Most of the human body is made up of water and therefore all organs need this liquid for proper functioning.
The brain is one of the parts that most requires to be hydrated. Water is very important for the muscles, but also for the brain and nervous tissues. A slight dehydration can cause headaches, a feeling of confusion or loss of balance: the brain must be perfectly hydrated to function optimally.
A study published in the journal Nutrition Reviews points out that even mild levels of dehydration can produce alterations in mood and cognitive functioning, for example.
Similarly, an investigation published in the magazine International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, quoted by the portal better with health, indicates that hydration is essential for the brain, since water represents 75% of brain mass. Among other things, it is involved in electrolyte balance and metabolism.
According to experts, the brain reacts quickly to small changes in the sodium and potassium ions found in the body, whose electrolyte balance depends precisely on water.
For this reason it is essential that people try to maintain the balance of water input and output. When fluids lost through sweat, urine, and other mechanisms are not replaced, several consequences can occur.
According to the aforementioned research, when there is dehydration in the brain, functions such as: short-term memory, vigilance attention, and working memory.
For its part, an article published in the digital media Business Insider, indicates that when the brain is not sufficiently hydrated, mental calculation abilities decrease, there is an increase in moods, irritability, stress can also occur, and fatigue becomes more frequent. According to this digital diary, it’s all because when brain cells don’t have enough water, they respond more slowly.
“Brain cells require a delicate balance between water and various elements to function,” says Joshua Gowin, a neuroscientist at the University of Texas, quoted by Business Insider. The expert assures that when a person loses too much water, this balance is altered and the brain cells lose efficiency.
Beyond getting enough sleep and eating healthy, staying hydrated is one of the best ways to avoid fatigue that directly affects performance.
signs of dehydration
On many occasions it is difficult to recognize that the decrease in cognitive performance has to do with dehydration. For this reason, according to specialists, people should be attentive to other signs such as:
– But excessive
– cold and dry skin
– muscle fatigue
– dry mouth
– Lethargy and irritability
– Decreased urination
– Reduced blood pressure, headaches and dizziness
According to better with health, when the brain is well hydrated, the brain cells receive oxygenated blood and this organ stays alert. In this way he manages to perform his functions without difficulties.
For experts, it is important that people do not wait to be thirsty, since the sensation of thirst does not appear until between 1% and 2% of the volume of water in the body is lost.
“By then, dehydration has set in and begins to affect the performance of the mind and body,” says Lawrence E. Armstrong, a professor at the University of Connecticut Human Performance Laboratory, according to a quote. Business Insider.
The conclusion of the experts is that the brain stays healthy with adequate nutrition, exercise, restful sleep, limiting the intake of alcohol and caffeine and, in general, good lifestyle habits, among them: hydration.
