Author: Ashlynn M.

Have you ever thought about water being the source of assisting your mental health? No? Let's talk about it. Many people do not understand the real benefits of drinking water and how it can assist your physical and mental health. Some of us go days, weeks, or even months without drinking water – but in the same notion can source out coffee, sodas, or other drinks.

 How is your mental health without water? Personally, I am one of those people who do not drink enough water, and I can definitely tell the difference when I choose to have more water in my day versus when I choose to only drink coffee and soda.

 What is dehydration?

Dehydration occurs when more water is being lost by your body than is being put in. In urine and sweat, and through respiration, we're regularly using and losing water. Even while we sleep, water passes out of our system with every breath we exhale. Our hearts and our brains consist of more water than the rest of our body. It's pretty important stuff if we want to function at our best, physically, and mentally.

 How does dehydration affect the brain?

If water levels are too low, our brain cells cannot function properly, leading to cognitive problems. Dehydrated adults' brains show increased neuronal activation when performing cognitively engaging tasks, indicating that their brains are working harder than usual to complete the task.

 How much water is enough? How do I know when I have drunk enough for the day?

There's no officially set amount of water that is best daily. A general rule of thumb is eight to ten eight-ounce glasses of water, or approximately two liters, per day. More on hot days, and increased in measure with more significant physical activity.

 Steps to take towards mental health.

Drinking water regularly throughout the day is an easy, useful step to take in our efforts to be as mentally healthy as possible. Start slow, and drink a glass of water first thing in the morning. 

I am a shameless plug, but I carry my Snatchletics elixir bottle, which has impressive time prompts that help me keep track of my water intake! I personally infuse mine with strawberries, mint leaves, or lemon to help me have a different taste of just flat water.

 Indeed, even at low levels, lack of hydration influences how we think. I don't think about you, yet I can experience sufficient difficulty with that completely hydrated. Drinking sufficient water holds our cerebrum back from battling against the impacts of parchedness, permitting us to think more obviously than if we let ourselves get dried out.

 Staying hydrated by drinking enough water is one aspect of suitable physical, emotional, and mental health. We're not one-dimensional, and our approach to mental health shouldn't be either.

Source: AIFC Admin