Is this too much water?

[Waterywater]

I absolutely love water but I’m wondering if I drink too much.

I’m not diabetic (I’ve been tested several times) nor do I have anything wrong with my b12, iron, folate or any vitamins that makes me want to drink water. I just drink it because I love it. I don’t get an extreme extreme craving for it like people apparently do when they have diabetes or are unwell, I just love drinking it. I’m Scottish and our tap water just tastes so lush. And I love how cold and refreshed I feel when I drink water. I’m always thirsty but in a good way and I just feel so much better and less parched after drinking water. On an average day I drink around 4-6 litres and on a day where I’m busier eg go to the gym, or am busy at work I drink more than 6.

but I recently read something in a magazine that said that it’s unhealthy to drink too much water and I’m slightly worried now and wondering if I should reduce how much I drink? But I feel like I’d be so thirsty if I did that, ahh, I’m healthy although my last blood test something was a bit low but I just had to drink some sando k (I think that’s what it was called, it was absolutely disgusting and I’ll shamelessly admit I didn’t finish the prescription as it was too vile even mixed with juice) but other than that everything was healthy, so is it really too bad to drink extra water? TY in advance 🙂

@Beneficialchampion2 as you said “It completely depends on your physical activity levels, diet and tendancy to perspire” You said yourself that you do a lot of high intensity exercise plus you say you sweat a lot.

The OP says that she’s already been treated for low potassium suggesting that she may be drinking too much water.

4 - 6 litres is considered to be excessive for most people and can have significant consequences in terms of electrolyte imbalance,

OP - I still maintain that you should speak to your GP about this

I started drinking loads of water when I was breastfeeding my middle child. I got into he habit of it and feel dreadful if I don't. I love water too and my bloods were all fine during my recent pregnancy. I had one blood test a month and it never picked anything up. I dont pee all the time and could down a pint of water before bed without it interfering with my sleep. I drink at least 4 litres but do eat a lot of bananas 🍌.

I get a lot of compliements about my skin BTW.

I drink 3-4l a day. I don't drink tea or coffe so there is no other liquid intake. I wee a LOT. 6l is a huge amount.

I worked out that o drank about 4l during one 12 hour shift. Tea and water. Decided it was time to cut back!

How much do you weigh?

I think 4 litres a day is fine for my weight (10.5 stone).

The key thing is to make sure you’re adding electrolytes, either by taking a supplement each day or by adding salt to your water and ensuring you are eating magnesium and potassium rich foods.

Happy to link the electrolyte supplement I take if you want, but they’re are a lot of options.

If you're still thirsty, despite drinking so much, then you probably need to be adding more sodium (as well as potassium) into your day.

@Waterywater do you cook with salt and/or add it to your food?

You need about 2 to 2.5 l of water a day and about 20% of that will come from food (ie water in food).

Drinking more than 4l a day in normal conditions is far too much and your electrolytes will be all over the place and this can be dangerous for your heart.

Thanks everyone for all the help. To answer questions, yeah I pee a lot. I get up twice during the night but I fall back asleep straight away so doesn’t bother me too much otherwise I wake up thirsty sometimes. In terms of my weight, I’m 5 foot 6 tall and weigh 8 and a half stone. I love salt anyway (not like a craving, I just love the taste) so I do eat lots of salty food too and on a day where I drink above 6l I usually try to eat some extra salt like crisps etc. yeah that’s correct it was low potassium I just couldn’t remember exactly apart from sando k- don’t think I could forget that in a hurry because it was absolutely revolting!

You’re so right about the Sando-K. It is rank. I feel so sorry for my patients when I have to give it. We offer to mix it with squash but I don’t think that helps much. In the interests of research I tried it years ago 🤮.

It was supposed to say oxo cube, but auto corrected.