Drink Water So Your Brain Can Perform At Its Best
“Two liters of water per day keep your body hydrated.” Surely you have read this phrase many times in different media and you have even heard it on the radio or on television. But what this claim doesn’t make is that water is also good for the brain.
According to various investigations, there is a relationship between dehydration and poor concentration or memory. Water is essential for the functioning of our body, as we all know, but also for the development of the mind. Thus, the truth is that you can enhance brain capabilities by drinking water every day. Something as simple as it is indispensable!
Hydration and mental health
Drinking water daily allows you to hydrate your organs, cells, muscles … and also the brain. Recently published studies indicate that those who do not consume enough water increase their chances of developing a disease, especially as they enter old age.
This does not mean that water does not make “smarter” but it does mean that our mental performance may be the maximum that we are capable of producing based on our abilities. Thus, water acts as a kind of guardian of them and, therefore, of us.
We must not forget this maxim: “the higher the level of dehydration, the less alertness and concentration: more drowsiness, fatigue and tiredness.”
A glass of water in the desert
In order to understand how fluid is vital in our body and brain, we could analyze the case of a person who gets lost in the Sahara. When your water ration is finished, hallucinations and mirages do not take long to appear. It is true that there are other factors that play a role, such as high temperatures, the sun and despair, but the lack of water immediately affects motor coordination, attention and short-term memory.
According to doctors, when someone is dehydrated they have less electrolytes and this leads to an alteration in brain activity and in the other systems that participate in cognitive processes (ability to process information). The loss of fluid in the body results in increased production of “stress” hormones and a decline in the functioning of memory and perception.
Hydrated brain, “awake” brain
Dry mouth, headache or difficulty expressing ourselves correctly are just some of the symptoms that “warn” us of the lack of water in the body and mind. General malaise, dizziness and disorientation are warning signs at a higher stage.
We should not wait to feel thirsty to drink water since at that moment we are in an initial degree of dehydration. If this happens too often, the brain starts to suffer. Poor fluid intake has its consequences at any age, but especially in children and the elderly, who are more vulnerable to changes.
When the brain is hydrated, the signs of mental fatigue (so common today) disappear and it is not necessary to make a greater effort to achieve the same result (you will perhaps avoid overtime in the office). By drinking fluids daily we can improve our daily activities, especially those related to planning and visuospatial processing.
In order to be able to realize whether we are well hydrated or not, in addition to drinking those two liters of water that they advise us so much, there are other interesting factors. For example, analyze the color of the urine (if it is dark and scanty it may be because we lack liquid) and avoid alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and coffee (all of them cause dehydration).
When it is hot or we exercise, it is necessary to increase fluid intake and add natural juices to the diet. If you are not one of the “lovers” of water or you forget to drink, you can always carry a bottle with you or even set alarms at different times of the day. Be it winter or summer we advise you to drink water, for the good of your body and your mind!
