Many things have been said about the damaging effects of Atkins diet and other low-carbohydrate diets. One of the most rarely debated issues as an unwanted side effect is the excess of water.

Usually, large amounts of water intake are believed to have beneficent effects, but this might result just as deleterious when overdone.

All low-carbohydrate diets recommend lots of water to be consumed daily. What most people don't know is that too much water in a too short while can have dramatic effects on the body! For instance, the effects may be overhydration or even kidney damage.

Overhydration occurs when the water intake surpasses the amount that can be eliminated. Thus, electrolyte imbalance may occur, causing muscle spasm, weakness, twitching, numbness, confusion, lethargy, bone disorders, blood pressure changes, irregular heartbeat, nervous system disorders, convulsions, seizures. The brain is the most susceptible to overhydration, the first signs are a change in behavior — confusion, drowsiness, shouting. There is also a coma risk.

Overhydration occurs mainly with chronic illness, kidney disease and disorders but also and very frequently with malnutrition, which strict dieting could induce. Risk groups: infants, elderly, mentally disturbed people, alcoholics. In normal health conditions, overhydration may occur when consuming around seven liters of water a day.

A most surprising finding was made accidentally by a group of researchers who have been keeping under observations the inhabitants of Walkerton, Ontario, ever since the town passed through a most difficult time in 2000, when its water supply was contaminated with E.coli: bad effects on kidneys generated by water excess.

Huge amounts of protein were tracked down in the urine of some of the subjects, which is a sign of kidney damage. Initially, this was thought to be an effect of the problems that occurred back in 2000. But at a closer analysis, it was discovered that the subjects were consuming large amounts of water daily — around 14 to 30 glasses a day. Such a large amount of water might overload the kidneys and cause damage. This happens usually because most people think it is a good thing to drink as much water as you can, but it appears that no excess is good.

Especially dieters who follow Atkins or South Beach and are encouraged to drink lots of water may run risks generated by water excess. This may happen particularly during the first phases, which are the most restrictive ones and during which a lot of body water is lost and the body is malnourished. Dieters should maintain moderation in water intake also – the recommended amount of water is eight to ten glasses of water a day.