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My Experience: Increasing Water Intake by 30%<\/p>\n
With such a wide range of potential benefits for drinking water, I chose to focus on a few specific goals that might show short-term results: reducing headaches, increasing midday energy, and improving athletic performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hoping to maximize my results, I opted for the higher end of the recommended water intake for women, which is 2.7 liters per day; about 90 ounces or 11 cups.<\/p>\n
Before the experiment, I would drink about 50-65 ounces of water per day. Drinking 90 ounces would be about a 30% increase in my total daily water intake.<\/p>\n
To do this, I aimed to fill and finish a 24-ounce water bottle at least three times per day, and I swapped out other beverages like coffee or juice for water as much as possible. I included seltzer water in my daily counts as a \u201cfun\u201d beverage, and I made sure to always have cold water<\/a> in the fridge.<\/p>\n Over the 30 days, I tracked my daily water intake, the frequency and severity of my headaches, my afternoon energy levels, and how I felt during workouts. I also tried to be aware of how I was generally feeling and if I saw any consistent improvements.\u00a0<\/p>\n Can You Drink Too Much Water?<\/p>\n Although rare, drinking excessive amounts of water can lead to water intoxication. When you drink large quantities of water over a short period, your kidneys can\u2019t remove the liquid quickly enough. The amount of water in your blood can dilute your sodium levels, causing them to drop below normal\u2014a condition called hyponatremia.<\/p>\n This may cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, disorientation, and confusion. When left untreated, it can be fatal.<\/p>\n Results: Did Drinking More Water Improve My Health?\u00a0<\/p>\n I didn\u2019t experience any major changes in my health after 30 days of drinking more water. However, I did see subtle results across my goals as well as a few general benefits from drinking more consistently throughout the day.<\/p>\n First, by forming the habit of sipping on water throughout the day, I kept my body consistently hydrated. Before, I would wait to get a glass of water until I felt thirsty, essentially slipping in and out of dehydration.\u00a0<\/p>\n One thing that did seem to improve was exercise. I specifically noticed how hydrated I felt during workouts. On days when I was drinking water throughout the day, I didn\u2019t get thirsty as quickly during my evening workouts. I felt like this improved my endurance and comfort while exercising. Even during a hot yoga class, I could get through the hour and only need to drink about half my water bottle. Typically, I\u2019d finish the bottle during class and feel thirsty \u2014 and wiped\u2014afterward.\u00a0<\/p>\n I really noticed how different I felt on days when I didn\u2019t get as much water before exercising. It was difficult to loosen up and start exercising, and it was harder to keep up with my hydration during the workout.\u00a0<\/p>\n One of my other goals was reducing headaches. I did see an improvement in both the frequency and severity of headaches on days I drank more water, especially when I had a higher water intake multiple days in a row.\u00a0<\/p>\n Surprisingly, drinking water throughout the day<\/a> also improved my sleep. Previously, I had formed a habit of waking up briefly throughout the night to grab sips of water. Once I started drinking more water during the day, I found I would sleep through the night without needing to grab the water on my nightstand.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, there was zero benefit when it came to my energy levels. Sipping cold water could help me feel more alert in the moment, but drinking more water, in general, did not seem to improve my overall energy levels.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dehydration Symptoms To Know<\/p>\n