How water affects the human brain and vascular health — scientific review

Many people have heard that the brain consists of more than 80% water. But not everyone realizes that fatigue, drowsiness, irritability, anxiety and other unpleasant conditions are directly related to a lack of fluid in the body, which is confirmed by research .

Consuming only juices, tea, lemonades, coffee and liquid entrees, a person sometimes does not understand that he condemns his brain to dehydration, diseases and accelerates its aging.

And meanwhile, according to research , 1.5-2 liters per day of simple drinking water can dramatically improve well-being and significantly improve the quality of life. What is its effect on the human brain and mental performance? That's what we're going to talk about today.

How does regular water affect mental activity?

Even human bones consist of a quarter of water. But the brain is the most water-dependent organ.

As soon as a person begins to feel thirst clearly, it means that not just the body as a whole suffers, but every cell of the brain, from which absolutely all vital activity depends: physiology, work of consciousness and even mood.

Without water, such processes occurring in the brain as:

• Transmission of nerve impulses;
• Energy generation;
• Processing and assimilation of information by the brain.

Doctors have long noticed that quenching thirst is not just satisfying the simplest physiological need.

Every sip of liquid affects :

1. The speed of physiological reactions;
2. Clarity of speech, hearing and vision;
3. Speed of thinking;
4. Concentration of attention;
5. Creativity.

About the benefits of regular water for the cardiovascular system we talked in a separate article.

Also pay attention to the infographic:

But not every liquid can make up for the lack of water in the body.

What exactly should I drink?

Food and drinks do not always satisfy a person's need for water.

1. First of all, part of the liquid also goes into digesting food , especially if the dishes contain sodium chloride, that is, table salt. Therefore, the eaten soup, for example, practically does not help to saturate the body with moisture in any way: the brain practically gets nothing from this.
2. Secondly, many liquids have a strong diuretic effect . Therefore, after one cup of coffee, you need to drink two cups of drinking water so that it still increases in the body.

Physiologists and doctors claim that it is ideal to consume pure spring, natural mineral or filtered water .

But close to it will be:

• Fresh herbal and floral teas;
• Decoctions and infusions of herbs ;
• Berry and fruit compotes without added sugar;
• Heavily watered down vegetable and fruit juices;
• Water with a little lemon juice and honey.

What is the danger of dehydration?

Intense thirst &8212; it's already a dangerous symptom of trouble in the body.

But dehydration can also manifest itself in:

1. Poor intelligence and fatigue;
2. Decreased ability to memorize information;
3. Irritability and aggression;
4. Depressed;
5. Increased emotionality, etc.

If a person is thirsty for a long time, then brain cells begin to shrink and the entire brain loses volume, and blood vessels narrow. Eventually dehydration can lead to mental degradation , the development of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, amyotrophic sclerosis, and even brain death.

Chronic dehydration also threatens atherosclerosis blood vessels of the brain, because it increases the level of harmful cholesterol in the blood and stops normally removing decomposition products and slags that enter the bloodstream.

Daily rate

During the day, a person still receives part of the liquid with food, especially if he eats a lot of raw vegetables and fruits.

However, the researchers found out that he loses more than two liters per day through:

• Breathing;
• Sweat;
• Excretory system.

During the experiments, scientists noticed that in an hour and a half of continuous sweating (for example, during sports), if the body's water reserves are not replenished, the brain ages so much, how much he would have aged in a whole year of his life.

Therefore, during the day, an adult it is necessary to drink about 1.5-2 liters of clean water.

The amount of consumption depends on:

1. Gender and age;
2. Body weight;
3. Health conditions;
4. Weather and climatic conditions;
5. Physical activity and lifestyle.

For example, hard physical or mental work, computer work are highly dehydrating and require increased attention to the drinking regime.

The optimal mode is considered to be drinking 1-2 glasses 20 minutes before breakfast and during the day between meals. By 21:00, it is advisable to stop drinking so as not to create additional stress on the excretion system.

Drinking water preferably in small portions , slowly and without waiting for the feeling of thirst. The optimal temperature for drinking is 30-35 degrees.

Some important tips

The healing power of liquid can and should be used not only when a person is in a critical condition. In everyday life, even a glass of clean drinking water instantly changes the physical and mental state.

You need to drink water immediately, for example, in situations where:

1. Fatigue and drowsiness overtook;
2. Absent-mindedness made itself felt;
3. Tired of monotonous work;
4. It is necessary to calm down;
5. I want to get rid of a headache;
6. You need to remember a lot of information;
7. You have to get behind the wheel of a car.

Interesting video

Drinking enough water is not just a pleasure, but a physiological necessity, primarily a need of the brain. It is not difficult to accustom yourself to proper drinking: it is enough to drink 300-600 ml before breakfast, and 1-1.5 liters between meals.