fbpx

We all want to be the best version of ourselves and staying hydrated plays a huge role in keeping your mind and body sparkling throughout the day. Your body is made up of 60% water, which is why having a lack of it can affect you both physically and mentally. As part of our water challenge with Get More Vitamins Drinks, here’s how drinking more water could help you:

 

Mind
For women, dehydration affects their concentration the most. When your body is lacking in water, it causes brain tissue to shrink. This means our brains have to work much harder to perform at the same level. One study reveals that after comparing the brains of dehydrated young women, there was especially strong activity in the frontal lobe while trying to solve a task. Even though their brains were working so hard, they weren’t performing any better than others who were well hydrated. Men, on the other hand, often experience different de-hydration symptoms, which include poor memory and anxiety. Studies also show that if you’re dehydrated by 1%, there is a 5% decrease in cognitive function. If you’re 2% dehydrated, your short-term memory will suffer and you’ll have problems focusing.

When your brain is functioning on a full tank, you’ll be able to think quicker, focus more easily, think more clearly and be more creative. Drink more water? It’s a no brainer!

 

Body
Keeping hydrated can give you that healthy glow. It reduces dark circles under the eyes and also helps prevent wrinkles! If you suffer from skin problems, it might help to increase your daily water intake (2L recommended). If it’s dehydrated, our skin struggles to get rid of toxins and becomes inflamed, congested and irritated.

Regularly sipping water can hugely effect your body, too. It helps eliminate bloating, gas, acid reflux and IBS, but also keeps your organs healthy (especially in your gut!) by flushing out toxins.

Water is also a great way to speed up your metabolism: every time you drink, your body has to digest it, so the more you drink, the quicker your body learns to process its food.

With leaves starting to grow on trees and flowers beginning to bud, hay fever season is on its way – when the body is dehydrated it creates more histamines, exaggerating the symptoms of an allergic reaction. Hydrate your body to keep your symptoms at bay!

Working out while hydrated can make you work longer, better and more efficiently. It can reduce your blood pressure, which means you can push your body further, but also keeps the cartilage around joints hydrated and supple. Cartilage consists of 85% water, so keeping your joints hydrated will help prevent injury and increase recovery time.

 

Emotions
When your water levels are low, you might find yourself a bit tired and grumpy. This is why you sometimes crave a cheeky afternoon snack, but your body could actually be crying out for water to battle its fatigue. It has been proven that you don’t actually feel the thirst sensation until you’re already 1-2% dehydrated. So next time you need a pick-me-up, don’t surrender to the sugar, drink water instead! It may just give you that refreshing spike of energy you need to get you through the afternoon.

words by Katie Hafner

SHARE THIS STORY