Brain Bulletin 123 - The Surprising Reason You Get Brain Fog More in the Summer
in Brain BulletinBrain Bulletin 123 - The Surprising Reason You Get Brain Fog More in the Summer
Water is life.
"Pure water is the world's first and foremost medicine." - Slovakian proverb
Water is indispensable to the operation of each brain cell. And sometimes, getting enough can be a challenge.
Your brain is 80% water, and it's important to maintain stability. Even a small "drop-off" has consequences.
A 2018 study1 found a 2% loss in hydration causes a measurable loss in focus and cognition. Two percent isn't that much. We may not even feel thirsty. If dehydration hits 5%, your loss of focus and concentration hits 35%.
Another study2 found even one percent produces deficits.
All this can lead to mid-day grumpiness.
Here's one thing you can do right now:
Drink one cup of water with each meal.
In no time your brain links meal and water. It becomes a habit. Remember, brains get good at what they do. Neuroplasticity!
( And, of course, sip water often all day. It does add up.)
So, maintaining a good mood might just meaning adding water.
"Water is the soul of the earth." - W.H. Auden
1. Wittbrodt M.T. Millard-Stafford, M. Dehydration Impairs Cognitive Performance: A Meta-Analysis. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, Nov., 2018
2. Stachenfeld, N. et al. Water Intake Reverses Dehydration Associated with Impaired Executive Function in Healthy Young Women, Physiology & Behavior, Mar., 2018
Here's a bit more on feeling better in the summer :
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Something new -
Terry has a new presentation now available for booking: More Than a Story - How Words Can Change the Brain
Stories can move mountains.
Stories are how our brains learn best, affecting and shaping us. They are the most effective communication tool we have. In fact, stories are the #1 brain state changer on the planet because they connect brain and heart. People don't connect with charts, graphs, and documents. We connect with people. So if you want to energize and influence people, use stories.
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What am I reading right now? "The Story Factor" by Annette Simmons. The art & power of storytelling at its best.
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