Do you have a habit of snipping on the water even when you are not thirsty? Well, that means you are overhydrating yourself. If you are feeling thirsty, it is your body’s way of telling you that you need to hydrate yourself. But if you are going overboard with fluid consumption then it might not be good for your body. It can do more harm than good to your body which defeats the very purpose of consuming all that extra water.
All celebs, your friends, and your family members may recommend you to drink as much water as possible throughout the day. But no one bothers to tell you how much water you should drink.
According to a study published in the journal Nutrition, overhydration can mess up with your health to an extent that your body won’t be able to sustain certain nutrients and minerals inside your body. Needless to say, this can result in deficiencies and related health ailments.
5 signs can tell that you’re overhydrating yourself
Fatigue
Water helps in maintaining the body’s electrolyte balance. Electrolytes help you to keep your energy levels high. If you drink too much water, this balance can go for a toss, it can make you feel tired and drowsy.
Clear urine
Nutritionists say you can check the hydration level of your body by the color of your urine. If it is dark yellow, it means you are dehydrated. However, if it is very light yellow, your hydration level is fine. If you are overhydrated the color of the urine will be crystal clear.
Muscle cramps
Overhydration can also lead to muscle weakness, spasms, and cramps. Your muscles need sodium to stay strong and if there is a lack of sodium then it can cause muscle cramps. Therefore, drinking too much water is one of the prime causes behind the deficiency of sodium.
When you drink too much water the sodium in your blood gets diluted and it ends up getting flushed out of your body via sweat and urine which can result in a deficiency.
Swollen lips, face, and legs
A low level of sodium in the blood leads to swollen lips, face, and legs. Experiencing bloating is normal if you eat a salty diet. But, the low levels of sodium cause the cells of your body to retain more water.
Headache
Headache is another symptom of overhydration. It is caused due to low sodium in the body. Your body cells tend to swell up due to a decline in sodium levels. This leads to major fluid retention in your brain. Due to the swelling up of the cells, you might be experiencing a throbbing headache.
Too much of anything is bad. The same goes for water! So, keep a watch on your water levels and don’t go overboard
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