On TikTok, sometimes all it takes is a
scroll
to come across videos promising us the moon in terms of health.
Among them, #thegallonchallenge, a challenge broadcast by thousands of TikTokeurs and which has accumulated nearly 15 million views.
It is inspired by the maxi-gourd adopted by certain celebrities, including Kendall Jenner, and consists of drinking one gallon of water daily for 30 days, the equivalent of 3.7 liters.
Among the supposed benefits of this extreme hydration?
An improvement in the quality of the skin, a boost of energy, a deflated belly or weight loss.
Really ?
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A risk of overhydration
Like many tips issued on the social network, this one is not based on any scientific study, immediately emphasizes Vincent Valinducq, general practitioner and author of
70 health gestures
(1).
“There is no interest in drinking so much water daily, it is even dangerous for your health”, continues the doctor, who invites you above all not to treat yourself on social networks.
@thegallonchallenge
I tried drinking 1 Gallon (3.7L) of water every day for 30 days#thegallonchallenge
original sound - TheGallonChallenge
Consumed in too large quantities, water can indeed be toxic to the body.
“Our body being composed of 65% water, we must keep this natural balance, specifies the doctor.
In case of imbalance, one can suffer from water intoxication, also called “hyperhydration”.
The symptoms are serious.
Excess hydration “reduces the concentration of salt and sodium in the blood and causes nausea, vomiting or even headaches, specifies Vincent Valinducq.
In some extreme cases, one can develop neurological disorders, water coma or cerebral edema that are life-threatening.”
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The keys to good hydration
No need to resort to the maxi-flask.
To hydrate properly, the doctor reminds you to drink between 1.5 and 2 liters of water every day, depending on your age, environment, or state of health.
In case of sports practice and high heat, “we increase our intake up to about 2.5 liters, because sweating dehydrates.”
Read alsoHow to stay hydrated (apart from drinking water)?
The ideal is to listen to yourself and hydrate yourself regularly according to your needs, while taking into account that “as you get older, the feeling of thirst disappears”.
For those who tend not to drink enough, the doctor reminds us that "fruits and vegetables contribute to our water intake, in the same way as tea, which counts in the quantity drunk during the day".
(1)
70 health gestures, prevention rather than cure
, by Vincent Valinducq, published by Albin Michel, 16.90 euros.