We are in the midst of summer - my personal LEAST favorite time of the year!
With the heat comes a lot of adjustments needed to your health and fitness routines. One of the most important?
HYDRATION.
If you feel a sudden surge of anger, hydration may be the underlying reason why you’re losing your cool.
Dehydration affects cognition, concentration and the general ability to think clearly and control mood, a group of scientists have discovered.
Researchers from the University of Connecticut found that even mild dehydration alters a person’s mood, energy levels and mental function.
The study involved putting dehydrated participants through a series of cognitive tests measuring vigilance, concentration, memory, reasoning and learning ability. The results compared against those who were not dehydrated.
Researchers discovered that mild dehydration caused headaches, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Participants struggled concentrating on simple tasks but interestingly, suffered no reduction in cognitive ability.
Even mild dehydration – 1.5% loss in normal water volume in the body – that can occur in the course of our ordinary daily activities can degrade how we are feeling, especially in women, who are more susceptible to the adverse effects of low levels of dehydration.
So how much should you be drinking? I’m sure you’ve heard the ‘6 – 8 glasses a day’ quote. Let’s make that a little more personalized.
Divide your body weight by half, and drink THAT many ounces a day.
For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, you will need to drink AT LEAST 100 ounces of water a day for maintenance. This number of ounces should increase with strenuous exercise and increased time outside / sun exposure.
Reach out for more info on hydration, and remember to keep that water bottle full and close by! 💧💧
Comments