How Much Is Too Much?

It is a well-known postulate that too much of a good thing can trigger adverse effects.  Research has pinpointed severe health hazards associated with overhydration, following several cases of harmful health effects and even death in athletes.  This condition, coined exercise-associatedhyponatremia (EAH), occurs when the proportion of water to salt in the body becomes too large.  Mitchell Rosner, a kidney specialist at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, stated, "When the salt level in the blood falls too low, it leads to significant neurological problems and can be fatal." Symptoms can begin with nausea and headaches, and if left untouched may lead to seizures, severe confusion, and coma. The primary reason for this is the misconception that drinking more water than needed will have no harmful affects, can hold off dehydration for a longer amount of time, and may even improve performance.

There is no denying water is a vital part of our diet and has many health benefits, so how do we know when we have reached too much? Rosner advises that the best way to prevent EAH as well as dehydration is to “[allow] your body to tell you when you need a drink.” In other words, drink when you are thirsty, not to improve performance.