Thursday, January 18, 2007
It is highly regarded by sports enthusiasts, body builders, and by most people that drinking water is good for you. The more water the better, right? Ensure you drink plenty of it is the common phrase you hear in the gym, and on the battle fields by soldiers today. But studies show that drinking to much water can actually be harmful to the human body. Yes, it can kill you.
Death by drinking to much water is called "water intoxication" or "Hyponatremia." When you work out, your body sweats. Sweating is a trigger the mind uses to tell itself it is time to drink more water and replenish the body. The body needs both salt and water to function. When you replenish your body with water you’re not only replenishing lost liquids your also diluting your body’s salt. The imbalance is what causes hyponatremia. An improper balance of salt and water because your entire body balance becomes diluted.
Remember your body sweats when you workout? When you sweat you not only lose water, you lose salt. Sweat is made up of more than just water. The imbalance affects your nervous system and the cells that make up your body. When your body is overwhelmed by water intake your cells and nerves start to expand, creating stress on the body, and the brain.
So the next time you’re working out, keep your water intake in consideration. By all means keep water in your daily routine, but also consider your sodium intake. How often have you seen the advertisements for Gatorade or like products during commercials? There is a reason why sports players drink it. It’s not about the advertisement. They know first hand that during a work out the body needs a balanced intake of both water and sodium to replenish the system which gives you the strength to continue on and work out longer.
Death by drinking to much water is called "water intoxication" or "Hyponatremia." When you work out, your body sweats. Sweating is a trigger the mind uses to tell itself it is time to drink more water and replenish the body. The body needs both salt and water to function. When you replenish your body with water you’re not only replenishing lost liquids your also diluting your body’s salt. The imbalance is what causes hyponatremia. An improper balance of salt and water because your entire body balance becomes diluted.
Remember your body sweats when you workout? When you sweat you not only lose water, you lose salt. Sweat is made up of more than just water. The imbalance affects your nervous system and the cells that make up your body. When your body is overwhelmed by water intake your cells and nerves start to expand, creating stress on the body, and the brain.
So the next time you’re working out, keep your water intake in consideration. By all means keep water in your daily routine, but also consider your sodium intake. How often have you seen the advertisements for Gatorade or like products during commercials? There is a reason why sports players drink it. It’s not about the advertisement. They know first hand that during a work out the body needs a balanced intake of both water and sodium to replenish the system which gives you the strength to continue on and work out longer.
