Gaby
Experts often say there’s no magic number of glasses to drink each day. One thing is clear: water is essential for your health.
A team of researchers from the University of California, San Francisco looked for additional health benefits linked to regular, abundant water consumption.
They wrote that public recommendations on daily water intake are backed by unclear data, and the benefits of increasing water consumption aren’t well established.
In their latest study, the researchers analyzed findings from 18 clinical trials related to this topic.
What Did the Researchers Discover?
The clinical trials found a range of benefits from drinking water, especially for problems like obesity, high blood glucose, migraines, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and kidney stones.
Increased water consumption was particularly effective for weight loss and reducing the risk of kidney stone formation. Several studies demonstrated this effect, as reported by ILFScience.
The researchers also found that staying well-hydrated can help manage diabetes and low blood pressure.
What Happens If You Drink Too Much Water?
Too much of a good thing can be harmful. Excessive water intake can lead to water intoxication, a potentially life-threatening condition.
If you drink more water than your kidneys can excrete, the excess water can cause an electrolyte imbalance. In very rare cases, drinking too much water can lead to hyponatremia — when the blood sodium level falls too low.
How Can You Determine How Much Water You Need?
Most people have heard the recommendation to drink eight glasses of water a day. But there’s no one-size-fits-all amount that suits everyone. Harvard guidelines suggest about 4–6 glasses a day for most people, though the actual amount depends on a person’s overall health.
One simple way to check hydration is the color of your urine. Dark urine suggests dehydration, while pale or clear urine usually indicates you’re well-hydrated.
The results of the study were published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
