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Very few people are the kind who go to the gym or to dinner without drinking water. Hydration is indeed important, but just like lack of water, its excess can also have adverse health consequences.
During these hot summer days you should regularly replenish fluids throughout the day to prevent dehydration.
Today, however, we will take a closer look at situations in which it is actually good to ease up on water a bit, because it can be harmful to you.
We will also tell you what can happen to your body when you drink too much water during the day.
And here are the promised 9 situations in which you definitely should not drink water.
1. In the evening right before sleep
There are two reasons why it is not appropriate to drink water immediately before sleeping.
The first reason is the fact that it can lead to interruption of nighttime sleep due to the need to go to the toilet. Later you may have trouble falling back asleep.
The second reason is that our kidneys work more slowly at night than during the day. Therefore you may sometimes notice swelling of the face and limbs in the morning.
Drinking water before sleep will deepen this problem even more.
2. During intense exercise
According to scientists, excessive drinking of water during exercise can have negative side effects.
During exercise the body temperature rises and a person feels overheated. If they then drink a lot of water to cool down, it causes depletion of electrolytes.
The result is then often pain or dizziness, or nausea.
In addition, excessive fluids can be dangerous for people with heart disease because they increase the load on the heart. For this reason doctors recommend drinking water only after finishing exercise.
3. If your urine is colorless
Completely clear and colorless urine is a sign of overhydration. If this occurs in you, you have probably been drinking too much water during the day even when you did not feel thirsty.
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The problem is that such overhydration leads to a drop in blood sodium levels. This can have serious consequences, even posing a risk of a heart attack.
4. Washing down spicy foods
You should never drink a lot of water after consuming spicy foods.
The burning is caused by the substance capsaicin. It is a nonpolar molecule, which means it can only be diluted in nonpolar drinks such as milk.
If you try to wash away the burning with water containing polar molecules, you will make the situation worse. The capsaicin molecules will be spread throughout the mouth and esophagus.
5. Just before, during, or after a meal
Drinking water while consuming food worsens digestion. The reason is the dilution of digestive juices found in saliva and in the stomach.
Drinking during a meal also slows saliva production. Insufficiently digested food then accumulates in the stomach and intestines, where it acts toxically. And that even applies when you eat only healthy foods.
If you drink cold water or alcohol, it will further worsen the situation.
6. If the water comes from a garden hose
Although garden hoses are connected to a source of fresh drinking water, the substances found in such rubber hoses are dangerous to human health.
These substances can disrupt the endocrine system. For example, the element antimony (Sb) present in the rubber damages the liver, kidneys, and other organs.
Rubber also contains phthalates, which reduce intelligence and cause behavioral changes, especially in children.
7. If the water contains artificial sweeteners
This recommendation mainly concerns people who are trying to lose weight and therefore reach for sugar substitutes.
The problem is that most artificial sweeteners stimulate appetite, which can ultimately lead to weight gain.
Also be careful with the popular water with lemon slices. Such water is tasty and healthy, but it also stimulates appetite. It’s good to know that and take it into account.
8. Seawater
Each of us probably knows that one should avoid drinking seawater. But few people know why it is harmful to our health.
Most people think of the salt contained in seawater. Its consumption would lead to an increased need for fresh water to balance electrolyte levels. Seawater can thus paradoxically cause dehydration.
The second, lesser-known risk of seawater is the fact that most coastal waters contain pathogenic human viruses.
Therefore, if some gets into your mouth, try to spit it out immediately. After all, you don’t want to spend your whole vacation with stomach pains or diarrhea as a result of rotavirus.
9. If you have already drunk enough water during the day
We have already discussed this, but we want to remind you once again.
Excessive drinking of water leads to a reduction in blood sodium levels, which can have very unpleasant side effects.
Excessive overhydration is also harmful to your kidneys because it prevents their proper function in regulating important components of the blood.
What happens with overhydration
Excessive water drinking leads to a condition called hyponatremia. Doctors recommend not to underestimate it, because in some cases it can even threaten your life.
Patients diagnosed with hyponatremia may have symptoms such as seizures and cramps, and show signs of confusion or even depression.
Of course, the reasons given in this article should not be a reason for you to start drinking too little water, because it is very important for bodily functions.
The principle is balance — do not go to either extreme.
