Ask The Expert: Can You Drink Too Much Water?

You’re more than 60 percent water; you can’t function without it. Each muscle, tissue, and organ craves water to lubricate your joints, flush waste and keep your temperature regulated. 

How Much is Too Much: Can You Drink Too Much Water?

So, could there be such a thing as drinking too much water? We asked our expert, Dr. Joshua Thurman:

“Yes. In health, the kidneys are very good at getting rid of excess water as dilute urine. In general, healthy kidneys can eliminate about 20 liters (more than 5 gallons or 676 fluid ounces) a day.  It is possible to consume more water than the kidneys can eliminate, however, or to consume it too quickly for the kidneys to balance. Some medical conditions also reduce the body’s ability to keep balance, including kidney failure and heart failure. In these settings, water accumulates and fluids in the body become diluted. This can be a serious problem.”

You are also at greater risk if you drink a lot of water in a short time. So pace yourself. The best way to safely manage what you need, when you need it, is with the world’s smartest water bottle.

Set your goals (roughly half your body weight in ounces for a sedentary situation) and watch your bottle track you and glow when you need to take a sip. You’ll also get text alerts to remind you to drink up. It’s a surefire way to be the healthiest you; no guesswork and no chance of getting waterlogged by drinking too much water or, more likely, dehydrated. 

ABOUT OUR EXPERT

Dr. Joshua Thurman, MD is a board-certified nephrologist and Professor of Medicine specializing in renal medical diseases and hypertension at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He received his medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and his undergraduate degree from Harvard University. He has been in practice for more than 22 years.