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Sipping water is one of the simplest ways to feel your best. It should come as no surprise, since the average body is made up of about 60 percent water. Staying hydrated is essential for thriving and maintaining your overall health.
Water does far more than quench your thirst. According to the Cleveland Clinic, there’s a strong link between drinking water and the effects it has on your brain. The positive impact of drinking water is also one of the driving forces behind daily functioning.
Water and Your Brain
Hydration plays an important role in brain health. It keeps your electrolyte levels balanced, which regulate your cognitive functioning. These electronically charged minerals, which include calcium, magnesium, and potassium, are crucial for paying attention, memory, and decision-making. Dehydration can also lead to symptoms like mental fog, impacting the ability to think clearly.
Drinking water is also essential for staying in a positive mood. When you’re dehydrated, production of the stress hormone cortisol increases, which then leads to a decrease in feel-good neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin, which can cause irritability, sadness, and exhaustion.
Research backs the significance of staying hydrated. A study published in the Frontiers in Human Neuroscience journal found that participants who drank more water before testing had faster reaction times and increased cognitive performance. It also found that individuals who were thirsty felt more “tired” and “tense.”
Hydration and Staying Focused
Focus and attention can come up all the time in daily life, whether at work or simply through interacting with others. It can be difficult to pay attention when you are tired or have a lot of other things on your mind. However, a glass of water may help with that.
Starting your day with water can also improve concentration, alertness, and memory, NDTV reports. Drinking water after waking up also boosts energy levels and lifts your mood, helping you feel refreshed and ready to take on whatever lies ahead. So drink up for big benefits!
How to Stay Hydrated on a Busy Day
Staying hydrated throughout the day may seem tricky, especially when you’re on the go. But don’t worry — making hydration a priority is simple, and the benefits are worth it. Small sips can add up and lead to big changes!
The Cognitive FX blog recommends keeping a refillable water bottle with you at all times. By carrying it around, it’s a reminder that it’s there. A freezer-safe water bottle can also help you have ice-cold water throughout the day.
Another hack to try if you find yourself having a difficult time drinking water is to make the experience more fun and tasty. You can add lemon juice or sliced fruit to your water for a refreshing taste.
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Another tip is setting alarms to remind yourself to drink, according to Cleveland Clinic. You can also stay on top of your water intake through a tracking app on your phone or with a pen and paper. That way you can enjoy the short-term and long-term benefits of drinking water for years to come. Through these simple hacks, you can make hydration easy. Optimal hydration doesn't have to require extreme measures.
Drinking water does wonders for keeping your mind healthy and boosting your spirits. By simply increasing your water intake and making it a consistent priority, you can enjoy all the benefits and improvements in how you think and feel throughout your day.
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