Proper hydration: a recipe for good mood

Dr. Elisabetta Bernardi explains how the daily intake of a correct amount of water can affect the mood

The delicate period of the post-lockdown recovery on the one hand, the change of season towards the summer on the other, the anxieties and concerns for the future organization and management of the family menage in this new situation are all factors that have put continue to test the psycho-physical balance of the Italians.

If the benefits of hydration on physical well-being are now known, the power it can have on the functioning of the brain and all highly metabolized tissues is often underestimated. Drinking a certain amount of water can in fact influence mood changes with consequences on attention and on the perception of fatigue.

The most evident effects are noted in children and the elderly, often dehydrated, who do not have a fully functioning reflex of thirst because they are not fully developed in the first, and in the deteriorating phase, in the last.

“Water represents about 65% of the weight of our body, with the brain and muscles containing 75% and lungs, blood and kidneys more than 80%. It is therefore easy to guess how fundamental its role is in all our vital functions, including mood control. Indeed, it has been shown that even moderate dehydration has negative effects on our mental state "- explains Dr. Elisabetta Bernardi, Biologist specialized in Food Science and member of the Sanpellegrino Observatory.

Mood is particularly sensitive to water consumption. Scientific studies [1] have shown that poor hydration can lead to states of anxiety, tension or depression. Indeed, some research [2] shows a significant correlation between better hydration and the feeling of "good mood", especially in the first years of life.

“Logically, all this can have a negative or positive effect on everyday cognitive performance. Dehydration interferes more often than you think with the brain. Nervous? Unconcentrated? Tired? Don't you remember things? You may have drunk little water! " - concludes Dr. Bernardi.

Particularly useful for the mood are the waters rich in magnesium, a precious micronutrient essential to restore our psychic and emotional balance, as well as to protect the cardiovascular system from arrhythmias and hypertension.

An appropriate and constant water consumption is therefore essential for a healthy mens in healthy body. From the mother engaged in home management, to the manager with numerous work commitments, from the children who play without ever getting tired to the marathon runners who manage to lose up to 8% of their body weight in liquids by running, maintaining proper hydration is an effective way to do good for your body but also to stay focused and face the challenges of daily life with positivity.

Proper hydration: a recipe for good mood