Drinking Too Much Water 'can Be Bad For Your Health'

[mey hoon DON]

[list]
[*]Scientists have for long advocated the need for drinking lots of water for good health. Yet, a new study claims that downing too much of the natural beverage could actually be harmful.


The study, by Glasgow-based doctor Margaret McCartney, describes the danger of dehydration as a "myth" and says there
is no evidence behind the claims that water prevents multiple health problems.

Dr McCartney says the advice that people should drink six to eight glasses everyday is "not only nonsense, but thoroughly debunked nonsense".

She claims there is no clear scientific evidence that people benefit from drinking extra amounts of water, and the benefits of the drink are often exaggerated by "organisations with vested interests" such as bottled water brands.

Writing in the 'British Medical Journal', Dr McCartney has also pointed out that the research shows drinking when not
thirsty can impair concentration, rather than boosting it, and separate evidence suggests chemicals used for disinfection
found in bottled water could be bad for your health.

Drinking excessive amounts can also lead to loss of sleep as people have to get up in the night to go to the toilet, and other studies show it can even cause kidney damage, instead of preventing it, she says.
Worryingly, Dr McCartney also warns that taking on too much water can lead to a rare but potentially fatal condition
called hyponatraemia, which sees the body’s salt levels and can lead to swelling of the brain.

Another doctor quoted in the article, however, adds there is no basis for claims that water helps people to lose weight by suppressing their appetite.

Professor Stanley Goldfarb, a metabolism expert from the University of Pennsylvania in the US, was quoted by the 'Daily Mail' as saying, "The current evidence is that there really is no evidence.

"If children drank more water rather than getting extra calories from soda, that's good. (But) there is no evidence that drinking water before meals reduces appetite during a meal."
[/list]