake helps your body to stay balanced and even helps to keep you from eating too much to stay at a healthy weight. Yes, drinking plenty of water is one of the healthiest habits you can have. But water isn’t a "more is better" kind of thing. There are a few times in life when your health will hinge on your ability to curb your water habit. Here are a few of those times!
When You’ve Already Had Enough
Drinking so much water that it puts your health in danger is rare, but it does happen. If you drink too much water, you can dilute the natural balance of salt your body maintains. Your body requires salt to make the muscles, including the heart, function correctly. If you drink so much water that you flush away a lot of salt, then it can lead to swelling, vomiting, nausea, seizures, and death. So, be careful you don’t go crazy, especially if you’re an endurance athlete. If you exercise for more than an hour nonstop, you may want to consider sports drinks that help to replenish your electrolytes (such as salt) as it hydrates you.
If Your Pee is Clear
You can tell a lot about your hydration level by the color of your pee. Truly --it may sound kind of silly, but the Mayo Clinic states that urine the color of a light lemonade is perfect. Dark urine means you’re not getting enough water, while clear urine means you’re getting too much. If your pee is clear, then you’re in danger of having too much water!
When You’ve Eaten a Big Meal
One of the best ways to cut back on your daily calorie intake is by drinking water before you eat the meal. This will help you to feel full so you don’t overeat. But that same line of reasoning has to be applied to drinking water while you eat and right after. Drinking too much during or right after a big meal can make you feel mighty uncomfortable; it’ll also make you feel bloated. So, while drinking water is great for you, don’t force it.
Water is essential for good health, so understanding when to drink -- and when not to drink it -- is very important for your health!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Spartanburg, S.C.