You can’t go wrong with H2O in most cases. It keeps us hydrated (obviously), prevents overeating, and may even help us burn more calories. Even when it comes to water, though, as with many of your healthiest habits, more isn’t always better. There are a few occasions when you should turn off the bubbler, believe it or not. It’s quite rare, yet it’s conceivable to consume so much water that your health is jeopardized. You can become too low in sodium if you gulp enough to impair your body’s natural salt balance, a disease known as hyponatremia. Endurance athletes, for example, may be enticed to keep sipping throughout a marathon, causing cell swelling and resulting in nausea, vomiting, seizures, and even death. So, how do you know when you’ve had enough water? Take a glance in the toilet instead of following the classic “eight glasses a day” rule. You’ve reached adequate hydration status if you see a light lemonade shade. If all you see in the bowl is clear urine, you can definitely reduce your water intake a little. Darker yellows indicate that it’s time to start drinking. It’s one of the most straightforward strategies to shed a few pounds: If you drink a glass of water before a meal (or whenever you have a hankering), you’ll automatically eat a little less because the fluid is already taking up room in your fist-sized stomach.
