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What can you do in the next 2 minutes that will increase your health and brain function?
Well let’s think about that. A 2 minute power-walk would burn about 10 calories and get your circulation going, so that’s something. Or you might have enough time to chew a couple mouthfuls of spinach. Those are both pretty good 2-minute options. But there is another, simpler option that might even be more beneficial:
Drink a big glass of water.
Now, we all know it’s BAD to be dehydrated; I’m not telling you anything you didn’t already know. But do you also know being fully hydrated leads to all sorts of health benefits?
Here are a few of my favorite reasons for getting up right now and filling up a tall glass of the cool crystal clear elixir of life.
Water Makes You Smarter:
Being dehydrated actually physically shrinks your brain, which makes it have to work harder to function. On top of that, your brain needs a lot of oxygen. Drinking plenty of water ensures it gets the oxygen it needs to work properly. Research shows even a 1-2% decline in the body’s water levels can impair cognitive performance. That’s pretty significant especially considering our thirst mechanism doesn’t kick in until we’re down 1-2%, too. So, if you’re feeling thirsty, might not be the best time to sit for the bar exam.
Water Gives You Energy:
Tap water as an energy drink? Who knew! You’re constantly losing water and electrolytes through your breath, sweat, urine and bowel movements, so even mild dehydration can exhaust you. The Natural Hydration Council found that one in 10 consultations for tiredness and fatigue could be attributed to dehydration, and more than a third of the patients reported feeling better after drinking more water. So the next time you find yourself feeling sleepy when you shouldn’t be, drink up!
Water Lifts Your Mood:
According to the findings of a study published in Appetite, in which 120 young female recruits recorded the details of their lives for 5 days and then answered mood questionnaires, the greater the water consumption, the higher their mood levels. In another study, 30 people who habitually drank about five cups of water a day doubled their intake for three days. Mood improved, as well as energy levels. The researchers then had another 22 well-hydrated people decrease their water intake. Low water intake led to worse moods, more headaches, confusion and tiredness. Hey, why not try water next time you need a mood booster? It’s plentiful, free, and easy to come by.
Water Helps You Lose Weight:
Dehydration can mess with your metabolism and trick you into thinking you’re hungry. A study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found drinking one and a half liters of water would increase the metabolism by 30% starting 10 minutes after drinking and sustaining for another 60 minutes. So, if you’re looking for an easy way to rev up your metabolism, look no further than the faucet in your kitchen.
Water Gets Rid Of Toxins:
Okay well you got me here. It’s actually our liver and kidneys that work to get rid of toxins in our bodies. BUT! They depend on water to be able to do their jobs most effectively. Think of it along the lines of diluting the polluting. Diluted toxins coming into the liver and kidneys are easier for your body to deal with.
Okay Stef, I get it. Drink More Water. But How Much?
What a great question, happy to answer! The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is:
- About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids for men
- About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women
But as a reminder, food also has water in it, so you can account for about 20% of your fluid intake to come from the foods you eat each day. Plus, you should take these numbers as a guideline, not law. You may need more or less depending on various factors; exercise, weather, medications, etc. The best thing you can do is to pay attention to your body, and if you ever feel thirsty, don’t wait. By the time you notice a thirst, your body has already dropped its hydration levels a percentage or two…and that’s not good. As I mentioned above, a percentage is enough to impair your brain function.
And with that, let’s all go get our water bottles and Fill. Em. Up.
xoxo,
Stef
I’ve been thinking about how to have enough water when dry camping with a small RV. I invented a way to increase the amount of water you can store in a given amount of space by about 70%.
http://www.asilberlining.com/the-hydro-cube/.
I’d love to hear what you think of it.
Interesting idea.
However, I’d hate to not be able to fill my fresh tank because the grey water was full and I couldn’t find a dump station.
I think people would have a hard time getting used to their fresh and grey capacities being tied together.
James,
If your grey tank isn’t empty and you add water to your fresh tank, your sink and shower are at risk of not being able to drain. In my concept you can fill your fresh tank as much as possible without risking an overflowing sink.
And in a pinch, you can find a place to dump your grey water. There’s a reason I’m not touching the black tank.
That assumes you’re not hooking up to a water supply at a site without sewer hookups. Or you don’t dump something down your sink that didn’t come from there.
Also, this would preclude putting the fresh water tank inside (to prevent winter freeze-ups), as the grey tank would be inside as well, and above floor level it wouldn’t work.
Regardless, it’s still an interesting idea.
To get manufacturers to adopt it, it would have to be somehow less expensive or easier to install than the tanks they currently use.
I love this! I drink so much water and I can certainly attest to b, c, d and e – still hoping it will make me smarter. I’m constantly refilling my refillable water bottles.
And what does James think of the new 59KL and 59GL lithium batt package in the Travato now without the Onan generator? And a under hood generator? Sound familiar?
Why yes, it does sound a little familiar! We actually spent a week test camping in the 59GL prototype, and we did a video review of the coach which you can find here on the website (use search!). The Pure3 lithium system is going to be a game changer for Winnebago! I’m excited it’s finally arrived!
I thought this review of the 59GL was prior to your taking it out and testing it, and was looking for the after trial video. Is there a second video?
There won’t be a second video – we had to return the rig.
I’m working on a write-up about the experience.
You’re certainly right since this is your field of expertise, but if I drink that much water, I’ll be up all night going the bathroom. And since I’ll have to partially climb over my wife every time to get out of the bed in our RV, this might lead to marital issues….LOL Joke aside, I probably follow those guidelines when I have an active biking event, but have a problem regimenting myself on a regular work day.
This certainly explains one root cause of your composting toilet saga…..
LOL!!! Seriously Alain, I know it’s a pain to have to hit the bathroom frequently throughout the day, but I’d urge you to give it a try. Amp up your water intake to the recommended daily allowances for a week. By those last couple days, I’d be surprised if you don’t notice some surprising and positive differences!
Water is critical! Go Stef 🙂
Right on, brother!
Water = Good. Pictured Bottles = Bad. The problem with bottled water is, well, the bottles. These bottles are made from petrochemicals (oil products) and will leach into your drinking water – especially at higher temperatures. See the movie “Tapped” for a thorough, relatively enjoyable, documentary movie about this subject. Think metal as an alternative.
A much larger and controversial topic than I want to get into down here in the comments, lol! My advice for everyone, read your research and don’t believe everything you hear without seeing the facts yourselves… as with all topics related to our health, think critically and stay educated! xoxo