Avoid These Big Mistakes When Drinking Water

Summary

The video script debunks common water-related myths, emphasizing the importance of listening to one's body for hydration needs rather than following arbitrary guidelines. It clarifies that thirst is a reliable indicator, and water consumption should be tailored to individual needs, including factors like exercise, temperature, and specific health conditions. The video also addresses misconceptions about water's role in detoxification, weight loss, and kidney health, highlighting the balance between hydration and electrolyte maintenance.

Takeaways

• 💧 It's a myth that you must drink water before feeling thirsty, as thirst is a natural indicator of hydration needs.
• 💦 A clear urine color indicates overhydration, while a slightly yellow or straw-colored urine is normal.
• 🥤 Drinking more water does not directly lead to weight loss, but replacing high-sugar drinks with water can reduce calorie intake.
• 🌊 Excessive water intake without considering electrolytes like sodium can lead to hyponatremia, causing various health issues.
• 💧 For individuals with high blood pressure on diuretics, excessive water intake can dilute sodium levels, potentially leading to complications.
• 🍽️ Drinking water immediately before meals is not harmful for most, but those with acid indigestion may want to avoid it to prevent bloating.
• 🍋 Adding a small amount of baking soda to water can help reduce gout symptoms by alkalizing the water, and lemon water can help prevent kidney stone formation.
• 🥗 Consuming vegetables and meat provides a significant amount of water, contributing to daily hydration needs.
• 🏃‍♂️ During exercise or hot weather, it's important to increase water intake to prevent dehydration.
• 🧠 Individual hydration needs vary, and factors like diabetes or high calcium levels can affect thirst levels.

Q & A

Is it true that by the time you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated?

No, this is a myth. Thirst is one of the body's ways to signal that it needs water, so it's perfectly normal to wait until you feel thirsty before drinking. However, certain conditions like brain damage, a tumor, or an autoimmune condition affecting the brain might impair this sensation.

What should be the color of normal urine?

The normal color of urine should be slightly straw-colored or yellow. If it's too clear, it may indicate overhydration, while dark-colored urine could point to a liver issue or dehydration.

Can drinking more water help with weight loss?

Drinking more water itself does not burn fat. However, replacing sugary drinks like soda with water can lead to weight loss due to reduced sugar intake. It's important to note that water consumption alone does not contribute to fat burning.

Does drinking a lot of water help to flush out toxins?

Most toxins are fat-soluble and trapped in fat cells, so drinking large amounts of water won't necessarily detoxify the body. Proper detoxification involves a combination of healthy lifestyle choices, including a balanced diet and regular exercise.

What is the role of electrolytes and salt in hydration?

Electrolytes, including sodium from salt, are crucial for maintaining the body's fluid balance. Drinking too much water without adequate electrolytes can lead to a condition called hyponatremia, which is characterized by low sodium levels in the blood, causing symptoms like swelling, cramping, weakness, headaches, and cognitive issues.

How can water intake affect people with high blood pressure on diuretics?

People with high blood pressure on diuretics are often advised to drink more water. However, this can lead to over-dilution of sodium in the body, which can exacerbate side effects. It's important to balance water intake with sodium levels to avoid complications.

What should people with kidney stones do regarding water intake?

Individuals at risk for kidney stones should aim to drink at least 2.5 liters of fluid per day to prevent the formation of concentrated urine, which can contribute to stone formation.

How can drinking water before meals affect digestion?

Drinking water immediately before meals is generally fine, but for those with acid indigestion or heartburn, it might not be ideal as it could dilute stomach acids and affect digestion. People with these symptoms should consider adjusting their water intake around meal times.

What is the impact of a low-carb, ketogenic diet on water and salt intake needs?

On a low-carb, ketogenic diet, people might feel the need to consume more salt because the diet can lead to a loss of water and electrolytes. This can result in symptoms like weakness or 'keto flu', which can be alleviated by increasing salt intake.

How does water intake affect kidney function?

While it's a common belief that drinking lots of water keeps the kidneys clean and functioning well, the reality is that excessive water intake can make the kidneys work harder without necessarily cleaning them out. The kidneys filter blood and recycle nutrients, but overhydration doesn't enhance this process.

Can the body generate water when burning fat?

Yes, the body generates water as a byproduct of fat oxidation. When fat is burned, it produces water and CO2 in the mitochondria. In fact, you can generate slightly more water than the fat burned due to the oxygen involved in the process.

What factors can increase thirst aside from normal bodily needs?

Aside from normal hydration needs, factors such as diabetes and high levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia) can increase thirst. Both conditions can lead to excessive urination, which may make a person feel thirsty more often.

Outlines

00:00

💧 Debunking Water Myths: Thirst & Dehydration

This paragraph addresses the myth that feeling thirsty means you're already dehydrated. The speaker explains that thirst is a natural indicator provided by the body to signal the need for hydration. They dispel the idea that one must drink water before feeling thirsty, emphasizing that the body's perception of thirst is reliable unless there are underlying health issues such as brain damage or certain autoimmune conditions. The speaker also discusses the importance of salt in maintaining the sensation of thirst and the potential for blood to become too diluted without adequate salt intake.

05:01

💦 Urine Color as a Hydration Indicator

The speaker discusses the common belief that clear urine indicates proper hydration, which they argue is a myth. They explain that normal urine should be a slightly straw-colored or yellow, and that very clear urine could be a sign of overhydration. Conversely, dark urine might suggest a liver issue rather than dehydration. The paragraph also touches on the misconception that foamy urine is always a sign of kidney problems, noting that it could also be related to protein intake.

Keywords

💡Dehydration

Dehydration refers to the condition where the body loses more water than it takes in, leading to an imbalance in the body's electrolytes. In the video, the speaker dismisses the myth that feeling thirsty indicates you're already dehydrated, explaining that thirst is a natural signal from the body to hydrate.

💡Urine Color

Urine color is an indicator of hydration levels. The video explains that clear urine suggests overhydration, while a slightly straw-colored or yellow urine is normal. This concept is used to debunk the myth that one should drink until their urine is clear to ensure proper hydration.

💡Electrolytes

Electrolytes are minerals that help balance the amount of water in and around cells, aiding in various body functions. The video emphasizes the importance of not only drinking water but also maintaining electrolyte balance, particularly sodium, to prevent conditions like hyponatremia.

💡Hyponatremia

Hyponatremia is a condition characterized by low sodium levels in the blood, which can result from overhydration. The video uses this medical term to explain the risks of drinking excessive amounts of water without considering the balance of electrolytes.

💡Kidney Function

Kidney function refers to the ability of the kidneys to filter waste products from the blood and maintain electrolyte balance. The video addresses misconceptions about kidney health, explaining that drinking more water does not necessarily improve kidney function or cleanse them.

💡Water Intake

Water intake refers to the amount of water a person consumes to stay hydrated. The video emphasizes that water intake should be guided by thirst and individual needs rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

💡Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are hard, mineral deposits that can form within the kidneys. The video discusses how certain dietary choices and fluid intake can impact the risk of kidney stone formation, recommending increased water consumption for those at risk.

💡Gout

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood. The video explains that alkalizing water with baking soda can help reduce gout symptoms by altering the pH level, which in turn affects uric acid crystal formation.

💡Ketogenic Diet

A ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that aims to shift the body's metabolism from burning carbohydrates to burning fat for energy. The video discusses how insufficient salt intake on a ketogenic diet, coupled with high water consumption, can lead to symptoms like fatigue, which is often mistaken for the 'keto flu'.

💡Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by high blood sugar levels. The video mentions that diabetes can affect a person's sense of thirst, which can be confused with the body's natural hydration signals.

💡Hypercalcemia

Hypercalcemia is a condition where there is an abnormally high level of calcium in the blood. The video explains that, like diabetes, hypercalcemia can also increase thirst, potentially leading to excessive water consumption.

Highlights

The myth that you should drink water before you're thirsty is debunked, as thirst is a natural signal from the body.

Dehydration is not necessarily linked to feeling thirsty; other factors like brain damage or low salt intake could affect the sensation of thirst.

Urine should be slightly straw-colored or yellow, not clear, as clear urine may indicate overhydration.

Dark-colored urine could point to a liver issue rather than just needing more water.

Drinking more water does not directly lead to weight loss, despite replacing sugary drinks with water being beneficial.

Fat-soluble toxins are stored in fat cells and cannot be flushed out by drinking large amounts of water alone.

Water alone is not enough for hydration; electrolytes like sodium and sea salt are also necessary to prevent conditions like hyponatremia.

High blood pressure patients on diuretics and excessive water intake can lead to sodium dilution and potential health issues.

For those at risk for kidney stones, it is recommended to drink at least 2.5 liters of fluid daily.

Drinking water before eating can be problematic for individuals with acid indigestion or heartburn due to potential stomach acid dilution.

Adding baking soda to water can help reduce gout symptoms by alkalizing the water and mitigating uric acid crystals.

Lemon water can help prevent kidney stone formation by binding citrates with oxalates.

Low carb or ketogenic diets may lead to a need for more salt, not just water, to avoid symptoms like the 'keto flu' or fatigue.

Drinking more water does not necessarily clean or purify the kidneys; it can make them work harder without additional benefits.

Vegetables and meats contain a significant amount of water, contributing to daily hydration needs.

Burning fat generates water through the oxidation process in the mitochondria, contributing to hydration.

Individual water needs vary greatly, and factors such as diabetes and hypercalcemia can affect the sensation of thirst.

The video emphasizes the importance of listening to one's body for hydration needs rather than following one-size-fits-all guidelines.

Transcripts

this is an updated video on all of the

myths about water because I found some

more data about water that is just

utterly ridiculous okay these ideas that

people have in their mind let's talk

about the first one by the time you're

thirsty it's too late you're already

dehydrated that is utterly ridiculous I

don't know where people got that idea

but it's kind of like you could say that

about eating by the time you're hungry

it's too late you're starving your body

has all these different perceptions

thirst is one of them and uh your body

will let you know when it's thirsty I

mean I don't know who's pushing this

idea that we can't go by thirst anymore

we have to drink before we're thirsty

our bodies have the perception of thirst

okay unless we have brain damage a tumor

in our brain maybe some type of

autoimmune uh condition to our brain or

it could be that you're just not having

enough salt in your diet okay and so

your blood is very

diluted and you're going to get rid of

the sensation of thirst if you don't

have enough salt but you should really

go by your thirst just drink when you're

thirsty all right next one is you should

drink enough water until your urine is

clear your urine should not be clear it

should be slightly straw color or yellow

that's the normal color of urine if your

urine is too clear you're too diluted

now if your urine is too dark okay that

also doesn't mean you need to drink more

water that means that you might have a

liver issue because the liver has

something to do with getting rid of that

pigment now if your urine is a little

bit foamy it could be more of a kidney

problem or it could be you're consuming

a little bit too much protein all right

the next one you need to keep drinking

so you're going to be full so you'll eat

less like the water's going to stay in

your body right drinking more water is

not going to help you lose weight now

there is data that shows that if you

replace your sodas with water yes of

course you're going to lose weight your

consuming less sugar water but the water

itself doesn't help you burn fat all

right the next one drinking more water

will flush out your toxins most of the

toxins are fat soluble they're stuck in

the fat cells you're not going to detox

by drinking a lot of water it's not

going to happen all right next one is

water will prevent dehydration well yes

you do need water for hydration of

course but you also need electrolytes

and sea salt which is actually

electrolyte as as well because what's

going to happen is you're going to drink

all this water you're going to dilute uh

a mineral called sodium there's a

condition for this is called

hyponatremia that means low sodium in

the blood you can get swelling edema in

your brain cramping you're going to feel

weak you're going to get a headache

you're going to get irritable and you're

going to have cognitive problems and you

could even go into a coma let me tell

you a real life situation uh even in my

practice I've had people come in that

had high blood pressure they're on a

diuretic okay which by the way um lowers

their sodium they're told to drink a lot

more water so now we're really diluting

uh that sodium they're doing sodas

they're doing tea and on top of that

they're exercising and they're sweating

and they're getting all these side

effects so anytime someone is trying to

hydrate yes think fluids but also think

sodium as well but definitely don't

overdo it drink when you're thirsty your

body will tell you when you're thirsty

if you listen to it if you're exercising

if it's hot outside if you're sweating

if you just did some aauna treatment or

you drank a lot of alcohol you need to

drink a lot more water if you're at risk

for a kidney stone drink at least 2 and

a half liters of fluid a day so again

I'm not against water but I am against

drinking massive amounts of water when

you create other imbalances another

point about uh fluids is that drinking a

lot of water right before you eat and

you could drink right before eating it's

not going to be a problem but if someone

has

let's say they have acid indigestion

okay they have heartburn and they get

bloating it could mean that they don't

have enough stomach acids it might not

be the greatest idea to drink a lot of

water right before you eat especially if

you have those symptoms and I already

talked about this but if you have kidney

stones you want to consume at least two

and a half liters of fluid every single

day preventing this super concentrated

urine um if you have gout uric acid

Crystal

one thing you can do is you can add a

little bit of baking soda to the water

to alkalize it which would then cause

the gout symptoms to reduce now if you

have kidney stones you can add lemon

water because the citrates will bind

with the oxalates and prevent the

formation of oxalates connecting with

calcium now if you go on the low carb

ketogenic diet okay and you're not

consuming enough salt and you're

drinking a lot of water that can throw

off things as well you might feel weaker

you might have what's known as the keto

flu or keto fatigue when really you just

need more salt the next thing that you

hear drinking more water is really good

for the kidney because it keeps the

kidneys clean and functioning there's

this idea that if you keep flushing the

kidneys they'll be purified no that's

not true you're just causing the kidneys

to work a little bit harder it's not

going to clean out the kidneys by

drinking more water

the kidneys filter the blood and uh they

recycle a lot of things in your blood

but drinking more water doesn't

necessarily clean out the kidneys

there's no data that says that's true

when you consume certain foods like

vegetables for example 80 to 95% of

those vegetables are water you are

getting a good amount of water from your

vegetables even meat is between 60 and

65% water and when you are burning fat

and you're generating water because when

you oxidize fat you generate water and

CO2 in the mitochondria in fact you'll

generate a little more water than the

fat that you're burning because of the

oxygen so in other words let's say for

example you burn one pound of fat you're

going to make a little more than one

pound of water it sounds incredible but

it's true but please don't rely just on

that water and then it's okay to get

most of your water in certain parts of

the day but uh I wouldn't necessarily uh

ever force yourself to drink too much

because the water intake is an

individual thing and there's so many

variables and what one person needs

might not be good for another person as

far as thirst goes your thirst can go up

if you're a diabetic your thirst could

also go up if you have too much calcium

in the blood but both of those

conditions diabetes as well as too much

calcium in the blood it's called hyper

calcium yeah um can also cause excessive

urination so that's probably why you're

thirsty so I hope you have a little more

knowledge about um drinking water if you

have not seen my video on carbonated

water I think you might enjoy that I put

it up right here check it

out