ketosis and super thirsty

[J.R.]

6 days in, I'm also suffering from insatiable thirst. I'm not worried. During the work week where I'm drinking water constantly from a bottle it's not really a problem, but I notice it at night. It was really bad today. I rode about 25 km along the Canal du Midi and I only had 500 ml water bottle on the bike. I tried to ration it, but I could only string it out about 17km. Since then I'm drinking water 8oz at a time, but thirsty again a few minutes later. I finally switched to Perrier because the plain bottled water my wife drinks developed a metallic taste that I never noticed before.

FYI, I don't eat bacon or put much salt on anything. Maybe a little on the morning scrambled eggs, sometimes.

Nothing real serious, I just wanted to see if others had experienced something similar and apparently this experience isn't unique. My lips are dry and may start cracking soon as well.

[msanjelpie]

One of the things about ketosis is the bad breath of course... but one of the main reasons of the bad breath is dry mouth...

Another sign of water deprivation is chapped or peeling lips...

My dad was actually drinking too much water to where it messed up his sodium levels which became too low... (Hyponatremia) I would suggest keeping your salt at the normal intake that you are used to and if the thirst returns, find foods to add that are water based.

Another thing I noticed, when I have severe dry mouth, brushing my teeth again and gargling with mouth wash also helps, for an hour anyway...

[chinadoll]

I find that I am thirsty a lot more frequently now. And rather than focus on it, I just sip water continually (no big 12 ounce chugalugs). I also find sweet drinks don't kill the thirst. Water actually quenches it best. I think it is also due to the taste of the ketones in your mouth. You want to wash it out and it is not technically a thirst but it does make you want to drink.

[SunnySmile501]

I didn't see this first time around. I have been chugging water since starting Atkins three years ago. As soon as I got into ketosis, I had insatiable thirst. The more water I drank, the more I wanted.

I was drinking 144 ounces a day when I weighed close to 300 pounds, but when I got below 200 pounds I felt that I should be cutting back, but 128 ounces is as low as my body will accept.

[Mariamaria]

I'm the same!! Its constant and I cant imagine how anyone would not b able to drink enough on this diet. I also eat two rashers of bacon but not everyday...and on the days I don't, the thirst is still there.

I'm hoping its the bodies way of demanding water to get rid of ketones. I am at the 2nd to highest dark colour as well so I agree that its definately the ketosis. I go down a bit in colour after I've had my 5carb veg with my dinner and the thirst tends to subside then.

Wish Dr Atkins was still here to advise

[Mariamaria]

PS. Apparently if you are dehydrated then it will show in the colour of your urine - advice from a doctor!!

[Evansmom49]

My acupuncturist advised me to throw out the regular table salt and only use sea salt. There's no taste difference and it doesn't raise blood pressure as well.