Water is an important element that keeps the human body functioning at its best. Doctors suggest drinking at least eight glasses of water per day, although this can change based on your gender, age, body weight, and amount of activity. A well-hydrated body can help one thrive throughout the day. However, there are several frequent mistakes people make when drinking water that can harm their overall health. Let’s look at them.

Drinking excessive water quickly
When drinking water, it’s crucial to pace yourself, particularly when thirsty. Your body might be unable to process all the water you consume at once. This can result in water intoxication, a highly serious condition.

When the body’s electrolyte balance is upset, it results in water intoxication, causing headaches, vomiting, nausea, attacks, and even death. It’s best to drink water proportionately and pay attention to your body’s thirst cues to prevent adverse effects.

Drinking water when thirsty
Although thirst indicates that you need to hydrate yourself, it isn’t always the best indicator. When you begin to feel thirsty, you may already be dehydrated. Fatigue, dizziness, migraines, and other symptoms of dehydration are possible outcomes. Even if you don’t feel thirsty, you should continue to drink water throughout the day to prevent dehydration.

Using plastic water bottles
Although practical, plastic water bottles can harm the environment and your health. Plastic bottles can emit dangerous chemicals into the ecosystem and take countless years to degrade. In addition, if the bottle comes in contact with heat, it can leak chemicals into the water. Using a reusable bottle of stainless steel or BPA-free plastic is recommended to prevent these problems.

Drinking water during a meal
While being hydrated is important, drinking water with meals might interfere with digestion. The stomach acid that is necessary to break down food can be diluted by water, resulting in slow digestion and bloating. To prevent this, drink water between meals instead of during meals. This is one of the most serious mistakes to avoid while drinking water.

Drinking impure water
Tap water is subject to more regulations than bottled water. Chlorine, lead, and fluoride pollutants in tap water can potentially harm your health. Therefore, selecting a high-quality water supply is crucial to guarantee that you obtain clean, hygienic water, such as purified or spring water.

Drinking excess cold water
While a cold beverage might be reviving, excessive cold water consumption can harm your health. Your stomach muscles may spasm when you drink cold water, resulting in cramps. Additionally, it may lessen blood supply to the stomach, impairing digestion. It is advisable to drink water at room temperature to avoid these problems.