Never thirsty

#1

I know we are supposed to drink a lot of water on keto but I am almost never thirsty. A lot of people say drink to thirst and it seems strange that you would have to force yourself to drink water, but if I drank to thirst I’d probably drink very little. Is there something wrong with me?

#2

Nope, I think the whole “drink to thirst” is the reason so many walk around under / dehydrated most of the time. I make sure I get in a gallon a day minimum, and feel a million times better when I do.

(Liz ) #3

I am one who does not have much of a thirst signal. I’d say it may have improved a little bit after a while on the keto lifestyle? I do eat a lot of salt and that increases my thirst at times. Honestly I don’t worry about it much. If I’m not getting headaches or UTI I’m guessing it’s fine.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #4

Some people apparently have such weak thirst signals that they think they are hungry instead.

(Geoffrey) #5

That’s interesting.

(Robin) #6

I carry around a water bottle all day. It’s been a habit for years now. Dehydration is a serious problem for people my age and such an easy fix.

#7

There are all kinds of people. Some don’t feel much thirst and easily get dehydrated. Some don’t even eat enough! Some have okay signs. And some of us are super thirsty and drink galore (without hot weather or much sweating). It’s similar with other essentials, not everyone should just follow their body, it may not work.
But if we know about the problem, we can push it a bit, form new habits like Robin did… :slight_smile:

(Brian) #8

I remember of hearing an interview with someone who visited some of the more remote people groups in Africa. One of the interesting things that was noted was that they don’t drink much water. And they’re quite healthy people.

The body does am amazing job of recycling the water it needs. Does it acclimate over time to the levels of water we take in? Perhaps even become a genetic thing over numerous generations?

I sometimes think about things like that when I hear people blathering on about needing to drink gallons and gallons of water every day “or else you’re dehydrated”.

I do tend to think there are some who don’t drink enough, but having someone else put an arbitrary number on how much someone else should drink doesn’t seem quite right to me, either. If it’s your doctor who telling you that you need to drink more water and he’s giving you medical reasons, yeah, you should probably be paying attention. My mom was like that in her last year or so of life. Somebody online who wants to sell you their water machine… um… maybe consider the source.

#9

The amount of water to consume is really personal. There is a dual relationship with hydration. The darker your urine, the more water you need to drink. Too much water and your urine is clear, and you are going to the toilet every 15 minutes. Also, with too much water or liquid, you can change your sodium balance. This can potentially kill you. (Hyponatremia) If your urine is dark brown, your kidneys are also having a problem. Balance is the key. A glass of cold water first thing in the morning with a pinch of salt helps after a night of no liquids. I will drink approximately 2–3 liters of water per day spread out throughout the day, not including water bottles during exercise. I have found that when in a small 500-ml container, I will drink more than in 1.5-liter bottles. I use the colour of my urine to determine my level of dydration. Sometimes the simplest approach is the best approach.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #10

Says every sport-drink manufacturer, ever since Tim Noakes first promoted the idea of hydration for runners. He’s had to revise his advice to “drink to thirst.”

I my opinion, the stupidest advice is that by the time we are thirsty we are already “dangerously” dehydrated. FWTFF? (Which means exactly what you think it means, lol!)

#11

I´m never thirsty either. Maybe I´m just drinking enough water without thinking?

My doc actually said “do not drink that much” when I mentioned that I tend to have water available at all times.

But even in hot summer,I do not recall being actually thirsty. That`s why I´m trying to drink regularly.

#12

But just having it available doesn’t mean one drinks let alone too much…
I have water available almost all the times too and I need that. But I am super thirsty. No matter how much I drink, I get very thirsty a lot. BUT just because I have my water bottle with me when I live the house for more than an hour, it doesn’t mean I use it or that I drink more than a mouthful at once. (When I am at home, I can’t help to have a tap nearby :stuck_out_tongue: )
As far as I know, people who feel little to no thirst can use a bottle near them, it’s useful…