When you hear that drinking more water can improve your health, you probably assume it will hydrate you. However, consuming a lot of water can cause diarrhea, not just dehydration. The increased output of fluids causes an excess of water in the body to leave through the pores and result in diarrhea. There are many different reasons why drinking a lot of water causes diarrhea. Your body naturally keeps a balance of fluids by producing as much as you take in. When you drink more than normal, your body detects it as an indicator that something is not right and tries to flush the excess out through your bowels. This article looks at why drinking a lot of water causes diarrhea and if there’s anything you can do about it before it happens.
Can Drink A Lot Of Water Cause Diarrhea?
Yes, too much water can cause diarrhea. This is because drinking too much water leads to overhydration and the excess water in your body can irritate your bowels and bowels, causing diarrhea.
What Can Cause Diarrhea From Drinking Water?
1. You Are Dehydrated
When you are dehydrated, your body signals that it needs more water. This is a normal reaction that occurs when you do not have enough water in your system. When you drink excessive amounts of water, there is no way your body can tell what the real need of the body is, so it responds by flushing out excess water.
2. You Are Taking Certain Medications Or Herbs
Certain medications and herbs can upset your digestive system and cause diarrhea. These include anti-diarrheal medicines like Imodium and laxatives like Miralax. If you have taken one of these, it may be best to cut back on drinking a lot of water until you are no longer using the medication or herb.
3. You Have A Medical Condition
Diarrhea can also be caused by certain medical conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s Disease, ulcerative colitis, and diverticulitis. You may want to talk to your doctor if you experience diarrhea that is not caused by dehydration or other medications or herbs.
4. You Are Eating A Lot Of Sugar
High amounts of sugar in your diet can lead to diarrhea, especially if you have IBS or ulcerative colitis, both of which are conditions that cause inflammation in the digestive tract. Certain foods are high in sugar and should be avoided, such as fresh fruits and vegetables and even condiments like ketchup and barbecue sauce. Learn more about what causes diarrhea from eating too much fruit here.
5. Your Body Is Not Producing Enough Bile
Bile is produced by the liver and helps digest fat by breaking it down into smaller molecules that can be absorbed through the intestines into the body’s cells. If you do not produce enough bile due to liver problems, taking a supplement can help improve digestion as well as help with mild diarrhea caused by excess water intake without causing dehydration.
6. You Have A Parasite
Sometimes parasites can live in your intestines and cause diarrhea. Parasites are microscopic organisms that are spread from one living creature to another when they are ingested through food or water. Some parasites can be harmful if they multiply in your system and cause health problems, such as diarrhea. These parasites include Giardia lamblia (giardiasis), Cryptosporidium parvum (cryptosporidiosis), and Cyclospora cayetanensis (cyclosporiasis).
7. You Have A Bacterial Infection
A bacterial infection like Clostridium difficile is an infection caused by bacteria that can cause diarrhea and other symptoms, such as nausea and cramps. The bacterium Clostridium difficile is found in the intestines of healthy people but also causes illness in patients who take antibiotics. If you are taking antibiotics, it is important to ensure that you do not eat or drink anything after the antibiotic is used as this can cause the bacteria to multiply and trigger an infection.
8. You Are Taking Antibiotics
Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections and they kill off the harmful bacteria in your body, however, they can also kill off good bacteria in the process. This can lead to diarrhea and other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, cramping, and bloating. If you have diarrhea while taking antibiotics it is important to take note of the time that you started taking it as well as any changes in your diet or lifestyle that may have occurred recently, such as if you were ill or had a fever for a long period.
9. You Have A Gastrointestinal Disease
Gastrointestinal diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Crohn’s Disease can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain that may be severe enough for you to need medical attention from your doctor or even end up in an emergency room if the symptoms are severe enough.
Why Does Drinking A Lot of Water Cause Diarrhea?
1. You Are Dehydrated
Dehydration is a condition in which you have lost more fluids than you take in. The body needs water to function properly, so if you lose too much water through diarrhea, your body will try to make up for it by flushing out excess fluid and toxins through the bowels.
2. You Are Not Drinking Enough Salt
People who do not drink enough salt often suffer from diarrhea due to their bodies trying to compensate for this by flushing out extra salt and sodium from the body.
3. You Are Not Drinking Enough Potassium
People that do not drink enough potassium often suffer from diarrhea due to their bodies trying to compensate for this deficiency by flushing out extra potassium from the body. 3. You have an electrolyte imbalance
Electrolytes are minerals such as sodium chloride (salt), potassium, magnesium, calcium chloride, and hydrogen carbonate (bicarbonate). Electrolytes keep your nerves working properly and help your muscles contract, but too much or too little can cause diarrhea.
4. You Have An Infection
Some infections, such as giardiasis, can cause severe diarrhea and other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting due to the harmful bacteria that are present in the digestive tract causing a reaction from the immune system.
5. You Have A Medical Condition
Some medical conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Crohn’s Disease can cause severe diarrhea if they are left untreated. IBD is a condition that causes inflammation in your intestines and Crohn’s Disease is another form of IBD that causes inflammation in your digestive tract. If you have these conditions it is important to see your doctor to discuss any changes you may have noticed in your diet or lifestyle that may be contributing to the severity of your symptoms.
6. You Are Taking Antibiotics
Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections and they kill off the harmful bacteria in your body, however, they can also kill off good bacteria in your digestive tract, which means that your body is no longer able to ferment and break down food properly. This can result in diarrhea and other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting because the bacteria have been killed off.
Tips For Preventing Dehydration And Diarrhea From Water.
- Drink water regularly.
- Drink water that is cold, but not too cold.
- Chew on ice cubes to help the water stay colder longer in your stomach.
- Drink a glass of juice with your water or use an electrolyte solution to replace the minerals lost in the water (e.g., salt).
- Drink with meals and snacks to keep you hydrated throughout the day.
Bottom Line
Drinking a lot of water is generally good for you, but it can cause diarrhea if you’re not careful. If your water habit is resulting in loose stools, there are many reasons why it may be happening. If you start drinking a lot of water and experience diarrhea, it’s important to identify the cause. You’ll want to avoid common triggers like eating too many fibrous foods and drinking carbonated beverages. If you need to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated, you should make sure to avoid other potential triggers that can cause diarrhea.
