# The more water I drink, the thirstier I get **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 10, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856 "2003-06-10T13:51:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Quantum\_Butterfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e79b87/32.png) [@Quantum\_Butterfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quantum_Butterfly)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856/21 "2003-06-12T05:32:29Z")
Strange that so many people report sodas quenching thirst better than water. I find that soda does almost nothing for my thirst. I’m another water-drinker, mass amounts per day. This may have something to do with the fact that I live in dry, arid Southern California and I take meds that affect the kidneys. ---
**Author:** ![Setherghd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@Setherghd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Setherghd)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856/22 "2003-06-12T07:10:18Z")
I don’t drink soda, and try to avoid it at all costs. I agree with whoever started calling it sugar water, because that’s exactly what it is. I don’t even drink tea with sugar. Water is au naturel. Water all the way. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856/23 "2003-06-12T10:41:26Z")
I wonder if caffeine addiction has anything to do with the sense that sodas quench thirst better than water. I don’t drink coffee much, but I’ve noticed if I don’t have tea or coke in the morning, I start getting headaches in the afternoon. (Not a sugar issue, since I drink unsweetened tea and diet soda.) I too have noticed that these other drinks quench thirst better, but I’ve wondered if what I experience as “thirst” isn’t really a craving for caffeine. ---
**Author:** ![Popup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@Popup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Popup)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856/24 "2003-06-12T11:01:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by godzillatemple \* > **Now, I know that Mountain Dew has caffeine, which is a diuretic.** The diuretic properties of caffeinated beverages have been greatly exaggerated. From [the same article as quoted by **Eegba**](http://www.snopes.com/toxins/water.htm) > [@](#): > > Additionally, the idea that one must specifically drink water because the diuretic effects of caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea, and soda actually produce a net loss of fluid appears to be erroneous. The average person retains about half to two-thirds the amount of fluid taken in by consuming these types of beverages, and those who regularly consume caffeinated drinks retain even more: ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856/25 "2003-06-12T15:51:58Z")
Off the top of my head, the dry feeling in the throat probably has two sources: First, and most important, Mountain Dew and similar soft drinks have a small amount of emulsifier in them; glyceryl monostearate or some such. These materials do indeed coat the mouth and throat, and are an important element in the distinctive “mouthfeel” of one’s favorite beverage. Clear sodas contains little or no emulsifier, but diet sodas have some to make up for the lost syrupy feeling from the sugar. Second, drinking pure water may cause the throat’s tissues to osmotically or interstitially take up excess water; this causes swelling and an inflamed feeling, which is temporarily soothed by more water. Mineral water may reduce this effect, but if you’d just wait, it would probably go away – it’s not thirst. ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856/26 "2003-06-12T16:01:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by godzillatemple \* > \*\*As I said, the constant thirst seems to occur only when I drink water, and it’s mostly manifested by a dry throat. \*\* You miss carbonation. Toss some mint leaves or lemon juice into some soda water. ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856/27 "2003-06-12T16:03:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Setherghd \* > \*\*I don’t drink soda, and try to avoid it at all costs. I agree with whoever started calling it sugar water, because that’s exactly what it is. I don’t even drink tea with sugar. > > Water is au naturel. Water all the way. 😃 \*\* Bubonic plague is au naturel. Bubonic plague all the way. Famines are au naturel. Famines all the way. Infected wounds are au naturel. Infection all the way. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Harrison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5ac83/32.png) [@John\_Harrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Harrison)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856/28 "2003-06-12T17:21:07Z")
Just saw this article on hyponatremia in Runner’s World yesterday. Interesting tidbit: Your daily water supply comes from three sources, and you lose water in four prinicipal ways. The percentages shown here are averages for nonexercisers. People that exerciser regularly sweat more, and need to drink more, than nonexercisers. **Water Intake / Percent** Fluids – 60% Food – 30% Metabolism – 10%\* **Water Loss / Percent** Urine – 50% Sweat – 35% Respiraton – 10% Feces – 5% Actual percentages will vary considerably, depending on the weather, your diet, the amount you exercise, and other factors. \*Approximately 10 percent of your daily water supply comes from metabolic water, which is water that’s “liberated” within the body when you burn fats and carbohydrates. ---
**Author:** ![Ronda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac8455/32.png) [@Ronda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronda)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856/29 "2011-02-09T15:35:05Z")
I drink a gallon of water per day, and I am not thirsty all the time. if you are drinking as much as you say and still feel thirsty, due to dry throat, maybe if you were to get some kind of hard candy to suck on it would eliminate the dry throat.😛 ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856/30 "2011-02-09T15:53:01Z")
Zombies don’t need water. Just brains. ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856/31 "2011-02-09T16:51:49Z")
Wow, what a blast from the past! As it turns out, the mystery is solved. A couple of years after my original post I was diagnosed with diabetes. Go figure. Now that I have my blood sugar under control, I don’t find myself as thirsty all the time. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856/32 "2011-02-09T17:34:24Z")
I see you figured it out, wishing you luck. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856/33 "2011-02-09T17:38:08Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Zombies don’t need water. Just brains. But brains are juicy. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856/34 "2011-02-09T19:37:09Z")
Dude, what a follow-up! The outcome sucks but it was cool to see it nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856/35 "2011-02-09T20:48:43Z")
> [@Quantum\_Butterfly](#): > > Strange that so many people report sodas quenching thirst better than water. I find that soda does almost nothing for my thirst. I’m another water-drinker, mass amounts per day. This may have something to do with the fact that I live in dry, arid Southern California and I take meds that affect the kidneys. I am with you, iced water is my swill of choice, sodas are both too sweet and do not quench my thirst. Although I am diabetic, it is well controlled, but I also take several meds that all have thirst as a side effect :rolleyes: I think I do on average 3 to 4 liters of water a day, and one cup coffee in the morning [12 oz] and a cup of tea at night [same size] ---
**Author:** ![randomicicle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@randomicicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randomicicle)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856/36 "2012-03-13T21:19:17Z")
> [@godzillatemple](#): > > Wow, what a blast from the past! > > As it turns out, the mystery is solved. A couple of years after my original post I was diagnosed with diabetes. Go figure. Now that I have my blood sugar under control, I don’t find myself as thirsty all the time. I’m very curious about this because.. I also feel extremely thirsty all the time, especially when I drink water. I usually drink 3lt. a day. Could drink more, but once I reach 4lt or more, I get headaches and my doctor said too much water isn’t good either. Thing is, I’ve checked for diabetes of both types and the tests were negative. What I’m curious about is whether your diabetes just recently appeared (you tested several years ago and it was negative, and only is positive now), or you never testes yourself for diabetes before. Ty! ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856/37 "2012-03-13T21:27:49Z")
The person you’re addressing last posted here more than a year ago. ---
**Author:** ![SticksAndString](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@SticksAndString](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SticksAndString)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856/38 "2012-03-13T21:48:51Z")
I SO wish there was a “like” button on this thing! Because during the spring/summer, it’s not unusual for me to go through two or three refills of my aluminum water bottle a day as well as at least one 12 oz soda AND half a dozen glasses of iced tea. It just gets HOT dammit. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SticksAndString](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@SticksAndString](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SticksAndString)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856/39 "2012-03-13T21:53:06Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > I wonder if caffeine addiction has anything to do with the sense that sodas quench thirst better than water. > > I don’t drink coffee much, but I’ve noticed if I don’t have tea or coke in the morning, I start getting headaches in the afternoon. (Not a sugar issue, since I drink unsweetened tea and diet soda.) I too have noticed that these other drinks quench thirst better, but I’ve wondered if what I experience as “thirst” isn’t really a craving for caffeine. It’s entirely possible. Many moons ago, I spent about 3 years working for a fast food joint where the owner/gen. mgr had the standing rule that as long as you brought your own container, cup, what have you you were allowed to drink as much cokes as you wanted. By the time I quit working there, I was drinking around 3 LITERS of Dr. Pepper a day. After I quit, I no longer had access to massive amounts of cokes and went through caffiene withdrawals–I had headaches, I was really freaking grouchy and the first day or two I had a bad case of the shakes. Now my drug of choice is Folger’s Choice Half-Caff but I don’t drink more than 4-6 cups over the course of the day, mostly in the morning while I’m waiting for my thyroid meds to kick in so I can eat something. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-more-water-i-drink-the-thirstier-i-get/180856.md?page=1)