Drinking excessive water can lead to death. Why?
Inside your body, you have Na+ and K+ (sodium and potassium both have positive charges). God designed a process called the “Sodium Potassium pump.”
The sodium potassium pump (NaK pump) is vital to numerous bodily processes, such as nerve cell transmission, muscle contraction (heart contractions), and kidney functions. K+ goes into the cell and Na+ comes out of the cell.
Practical application
Say a postal worker is walking delivering mail. The heat index is 100-105. In order to stay hydrated, the worker drinks a gallon or more of water and his urine was light. By 2 p.m. the worker was on the grass passed out from dehydrated and heat exhaustion.
They followed the rules, so what happened?
Drink a lot, pee a lot, sweat a lot.
When you sweat, you lose electrolytes, including sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Intensity also affects sweat rates: A study published in 2016 found that potassium losses in sweat increased along with exercise intensity. (May 24, 2017)
Summary
Staying hydrated by drinking lots and lots of water can push you into dehydration FAST.
How to Stay Chemically Hydrated
Drink extreme electrolytes mixes such as:
- Trace Minerals Power Pak Take 2 packets per 16 oz water
- Emergen-C Take 2 packets per 16 oz water
- BODYARMOR sports drink (has lots of sugar)(extreme electrolytes)
All other sports drinks are loaded with sugar and very minimal electrolytes.
Athletes need one of the products 30 minutes prior to the game and another at halftime. Outdoor workers need products at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the heat index is above 100 degrees.
Jonesboro CW&L keeps Trace Mineral Power Paks on their truck because heat injuries were occurring with the other sports drinks.
