Can You Drink Too Much Water?

Question: Can You Drink Too Much Water?

Answer: You've probably heard that it's important to 'drink plenty of fluids' or simply 'drink lots of water'. There are excellent reasons for drinking water, but have you ever wondered if it's possible to drink too much water. Here's what you need to know:

Can You Really Drink Too Much Water?

In a word, yes. Drinking too much water can lead to a condition known as water intoxication and to a related problem resulting from the dilution of sodium in the body, hyponatremia. Water intoxication is most commonly seen in infants under six months of age and sometimes in athletes. A baby can get water intoxication as a result of drinking several bottles of water a day or from drinking infant formula that has been diluted too much. Athletes can also suffer from water intoxication. Athletes sweat heavily, losing both water and electrolytes. Water intoxication and hyponatremia result when a dehydrated person drinks too much water without the accompanying electrolytes.

What Happens During Water Intoxication?

When too much water enters the body's cells, the tissues swell with the excess fluid. Your cells maintain a specific concentration gradient, so excess water outside the cells (the serum) draws sodium from within the cells out into the serum in an attempt to re-establish the necessary concentration. As more water accumulates, the serum sodium concentration drops -- a condition known as hyponatremia. The other way cells try to regain the electrolyte balance is for water outside the cells to rush into the cells via osmosis. The movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from higher to lower concentration is called osmosis. Although electrolytes are more concentrated inside the cells than outside, the water outside the cells is 'more concentrated' or 'less dilute' since it contains fewer electrolytes. Both electrolytes and water move across the cell membrane in an effort to balance concentration. Theoretically, cells could swell to the point of bursting.

From the cell's point of view, water intoxication produces the same effects as would result from drowning in fresh water. Electrolyte imbalance and tissue swelling can cause an irregular heartbeat, allow fluid to enter the lungs, and may cause fluttering eyelids. Swelling puts pressure on the brain and nerves, which can cause behaviors resembling alcohol intoxication. Swelling of brain tissues can cause seizures, coma and ultimately death unless water intake is restricted and a hypertonic saline (salt) solution is administered. If treatment is given before tissue swelling causes too much cellular damage, then a complete recovery can be expected within a few days.

It's Not How Much You Drink, It's How Fast You Drink It!

The kidneys of a healthy adult can process fifteen liters of water a day! You are unlikely to suffer from water intoxication, even if you drink a lot of water, as long as you drink over time as opposed to intaking an enormous volume at one time. As a general guideline, most adults need about three quarts of fluid each day. Much of that water comes from food, so 8-12 eight ounce glasses a day is a common recommended intake. You may need more water if the weather is very warm or very dry, if you are exercising, or if you are taking certain medications. The bottom line is this: it's possible to drink too much water, but unless you are running a marathon or an infant, water intoxication is a very uncommon condition.

CREDIT:  Article Taken from About.com

SWEAT is fat crying

Tell us about your life before you started the program. How did you feel about yourself and your body? Before starting Insanity and P90X I was 215 lbs and I was in denial for a very long time about my weight and overall health. I was constantly tired and lethargic, I had NO energy what so ever and no motivation to do anything physically challenging. I used to myself that this is what comes with age. I pretty much ate everything in site and sat around watching TV or playing video games when I wasn't working! I remember when I got to the point where I only liked what I looked like with clothes on and I was ashamed to even be seen wearing a tank top! I avoided pools and beaches the best I could and when I couldn't avoid them, I would never take off my shirt...even in the water! I remember thinking to myself, how did it get to be this way... I was never "that" guy... what in the heck happened! My confidence was taking a turn for the worse and I had only just turned 30!

What inspired you to change your life and begin your transformation journey? What inspired me most were thoughts of the what the future would be like for my family after our daughter was born. I remember folks telling me to enjoy my 20's because after 30 it all starts going down hill. It surprised me how many people actually believed that and lived according to that belief. I soon realized that as long as I kept going in the direction that I was currently going in, they would be absolutely right. But then I realized that they would only be right IF I continued in that direction. Being 30 meant that I had technically been a legal adult for only 13 years, so if there was any truth to what people were saying then that would mean that I would have no control over my body and health for the next 50 or so years! There was NO WAY I was going to let that happen, especially not with a newborn baby girl! If I was going to change the direction of my future for anyone I had to change it for her! I owed her and my family much more than a slow decline. They deserve better!




Why did you choose the particular program? I started my original transformation with Insanity and P90X but for this particular challenge I chose Asylum because I am an Insanity PSYCHO,looking for a challenge! I figured what better way to enter a challenge than with... well a Challenge! LOL! And BOY I sure got what I asked for and some!!! Let me say for the record that Insanity ASYLUM is THE ABSOLUTE MOST CHALLENGING, MOST DIFFICULT, yet MOST FUN WORKOUT EVER PUT ON DVD!!! And I'm smiling 'cause I love it!

What in particular did you like about the program you chose? What I loved most about Asylum was the fact that it was a test of not only my physical ability but of my mental strength as well! In order to succeed I MUST focus my mind to allow me to keep going when every other fiber in my body gives me reasons to throw in the towel! That in itself is a valuable practice for life in general! And it truly has helped me in other areas! I love it!

Tell us about the greatest challenge you faced. How did you overcome that challenge? The greatest challenge I faced was actually getting started doing the workouts! Once I started I was good but actually getting started was a problem. I over came that challenge by teaching myself a hard lesson. I delayed a workout one day and ended up doing it late one night. I was so beat the next morning that I couldn't give it my all. I realized that when I get it over and done with I get to enjoy my entire day and get to bed on time. If the hardest part of my day if the workout, the rest of the day will be easy!!

Describe the results you achieved with your Beachbody® program. What achievements are you proud of? I was able to achieve a six pack for the very first time in my life! It's not just the six pack though, it's the fact that a shirt is now optional! LOL! Not only that, but I'm in better overall health than most people 10 or more years younger than me and I'm only 32!

~ Taken from Beachbody Success Stories - Matt J.

Brush your teeth!

"If you find yourself raiding the fridge at night even when you know that you've eaten as much as you should for the day, brush your teeth. If you're still hungry after that, try having a cup of tea or drinking a glass of water, because thirst can often be mistaken for hunger.

If you're still hungry after trying both of those solutions, reach for a plain protein shake."   ~ Steve Edwards



"Here's a simple trick to beat sugar cravings at home that really works for me: As soon as a craving starts me thinking about food, I go and brush my teeth.
Some days, I will get a sudden craving out of nowhere for something starchy or sweet. In the past, this would cause me to immediately raid the refrigerator and pantry. Nowadays, what I'll do instead is run to the bathroom and quickly brush my teeth.

Why does this help beat sugar craving? Well, first of all brushing your teeth is a distraction. It gets you out of the kitchen and occupied with something other than eating. But what also helps a lot is the toothpaste itself.
The secret to this tip is using a strong-flavored toothpaste. Any mint-flavored toothpaste, for example, works great.
 Brushing your teeth kills a sugar craving fast!

Once my mouth has that clean, fresh feeling, I really don't want to mess it up by eating a bunch of crackers or chips. Plus the thought of the taste of minty-crackers (or minty-"whatever") usually causes me to lose my appetite.
Obviously this tip works best when you are at home. It's not going to help you in front of the vending machine at work! (Though I suppose you could take a toothbrush and toothpaste with you to the office.)
I find that most of my extra snacking happens at home anyway. After all, the food at home is easily accessible and just a few steps away.
So next time you get a craving, remember: Run to the bathroom, and brush, brush, brush! If you do, you'll have a better chance of beating that craving, and your dentist will probably thank you for it too."  ~ Easy Quick Weigh Loss Tips

Randy's Favorite Enchilada Sauce

I love Mexican dishes so we always have tortillas and cheese in the house.  Our hamburger has been exchanged for ground turkey and the tortillas have been swapped for whole wheat tortillas.  I am trying to make healthy choices these days.  A household favorite has been my chicken enchiladas with home made enchilada sauce.  It's much easier to buy a jar of it at the store, but what if you could make your own, anytime you want?  Randy likes it so much that I make a double batch and put what I don't use in the enchiladas in a jar in the fridge to be used on other food items at his leisure.

Megan has been asking for the recipe, so here it is.  This recipe came from Allrecipes.com but as you can imagine, I have adapted it a little here and there.  I'm posting the original for you in case you're afraid of my changes.  I hope you like it!

Ingredients ~

1 tbsp olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp minced onion

1/2 tsp dried oregano

2 1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/8 tsp salt

1/8 tsp ground black pepper

1/4 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp dried parsley

1/4 cup salsa

1 (6 oz) can tomato sauce

1 1/2 cups water

Directions ~

1.  Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.  Add the garlic and saute for 1 to 2 minutes.  Add the onion, oregano, chili powder, basil, ground black pepper, salt, cumin, parsley, salsa and tomato sauce. 

2.  Mix together and then stir in the water.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

I add the olive oil in the pan, add minced onion and minced garlic and saute for a few minutes.  (I usually don't have time to cut up my own onion, so I cheat with the minced stuff)  I pretty much follow the rest of the recipe.  I do not use the tomato sauce.  I use about a half cup of ketchup... yes ketchup.  I add more chili powder too, like 3 tablespoons, not teaspoons.  Taste as you go and decide for yourself!