Drinking Too Much Water – Is It Harmful?

Drinking too much water: what is the optimal amount?

• On average, adults should drink between 1.5 and 2 liters per day. In summer or after sports activities, the body can also require 3 liters per day.
• In general, you should not chase goals, but only drink as much water as your body requires. If you are thirsty, drink water. Remember that you also get a lot of fluids from foods like fruit and vegetables.

Harmful or Not: Can You Drink Too Much Water?

• An overdose of water can upset the nutrient balance and, in the worst case, lead to death. Usually, however, you don’t have to worry.
• If you drink too much water, your body will automatically warn you about excessive consumption by vomiting or other signals. If your urine is transparent throughout, you can drink a little less water. If there is slight yellowish discoloration, your body is optimally supplied with water.
• However, excessive water consumption can be dangerous for top athletes. In 2015, an Ironman participant died in Frankfurt. The athlete had lost a lot of fluid and therefore a lot of sodium through sweating. The very strong lack of liquid was very quickly compensated for by lots of tap water. However, since the sodium content in tap water is too low, the sodium deficiency could not be compensated.