Nigella admits she's an aquaholic

According to a report in the UK tabloid, the Daily Mail, cullinary queen Nigella Lawson has admitted to being an aquaholic amid rumours she's been warned over health risks of her excessive water intake.

The Daily Mail reports that "She is a self-confessed ‘aquaholic’ who  has admitted in the past to drinking  three litres of water before going to sleep at night. [She has] been repeatedly warned about the health risks of her excessive water drinking by family doctor Peter Wheeler."

But what are the dangers of drinking too much water?

How much water do we need?

The human body contains up to 72% of water, or 45 litres in an average 70 kg man, and a bit less in an average woman. We don’t, however, lose all this water on a daily basis because our bodies are designed to maintain a balance of water and minerals in our blood and other body fluids.

Except in conditions where the water balance is impaired, such as heart failure and kidney malfunction, adults need 2500 to 3000 ml of liquid a day to stay healthy and prevent dehydration. If a standard glass/cup contains 250 ml, this translates to 10 to 12 glasses/cups of liquid i.e. water and other drinks, a day.

Read this article by DietDoc on how much water your body uses every day and how much it really needs.

Interesting facts about water:

• Only 1,1% of the water on earth is suitable for drinking.
• Our bodies consist of 55 – 75% water.
• Depression and fatigue are often symptoms of dehydration.
• It is healthy to drink water with meals, as it aids the process of digestion.
• The best way of getting rid of water retention is to drink a lot of water.
• Water allows the body to metabolise fats more efficiently.
• Good water intake prevents the skin from sagging.
• Water is the main food the body needs.
• The thirst reflex only appears when our bodies are already dehydrated.
• Children dehydrate more quickly than adults do, and a survey revealed that 65% of school children drank too little water.
• A 2% reduction of water levels in the body can lead to a 20% decrease in mental and physical performance.
• Dehydration may induce contractions in pregnant women.

Do this quiz and see how clued you you are on the global water crisis.

Source: Health24, Daily Mail

(Health24, July 2011)