There’s nothing like a glass of cold water to quench your thirst during those hot summer days. As Albert Szent-Gyorgyi put it beautifully “Water is the most extraordinary substance! Practically all its properties are anomalous, which enabled life to use it as building material for its machinery.” But did you know that drinking too much water can kill you? Have you ever heard of water intoxication?

The human body is formed of 66% of water. We get water from food and drink. Water escapes the body through sweat, urination, defecation and even exhaled breath. Over the years, I’ve heard many recommendations about how much water to drink daily. The most common one plastered all over the internet is to drink two litres a day. However, there is no scientific study that backs up this myth. The amount of water required depends on your body, the current temperature and what you are doing.

Consuming a large amount of water in a short period of time can cause Hyponatremia. Severe cases of hyponatremia can lead to water intoxication, an illness whose symptoms include headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, frequent urination and mental disorientation. Continue reading →