Eventually he returns to his home region in southern Sudan to establish a foundation that installs deep-water wells in remote villages in dire need of clean water. How Much Water Do I Need? This leads to a dangerous condition called hyponatremia in which blood levels of sodium fall too low as too much water is taken. However, a condition called water toxicity is possible in rare cases, in which a large amount of fluids is taken in a short amount of time, which is faster than the kidney’s ability to excrete it. Air National Guard bases hosted Air Force fighters and bombers dispersed there to avoid a possible Soviet nuclear response to the crisis. Is It Possible To Drink Too Much Water? But sometimes we drink not based on these factors but on how much we think we should be drinking. BOTTOM LINE: If the idea of alkaline water encourages you to drink more, then go for it! Water accounts for about 60% of an adult’s body weight. Like most trends of the moment, alkaline water has become popular through celebrity backing with claims ranging from weight loss to curing cancer. Some people add an alkaline substance like baking soda to regular water.

People may also voluntarily limit drinking due to incontinence or difficulty getting to a bathroom. Alkaline water has a higher pH of about 8-9 than tap water of about 7, due to a higher mineral or salt content. We drink fluids when we feel thirst, the major signal alerting us when our body runs low on water. A healthy body is designed to send thirst signals when the body becomes depleted of fluids. Alcohol can suppress anti-diuretic hormone, a fluid-regulating hormone that signals the kidneys to reduce urination and reabsorb water back into the body. To prevent this, take alcohol with food and sips of water. However, diet alone cannot cause these extremes; they most commonly occur with conditions like uncontrolled diabetes, kidney disease, chronic lung disease, or alcohol abuse. The excess total body water dilutes blood sodium levels, which can cause symptoms like confusion, nausea, seizures, and muscle spasms.

The body tightly regulates blood pH levels to about 7.4 because veering away from this number to either extreme can cause negative side effects and even be life-threatening. Even mild dehydration may produce negative symptoms, so people who cannot rely on thirst or other usual measures may wish to use other strategies. In romantic relationships, Libras seek partners who can engage them intellectually and emotionally. Certain conditions that impair mental ability and cognition, such as a stroke or dementia, can also impair thirst. Preventing Dehydration: Is Thirst Enough? Thirst is the desire to drink, and is not only driven by physiological cues but behavioral cues. In addition to these situations, research has found that athletes, people who are ill, and infants may not have an adequate sense of thirst to replete their fluid needs. As we age, however, the body’s regulation of fluid intake and thirst decline. Water is an essential nutrient at every age, so optimal hydration is a key component for good health. The theory behind alkaline water is the same as that touting the benefits of eating alkaline foods, which purportedly counterbalances the health detriments caused by eating acid-producing foods like meat, sugar, and some grains. Scientific evidence is not conclusive on the acid-alkaline theory, also called the acid-ash theory, stating that eating a high amount of certain foods can slightly lower the pH of blood especially in the absence of eating foods supporting a higher alkaline blood pH like fruits, vegetables, and legumes.

Keep in mind that about 20% of our total water intake comes not from beverages but from water-rich foods like lettuce, leafy greens, cucumbers, bell peppers, summer squash, celery, berries, and melons. The National Academy of Medicine suggests an adequate intake of daily fluids of about 13 cups and 9 cups for healthy men and women, respectively, with 1 cup equaling 8 ounces. The data suggest that more than 180 mg of caffeine daily (about two cups of brewed coffee) may increase urination in the short-term in some people, but will not necessarily lead to dehydration. Enjoying more than a couple of drinks within a short time can increase the risk of dehydration, especially if taken on an empty stomach. Fever, exercise, exposure to extreme temperature climates (very hot or cold), and excessive loss of body fluids (such as with vomiting or diarrhea) will increase fluid needs. In the average person, drinking less will not necessarily compromise one’s health as each person’s exact fluid needs vary, even day-to-day.