Your body isn’t the only thing that’s made up largely of water. Did you know that up to 75% of your brain’s mass is water? It makes sense, then, that drinking more water improves brain function! Here’s what you should know.
Suffering from brain fog every day? Struggling to think clearly? Find it hard to get out of bed in the morning? Do you hit that afternoon slump where you just can’t focus or make great decisions
You can help (sometimes even fix) most of these problems by drinking more water! Yes, increasing your water intake can boost brain function. Here’s everything you should know!
Why Does the Brain Need Water?
Every cell in your body depends on water . This includes brain cells! Your brain cells work on electrical impulses, which allow the neurons to communicate with each other. These rapid impulses help the brain to coordinate your thoughts, emotions, behaviour, and sensations.
Your body also uses water to create cerebrospinal fluid, which helps to protect and cushion your brain and spinal cord. This fluid is made up of 99% water!
Water also performs the following important functions in the brain:
- Producing new neurons
- Transporting oxygen, minerals, and vitamins to the brain
- Balancing your hormone levels
- Lowering cortisol levels—the stress hormone
- Maintaining brain health
- Flushing out metabolic waste in the brain
The Effects of Dehydration On the Brain
When you're not well hydrated, your brain’s functions are negatively impacted. Research shows that even if you’re 1% dehydrated, your cognitive abilities decline! And most of us are chronically dehydrated. That’s scary to think!
Cognitive impairment from dehydration can lead to:
- An increased frequency of headaches
- A loss of concentration
- Experiencing “brain fog”
- Feeling flat, fatigued, or sluggish
- Feeling irritable
- Experiencing mood swings
- Increased feelings of anxiety
- Constipation
- Weakened immunity
- Increased food cravings
As you can see, a negatively-affected brain has much bigger effects than just a bit of tiredness. It affects your entire body, as well as your intelligence level!
Conclusion: Drinking More Water Improves Brain Function And More!
There’s plenty of info out there about the effects of dehydration on the body, on your weight, and on your physical performance. But we often forget how important water is to brain function!
It’s not hard to drink more water throughout the day. Fill up a sizable bottle and take it with you to work. Set reminders on your phone or watch to drink. Start eating more water-rich foods, like fruits and veggies!
It just takes a few weeks to get into a new habit. And if drinking more water improves brain function, imagine what else it can do for you! It’s a habit that just might save your body, your brain, and your life.
