There are many health benefits to drinking water, but is it possible to get too much of a good thing? Is a gallon per day too much, or not enough? Could you be doing yourself harm by drinking too much? Understanding how the body processes and excretes water will give you a better idea of what will be right for you.

Is it possible to drink too much water?

The answer is yes, but it would take far more than a gallon per day to do you harm. Hyponatremia, or water intoxication, can result if you consume enough water to the point that you begin to dilute the level of sodium in your blood. Your kidneys can excrete between 20 to 28 liters, or 5.2 to 7.3 gallons per day under normal circumstances. With this in mind, you may not want to drink an entire gallon in a couple of minutes, but you should not feel any adverse effects by consuming even a few gallons of water over the course of a day. A good rule of thumb is if you feel you are forcing yourself to drink water or if you feel you are "choking it down", that may just be your body telling you that you just don't need any more at the present moment.

What are the benefits of drinking water?

1. Peak physical performance. Your joints need water to cushion the shock of movements, and a dehydrated body will be less able to maintain the synovial fluid that prevents your bones from butting up against each other. Even a small loss of water can have massive impacts on your ability to do work, and can lead to nausea, vomiting and other adverse effects.
2. Good skin, hair, and nails. A dehydrated body will conserve and hold any water it still has for vital body processes, which means your natural appearance will lose some of its luster. Healthy skin will have a natural 'glow' about it which will disappear if your body isn't getting enough water.
3. Promoting good urinary health. Frequent dehydration can potentially lead to kidney damage. In fact, kidney stones are a well-known side effect of insufficient water intake - a pain that no one wants to experience!

How does dehydration cause energy loss?

Dehydration impacts the body both mentally and physically. Even losing just 1 to 2 percent of your body water can dramatically impact your motor skills, responsiveness to stimuli, short term memory, mood, and reaction time. In addition, dehydration can lead to a higher heart rate but lower stroke volume, meaning that your heart needs to work harder for less return. This will be especially noticeable during bouts of strenuous physical activity, as your ability to both move and think will be severely curtailed and lead to daytime fatigue, especially when you are out in the sun -- since you will sweat and lose even more fluids which will make it even harder to move. If your body is unable to maintain its balance of electrolytes, then you will feel sluggish and tired, and your muscles will feel unresponsive. If you've ever experienced any symptoms along these lines, then you will definitely need to increase your water intake.

Does water give you energy?

While water does not necessarily contain energy per se, being well-hydrated does foster an environment in your body that allows you to be energetic. If you are suffering from acute or chronic dehydration, then you will absolutely feel more energy once you bring your body's levels back to where they need to be. Water is one of the fundamental building blocks of life, and it's critical that you give your body what it needs. Mdrive's powdered supplements can provide an encouraging boost to ensure that you meet your water consumption goals.