The amount of water you drink decides how sharp your brain is: Here is how

All of us experience thirst in our daily lives. It is characterised by an itch in your throat or an urge to stop what you're doing and look for something to drink. You probably know that all the cells of human body need water to carry out specific functions. Even our brains cannot function well without enough water. But how specifically does drinking water affect the brain? What would happen to your brain if you did not drink enough water? Let us find out! 

Why is water necessary for your brain? 
Researchers from the University of East London and the University of Westminster conducted a small experiment where they found that people who ate cereal bar and drank water were quicker at performing mental tasks. In contrast, those who had only the cereal bar (without water) took much more time to perform these tasks! Drinking sufficient water can greatly impact your daily productivity. 

Staying hydrated is crucial since it boosts your cognitive abilities and science has proven it already. Several other studies have revealed that mild-to-moderate dehydration can affect a person’s short-term memory. Therefore, those who want to sharpen their memory should focus on drinking enough water! 

How does your brain signal thirst? 
Special cells in the brain called lamina terminalis can detect when the body is dehydrated and whether you’ve recently drank anything. Other brain areas also frequently support it to understand the body’s water requirements. The lamina terminalis gathers information about your blood pressure, blood volume and recent eating habits. This data provides it with the tools necessary to decide whether the body requires water. The lamina terminalis then communicates its opinion about water needs across other brain regions.  

Wait, there is more it to. The lamina terminalis also receives information from the part of the brain that regulates the sleep cycle. It encourages you to drink more water before bed to avoid dehydration during extended periods of sleep. So, now you also know why a regular sleeping pattern is so important! 

You drink water every time you eat something, right? It is because even before the ingested food can cause any change in circulating salt or water levels, your body tries to maintain a balance by encouraging you to drink water every time you eat! Human body is definitely fascinating, isn’t it? 

How can a lack of water affect the functions of your body? 
Many changes occur when your body loses water, including a fall in blood pressure due to a decrease in blood volume. More than half of your blood volume comprises of water, so a decrease in water leads to lower blood volume. Additionally, as water volume drops in your body, the concentration of salts and other minerals rises. The concentration of these salts and minerals must be regulated within a specific range to maintain the health of your body’s cells. Additionally, your body requires water to carry nutrients, flush out waste and lubricate and protect joints. Thus, the effects of dehydration on several human organs, including the brain, can be damaging. Your brain works less effectively throughout the day if you don’t drink a sufficient amount of water. So, how much water should you consume daily to ensure your brain can work properly? According to the Institute of Medicine, a non-profit organization based in America, the average person should consume approximately 2–3 litres of water daily.