• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Abundant Health

Up to date health information tailored for you

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Healthy Lifestyle / This Happens in Your Brain When You Drink Too Little Water

This Happens in Your Brain When You Drink Too Little Water

June 5, 2022 by Dr. Cesar Vasconcellos de Souza

Do you think you only need to drink water when you’re thirsty? Did you know that thirst is already an alarm? Drinking water only when you’re thirsty is like putting fuel in your car only when that little alarm light comes on, saying you’re running out of gas. Is water important for the brain?

Our brain depends on good hydration to function well. Brain cells and neurons require a delicate balance between water and different chemicals to function. When you lose a lot of water, sweating a lot for example, and you do not replace it, this balance is disrupted. Your brain cells lose their efficiency. Scientific studies have shown that when we’re dehydrated, it’s more difficult to keep our attention focused. Dehydration of the brain can produce both short-term and long-term memory impairment. Poor hydration can impair the ability to do mathematical calculations, such as calculating whether you will arrive at work on time, if you put off your alarm clock for another ten minutes.

Normally, the longest period of each day we go without ingesting liquids is the hours of sleep, which last about 6 to 9 hours each day, depending on the person. Despite the fact that sleeping usually doesn’t make us sweat, except in the summer if we have no air condition, it doesn’t mean that we don’t lose water while sleeping. With each breath we expel moisture, and the tendency during this hours of sleep is to dehydrate. That’s why it’s important to drink pure water throughout the day, and especially when you get up in the morning, at least one glass of water on an empty stomach. If you want your body and brain to function well, make a conscious effort to drink water from the moment you wake up, starting with getting out of bed in the morning. Think what a blessing to know that, and to have plenty of water available.

On our planet, millions of people have a shortage of drinking water. About 38,000 children under the age of five die each week because they don’t have clean water to drink; did you know that? Women in some African countries walk hours a week, carrying 5 gallons of water in containers, drawing even from places with unsafe water. What a blessing you have, for having pure water in your house, isn’t it? The brain is 75 percent water. So imagine how important is water for the brain to work well.

It is important to drink at least eight glasses of water a day to be healthy; and in the summer even more. There is a difference in the amount to be ingested, according to the activity performed throughout the day, the person’s weight and the season of the year. Having a glass of water every hour of the day (between meals) is a good habit, some people even recommend it. We usually don’t realize that we are dehydrated. We only remember to drink water when we feel dizzy, or when the skin becomes dry.

You may not notice it, but your brain does! It becomes slow to respond to stimuli if it is not properly hydrated. Water is a great remedy, both outside and inside the body. Water helps the blood flow to the brain and calms it, as well as helping to eliminate toxic substances. Brain cells require twice as much energy as other cells in the body, and water contributes more to brain energy than other substances. Drinking water helps children and adults to prevent attention deficit disorder. The lack of correct hydration affects the brain, producing tiredness in the afternoon, difficulty in focusing thoughts, exhaustion, some types of headache, sleep disturbances and loss of mental clarity.

It is important to ingest pure water throughout the day for proper brain function, as it has no way of storing it. Studies have shown that if you are only 1% dehydrated, you will have a 5% decrease in cognitive function, in reasoning. Prolonged dehydration can cause a decrease in the size and mass of brain cells. This is more common in older people who tend to be chronically dehydrated for years. By hydrating your body well, your brain will benefit from the removal of toxins, improving the exchange of nutrients and leading to better concentration and alertness.

Brain inflammation is often associated with various types of injuries. When the brain is not properly hydrated, inflammation gets worse. A study of young women showed that the loss of 1.36% of body fluids after exercise impaired mood and concentration, increasing the frequency of headaches. A similar study of young men showed that losing 1.59% of body fluids resulted in memory impairment increased anxiety and fatigue. It is important to know that 1 to 3% of fluid is equivalent to the loss of 1 to 4,5 lbs (½ kg to 2 kg) of body weight for a person weighing 150 lbs (68 kg). So, after doing physical activities, drink a good amount of pure water.

It’s worth remembering: drinking water throughout the day helps your brain and improves concentration, helping you think more clearly. It also helps balance mood, maintains good memory, increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, and helps prevent some types of headaches.

Researchers at the University of East London believe that when you quench your thirst, your brain can better focus on the task at hand. They did an experiment with 34 men and women. They were given a first test for them to take after breakfast, which included cereal and protein bar. For a second test, they ate cereal, a protein bar and drank a bottle of water. Those who said they were thirsty improved the test time after drinking the water. Drinking water made their brains work 14% faster than before drinking it.

If you want your brain to do well, drink plain water throughout the day, but not together with your meals. This is important for a number of health benefits, and essential for optimized brain performance. Remember, 75% of our brain is water. We can see how important drinking water is to stay mentally well. Drink water! Peace and Light!

Stay Always Up to Date

Sign up to our newsletter and stay always informed with news and tips around your health.

Sign Up Now!
Dr. Cesar Vasconcellos de Souza

Dr. Cesar Vasconcellos de Souza is working as a psychiatrist and international speaker. He is author of 3 books, columnist of the health magazine “Vida e Saúde” for 25 years, and has a regular program on the “Novo Tempo” TV channel.

doutorcesar.com/
Good things need to be shared:

Filed Under: Healthy Lifestyle, Mental Health, Water

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Social Channels

Coronavirus Immunity Challenge

Boost your immune system to be bullet-proof for the pandemic.

I Want to Participate

Português

Recent Posts

  • The Intestinal Flora – The Unknown Organ
  • Stressors in the Midlife Crisis
  • Helping Makes You Happy
  • This Happens in Your Brain When You Drink Too Little Water
  • The Concept of Salutogenesis
  • Dealing with Stress as a Young Adult
  • Gas and Oil – For Our Body
  • Dealing with Bipolar Disorder: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Categories

  • Body Systems (6)
    • Cell Function (1)
    • Digestive Tract (5)
    • Immune System (2)
  • Diseases (12)
    • Allergies (0)
    • Cancer (1)
    • Cold (1)
    • COVID-19 (8)
    • Diabetes (1)
    • Digestive Diseases (2)
    • Heart Disease (1)
    • Kidney Stones (1)
    • Metabolic Syndrome (2)
    • Skin (1)
  • Healthy Lifestyle (18)
    • Exercise (5)
    • Gardening (2)
    • Sleep (5)
    • Sunlight (1)
    • Temperance (5)
    • Water (3)
  • Mental Health (37)
    • Addictions (2)
    • Anxiety (3)
    • Burnout (1)
    • Depression (2)
    • Psychosomatic Diseases (4)
    • Stress Management (24)
  • Nutrition (33)
  • Obesity (4)
  • Phases of Life (8)
    • Adults (2)
    • Babies and Infants (1)
    • Children (3)
    • Seniors (2)
    • Teenagers (3)
  • Therapies (3)
    • Herbs (2)
  • Uncategorized (1)

Archives

  • June 2022 (4)
  • May 2022 (5)
  • April 2022 (4)
  • March 2022 (4)
  • February 2022 (4)
  • January 2022 (5)
  • December 2021 (3)
  • November 2021 (4)
  • October 2021 (6)
  • September 2021 (4)
  • August 2021 (4)
  • July 2021 (5)
  • June 2021 (4)
  • May 2021 (3)
  • April 2021 (5)
  • March 2021 (4)
  • February 2021 (4)
  • January 2021 (5)
  • December 2020 (3)
  • November 2020 (4)
  • October 2020 (5)
  • September 2020 (5)
  • August 2020 (3)
  • July 2020 (1)
  • June 2020 (1)
  • May 2020 (1)
  • April 2020 (1)
  • March 2020 (1)

Copyright © 2022 · Abundant Health

Medical Disclaimer - Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy