Among all of the health fads out there today, one of the biggest is the water challenge. The challenge is to drink a gallon of water a day, for 30 days, in order to see the great things water can do for your body, such as better skin and less headaches. A lot of people have taken up the challenge, but the real question is: is it healthy? Read on to find out!
Before we get into the topic of the water challenge, we do want to say that most health experts recommend drinking 8, 8-ounce glasses of water per day to maintain proper hydration. This equates to half a gallon, or half of what the water challenge asks for.
Now, drinking above the recommended amount most likely will not do anything harmful to your body, but drinking too much to fast will. Water intoxication is when your body’s electrolyte balance is thrown off, and allows water to seep right into the brain. Electrolytes serve as a barrier for this, but too much water can bypass it all together. Water intoxication can be fatal, so if you choose to take up this challenge, you need to drink your gallon slowly. Pace it out throughout the day, and see how it goes.
The benefits of the water challenge seem to be a little disputed, but they can vary from person to person. So, your benefits from trying the water challenge may be different from that of your co-worker or spouse, so try to keep that in mind when doing this challenge.
At the end of it, we are not saying that the water challenge is a bad idea, but rather if you choose to do it, watch how much water you consume per hour. Sometimes, the risk far outweighs the benefits, especially in this scenario.
If you think that this water challenge is a little insane, then take up our own water challenge: 8 glasses of water a day! 8 glasses to keep you happy, healthy and hydrated!
For more interesting facts and benefits of water, be sure to check back to our blog every Tuesday and Thursday!
