Daily water intake: Let's discuss

First off, when people talk about "water" versus "fluids"... most folks don't realize that water is actually the primary component in things like milk or juice. It’s true that plain water is often preferred in certain amounts, mainly because those other liquids contain extra ingredients that can be problematic if you consume too many...
As for psychogenic polydipsia... the name itself implies there isn't an organic cause. This means the osmoreceptors are functioning perfectly fine, yet individuals still consume massive quantities of liquid. This creates a real risk of hemodilution and a subsequent drop in blood sodium levels, leading to various complications that require hospitalization...

jadesailor14 said:I usually drink about 4 liters a day, sometimes even more
so I get headaches almost every single day, if not more often than not
and my skin feels really dry, and honestly, I think I'm starting to see wrinkles too 😁

That sounds like way too much to me!
I'm pretty sure you don't actually need that much water

Well, here's what I need:
I'm totally parched 😁
Honestly, I'd give anything for a drink right now

I've always been a big drinker
But just plain old ice-cold water for me

Wait, four liters?! Are you serious?
If you're staying awake for 16 hours a day, that works out to about 8 ounces every single hour.
Honestly, you might actually drown if you keep that up.

Hmm. Let me think.
Have you checked your blood sugar levels lately?

Sam Hall15 said:...t

Look, I fully grasp the concept of psychogenic symptoms—I really do—and I understand why someone might end up in a hospital setting because of them. But isn't it just a bit peculiar? It strikes me as quite strange that we haven't identified a clear organic basis for these conditions, yet the physical sensation of pain remains so incredibly intense and palpable.

Melissa James70 said:I used to fall for all those stories about needing liters upon liters of water just to stay alive. But honestly? I've changed my tune.
Don't get me wrong—I still think you should stick to water instead of soda or endless coffee—but I truly believe our bodies are smart enough to tell us when they need fluids. It’s about listening to your body, just like you do with food. You shouldn't have to mechanically chug bottles of Gatorade or ice water just because some trend told you to.

Drink when you're thirsty, eat when you're hungry, breathe. Simple as that. At least, that's how it works for me!😎

I'm right there with you!
I rarely feel thirsty, and when I do, I grab some water (no sodas for me, except maybe an occasional Gatorade).
Plus, I don't think my body is lacking hydration since I eat plenty of fruit, drink soups, milk, and tea... basically, until I actually feel thirsty, my system pulls what it needs from everything I consume. So, once that thirst hits, I just have a glass of water and call it a day. Between all that, I bet I'm hitting that 1.5 to 2 liter mark anyway—without forcing myself to chug water "because I have to."
I drink when I want to, eat when I want to, and sleep when I want to!
It's actually worse when you stress your system out just because someone wrote a rulebook saying it's "required"...😉

Lisa Nelson96 said:And I truly don't believe my body is lacking hydration—I eat plenty of fruit, consume soups, and drink quite a bit of milk and tea...

Well, I'm in a similar boat regarding plain water consumption—perhaps I'm only hitting about 20-30% of my target? I actually drink a significant amount because I get incredibly thirsty, yet somehow, plain water makes me feel slightly nauseous. It's a strange sensation, isn't it? Consequently, most of my intake comes from teas and pure, natural juices instead. After all, everything counts toward hydration as long as it doesn't have a strong diuretic effect, right?

The idea that our bodies always know best and send perfectly accurate signals isn't entirely true, as so many external factors can interfere. Animals seem to have a much more precise internal compass; they rarely overconsume or underconsume water when it's available, maintaining an incredible level of biological balance...
Humans, however, are different because our physiological functions are heavily influenced by psychosomatic connections and socially conditioned habits. It is better to rely on your own calculations. If you aren't engaging in intense physical activity daily, aim for about 2 to 2.5 liters of fluid per day. If you happen to drink a bit too much, your kidneys will compensate, so there is no need to worry

This thread is absolutely draining me 😬

Look, I think if you're drinking pure water—not that tap water filled with limescale and other junk—it isn't going to wreck your system just because you went slightly over what your body needs to function. Our kidneys are smart enough to handle the heavy lifting for us when things get excessive 😁
You just have to be prepared to hit the restroom a few extra times throughout the day to flush out the surplus 👍

So, I was reading the morning paper today—and apparently—that total daily water goal of eight glasses? It actually includes all the moisture you get from fruit, veggies, and other foods too...

So here's the deal.... I've been chugging about 5 or 6 liters of water every single day for three years now. It just started out of nowhere, and since I was working at a call center back then, I figured it was just because my mouth was constantly bone-dry from talking all day. So I thought, "okay, fine." But even after I quit that job, the thirst didn't go away—not even a little bit. Now, whether it's the middle of a heatwave or the dead of winter, I basically have a water bottle glued to my hand, because honestly, who has the energy to keep pouring glass after glass? I've gone for blood work a few times, you know the drill, but nothing comes up. My blood sugar is totally normal. And it’s not like I’m just thirsty during the day; I’ll wake up in the middle of the night feeling like I haven't had a drop, down a whole liter, and then I'm good for a bit. My doctor keeps rambling on about some kind of hormonal imbalance or a gland issue, but she's just going on and on😕😕

I mean, if it isn't diabetes, then what the hell is it? Because it's not like I'm getting hungry or anything, it's just my mouth—it's constantly parched, and I'm basically acting like a human water fountain at this point, and I am just so over it

Even just heading out into town, I have to tuck a bottle into a tiny purse—do I really need to explain that when I try to go in somewhere, the security guard always tries to toss it, even though I absolutely HAVE to have it with me? No soda can replace water for me, and neither can those flavored sparkling waters

And don't even get me started on long trips, they are a total nightmare🤣 Like, if I have to take a Greyhound bus?? Forget about it...

Seriously, if anyone actually knows something about this or deals with something similar, please tell me what you know, because every time I Google it, I just get results about thirsty dogs and nothing useful about actual humans

Could it be this instead, diabetes insipidus?

stormyheron4 said:it could potentially be this, diabetes insipidus

I'll definitely look into that, though I'm really crossing my fingers that it isn't what you think

This kind of thing can actually trigger diabetes insipidus, right? Like, things such as brain tumors, encephalitis, or even meningitis can all lead to this, and wouldn't kidney issues or some kind of internal bleeding near the pituitary gland also be on that list of potential causes? It’s just heavy to think about, especially since, unfortunately, there isn't any known way to go about preventing this specific type of diabetes.

Is it actually bad to drink massive amounts of water throughout the day? For instance, I’m knocking back somewhere around 4 to 6 liters daily—so, let's call it 5 liters on average. Is that actually harmful? Or is it the exact opposite?
btw I'm pretty active, so most of that hydration happens while I'm working out.

Charles Hill35 said:Is it bad to drink a massive amount of water during the day? For example, I drink about 4-6 liters. So, roughly 5 liters daily. Is that harmful? Or is it actually good?
I play sports, though, so most of that intake happens during my workouts.

No. Why would it be? It’s actually beneficial.
The only concern is if you're experiencing constant, excessive thirst—that could point to an underlying medical issue.
But if you're active, 5 liters a day sounds perfectly fine to me.
It doesn't seem excessive at all.
I personally drink about 3-4 liters a day without even being an athlete.
I just keep a large pitcher next to me and sip on it constantly throughout the day.

It’s harmful. Overhydrating is actually bad for you because you end up flushing all your electrolytes right out of your system. Just drink when you're thirsty—and if you're doing something intense like hiking through the heat in Arizona, obviously go ahead and drink a bit more. Just make sure you're getting those electrolytes in too. Eat.
That whole "eight glasses a day" rule is a total myth (assuming you're just living a normal life under standard, comfortable conditions without crushing a marathon). Of course, you'll drink more in the summer, and honestly, everyone's needs are different.
Keep in mind that your body doesn't just get hydration from what you gulp down; you also get it from the moisture in your food and metabolic water, which is basically a byproduct created during chemical reactions in your digestion and breathing. We don't just absorb it through drinking alone.

Listen to your body. For the vast majority of people, the "internal gauge" 🙂 works perfectly fine.
And look, if you find yourself feeling thirsty constantly no matter what you do, go see a doctor. That could be a sign of an underlying medical issue.

Water intoxication is a very real thing, though you have to go out of your way to make it happen. You see it at those insane beer pong or speed-drinking competitions, but it also crops up during endurance events like the Boston Marathon. It’s even a risk for people using certain substances, like MDMA, because some drugs trigger intense thirst. Then there’s polydipsia—a psychological condition where someone feels an overwhelming urge to drink despite having no physiological need for it.

So, what’s actually happening inside the body? You end up with too much water in your extracellular fluid, which dilutes your sodium concentration—a condition known as hyponatremia. This electrolyte imbalance triggers osmosis: water rushes into the cells, causing them to swell. This is incredibly dangerous when it involves the brain, as it spikes intracranial pressure (ICP). You start seeing headaches, cramps, behavioral shifts, and nausea. In extreme cases, the brain can literally swell—cerebral edema—which leads to seizures or death.

Are you going to poison yourself by drinking 5 or 6 liters a day? Not even close, provided you aren't slamming all those liters at once. What most people overlook is electrolyte replenishment; you lose a significant amount of sodium and potassium through sweat. That’s why athletes shouldn't just be chugging plain water; they should be opting for fruit juices or Gatorade-style sports drinks that actually contain electrolytes. You also have to consider that healthy kidneys can process roughly a liter of water per hour. Bottom line: don't overdo it with the water, and definitely don't guzzle massive amounts in one sitting. Just listen to your body. Some people are fine with a liter a day, others need 2 or 3; it varies from person to person. While this condition is rare, athletes really need to stay vigilant.

Look, unless there’s some massive imbalance between how much water they're drinking versus what they're eating, or if we're dealing with actual kidney disease, nothing is just going to spontaneously vanish from their system... our kidneys are incredibly efficient at doing their job, trust me...

I run marathons, so I’m usually knocking back about 4 to 5 liters of fluids a day, depending on how much I'm sweating and what the weather is doing. Obviously, that's just during the summer—I definitely don't need that much when it's freezing out.
Most of it is just plain water, a little bit of Gatorade, and a lot of homemade fruit juice.
The real trick isn't just the volume, though; you have to make sure you're replacing those electrolytes you lose through all that sweat.
When I'm mid-workout or racing, I try to sip about half a liter every hour, ideally in small bursts rather than one big gulp.
You really shouldn't be slamming a whole liter at once.
If you actually bother to hydrate smart, you can avoid both ends of the spectrum—dehydration and water intoxication.

^Exactly, you hit the nail on the head. It’s about smart hydration, not just chugging water like you're trying to win a contest.