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Hi all, I've been paleo for a week and find i am sooooo thirsty, drinking up to 4ltrs of water a day. Is this just during the adjustment period??

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It's normal for me to drink that much. I did notice more thirst on the transition. My suspicion is you get a bit more thirst on a more low carb diet because the body doesn't retain the water like it used to on a high carb diet. – James Oct 20 2011 at 2:38
What is your salt intake like? – Rhubarb Oct 20 2011 at 3:10

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I could be way off base, but I know I have been borderline diabetic in the past, and extreme thirst is a symptom of that. It could just be a temporary thing due to the fact that your body is learning how to adjust to your new way of eating. If you did consume a lot of sugar previously, and suddenly stopped, I would think this could be a strong possibility. The good news is that paleo is a perfect way to "treat" diabetes! I used to drink a gallon a day, but it mostly due to boredom... my job was.. lacking. :) Dependent on how much you weigh, this can be an acceptable amount, I just hope you are able to stay close to the bathroom!

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I would not drink that much water, water can also be toxic and even kill if drank in huge quantities. The 'feeling thirsty' symptom is just that: a symptom of something else (diabetes?). Please go to your doctor as fast you can, today.

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Drinking 4L of water a day, whilst perhaps not optimum depending on ones situation, is not going to be toxic. If you were quite active and lived in a warm climate then you may want at least 4L of water per day. – Rhubarb Oct 20 2011 at 2:00
4L of liquids is quite doable. I usually drink a bit more. – James Oct 20 2011 at 2:36
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Interesting. This isn't an issue I had when making the switch. Could it be that you are increasing your water intake in order to take your mind off of food or feeling hungry? For me, when transitioning to Paleo I found myself using coffee as a crutch to suppress my appetite throughout the day. I no longer need the coffee, although I still enjoy it whenever I feel like it. Is it possible that your switch to Paleo coincided with increase in physical activity resulting in dehydration?

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