Why Sipping Water All Day is a Bad Idea

I used to be proud of going from hardly ever drinking water to always carrying a bottle.

More is better, right?

Unfortunately, the truth is not that simple. According to a 2023 study by Tim Noakes, excessive water consumption can pose a threat as severe as dehydration. It can wash away vital electrolytes from your body, leaving you feeling deflated.

In addition, constant water consumption, even if it's just a little sip here and there, can activate your immune response and cause chronic inflammation. Back in the day, when water was scarce and often contaminated, this was a handy evolutionary advantage. But these days, it's more likely to do you harm than good.

The Dangers of Constant Sipping

Drinking water all day long can also disrupt your kidney function. Constant water supply causes your kidneys to get overflown with water in an unnatural way, leaving them unable to even hold on to the water anymore.

All these problems are only regarding water. Let's not forget about those sugary beverages people love to indulge in. These drinks not only cause all the above but will also wholly disrupt your insulin levels.

The Lovely Solution

It might initially feel counterintuitive, but you should embrace your thirst to solve all these issues. This will not only minimize that chronic immune response but will also help you restore that genuine feeling of thirst.

The best part is the longer you wait to drink when you're thirsty, the more oxytocin (the "love hormone") your body produces. Reaching a feeling of real thirst can lower stress more than a hug.

As the “love hormone,” oxytocin reduces stress and even helps regulate cravings for sugar and salt.

So I should stop drinking water?

While the benefits of dry fasting for a couple of days are pretty powerful, it’s too extreme for most. 

A more accessible solution is found in “Bulk Drinking”. This means drinking about every 4 hours to reach about 30ml per kg of body weight.

Adding salt to your water can also help, as we discussed in a previous newsletter that you can read HERE.

Ultimately, it's all about finding that sweet spot between staying hydrated and not overdoing it.

So, the next time you reach for that water bottle out of habit, ask yourself: "Am I actually thirsty?" If the answer is no, put that bottle down and embrace the thirst. Your body (and your kidneys) will thank you.