19/02/2026
Learn sciem-thing new!
โGood evening, humans! Today, let's talk about water and why, amazingly, it can actually do harm when taken in too large of amounts. If this raises your curiosity, let's dissect the details...
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โWhat do you think of when the word โpoisonโ is mentioned? Arsenic or cyanide, perhaps? But water? Some might question how it could be such a bad thing, seeing as water is our best friend.
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โBut here is the thing about our kidneys tho, they can only process 4 cups of water or waste per hour. If you manage to chug more than what your kidneys can process, the excess water ends up in your cells.
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โNote that your cells are surrounded by a balance of sodium and potassium; we refer to them as โelectrolytesโ; they help everything run smoothly, and they should be balanced. When you drink too much water, this can dilute the electrolytes in your blood, this means the sodium levels go down. If sodium levels get too low, then that means the liquid surrounding your cells is not salty enough, and the water has no choice but to start going into your cells to even things out. This can make your cells swell. The medical term for this is โwater intoxication.โ
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โNormally, cells in our body can handle a little swelling because fat and flesh are flexible, but it's a different story when we're talking about the brain, which is encased in the hard skull. When cells in the brain swell, it causes pressure, and this pressure can lead to headaches, confusion, drowsiness, and in severe cases, it can be life-threatening. Yes, it can put you into a coma.
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โJust remember, no exceptions exist; it can happen to any person chugging vast quantities of water down their throat in record time. Think of those challenges on YouTube where people try to drink one gallon in an hour. Cruel move to do to your body, right?
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โSo, how much water is enough? How can you tell how much is right for you? You just have to listen to your body. Thirst is a pretty reliable indicator, much like hunger when you feel famished.
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โDoctors generally recommend about 8 cups or 2 liters per day for most people, although this can be variable depending on activity level and health status. The point is, water is necessary for life, but like everything else, too much of it becomes a problem. Just remember, balance is the key, and being hydrated is supposed to feel good, not uncomfortable or unwell.
sources:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/water-intoxication
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318619
https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2024/01/can-you-drink-too-much-water
โ๏ธ Lalaine R. Labay
๐ผ๏ธ Marny Shane L. Tumaneng
