5 times when you shouldn't drink water

Before going to bed

You should avoid drinking water right before bed for two reasons. First, this habit can cause you to wake up to go to the bathroom, thus disrupting your sleep time and quality. Second, compared to daytime, the kidneys work more slowly at night, so you are more likely to experience swelling in your face or limbs upon waking. Ideally, drink water two hours before bedtime.

In the middle of a heavy training session

During strenuous exercise, body temperature rises, creating a feeling of heat. However, don't rush to drink a lot of water to cool down, as you risk electrolyte imbalance with symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and dizziness. It can also be dangerous for people with heart conditions. In fact, the US has recorded a case of death due to drinking too much water during exercise.

Experts recommend that people who exercise drink water as follows:

- Drink 450-600 ml 1-2 hours before training.

- Drink 250-300 ml 15 minutes before exercising.

- During exercise, drink approximately 250 ml every 15 minutes.

When urine loses its color

Dark urine indicates dehydration, but clear, colorless urine suggests excess water. This is a sign that requires special attention because excess water reduces sodium levels, leading to a range of health problems, including heart disease.

When eating spicy food

The burning sensation when eating spicy food is caused by a molecule called capsaicin. Due to their polar nature, water doesn't reduce the spiciness; on the contrary, it causes capsaicin to spread throughout the mouth and esophagus, making the situation worse. To lessen the discomfort, choose to drink milk, which is a less polar liquid than water.

During the meal

Whether drinking water during meals is good or bad for health is still a matter of debate. However, patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease should absolutely avoid this habit.