Don’t Forget the Water – How Hydration Helps Your Brain

Eating the right foods is a key to prevent dementia and help the brain stay healthy. While taking in great foods, it’s also important to wash those foods down with water. Water is a chief contributor to brain health. Water does more than hydrate, it makes the brain work right and provides an avenue for toxins to leave the brain.

Water is the vehicle the brain uses to deliver nutrients and to remove toxins. That means water needs to be plentiful and consistently flowing to and from the brain. Your brain is technically about 75% water, when it is hydrated well the brain can focus, think better, and operate optimally.

Staying hydrated throughout the day helps the brain best. Finding ways to keep hydrated prevents slumps in thinking and energy. Some typical ways to stay hydrated are:

• Keep reusable water bottles handy in the car and at work
• Use a water app to remind you to hydrate throughout the day
• Drink water with every meal and snack rather than soda or other beverages
• Make drinking water part of your morning and bedtime routines to get those extra glasses in

Everybody is different. The amount of water you need is determined by height, weight, level of activity, and other factors. You can also tell a lot about your hydration when you go to the bathroom. Urine should be light yellow and have no odor when you are hydrated. 

Did you know? There’s such a thing as too much water? Drinking excessive amounts of water can actually cause harm including lowering blood pressure to dangerous levels. Make sure that your water intake is counter balanced by consuming enough salt to avoid an electrolyte imbalance. 

Some people don’t like the taste of plain water. That’s ok, there are plenty of ways to enhance your water and make it more palatable. Try one of these on for size:

• Infuse your water with fruits or veggies to give them a hint of taste
• Try adding an essential oil to your water to boost the flavor and add other benefits
• If you want bold flavor, consider adding a low-calorie flavoring packet to give your H2O a kick

If you have trouble drinking enough water in a day, try eating some! Foods with high water contents can give you extra servings of water and fruits and veggies.  Here’s a few you can add to your list:

• Cucumbers
• Strawberries
• Cantaloupe
• Watermelon
• Lettuce

Water is just as important for your brain’s health as food. Drinking enough water or consuming foods with a high water content will help keep the brain hydrated and healthy. Combining healthy foods with plenty of water is a one-two punch that knocks out brain diseases and keeps your mind sharp.