‘Drinking too much water can be dangerous’

Addressing a press conference on Sunday at the UP Press Club, Dr Arora said that everybody was inclined to drink the maximum possible water for keeping healthy, but the ancient Ayurvedic texts and Vedas surprisingly directed people to drink minimum possible water to remain healthy.

Contrary to the common perception that drinking lots of water was beneficial, it could actually harm one’s health because studies had proved that water was elixir only when taken in the right quantity. It could be poison if consumed in excess, said Dr Parmeshwar Arora, senior consultant, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi.

Drinking water in excess could complicate or result in indigestion, diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney ailments . (HT Photo)

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday at the UP Press Club, Dr Arora said that everybody was inclined to drink the maximum possible water for keeping healthy, but the ancient Ayurvedic texts and Vedas surprisingly directed people to drink minimum possible water to remain healthy.

“For all the problems related to digestion such as constipation, acidity and flatulence, our sluggish digestion power is to blame. Even the modern science says that for all these conditions, the reason is decreased secretion of digestive enzymes,” he said.

Drinking water in excess could complicate or result in indigestion, diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney ailments .

Dr Arora said that one could get rid of digestion-related conditions by improving Jatharagni or . digestive fire. But excessive intake of water, the worst opponent of fire, would not help in fixing the problems. Excess water actually made these conditions chronic which eventually became incurable, he said.

“It is best to drink warm water or boiled water kept for less than 24 hours. When feeling thirsty, drink maximum 200 ml of water, patiently,” he said.