HOW KEEPING HYDRATED CAN IMPROVE YOUR BRAIN FUNCTION DURING EXAM TIME

For many students the pressure to do well over the exam period can lead to performance anxiety, the added stress can impair their ability to remember and concentrate when it is needed most.

 

While exams are an everyday part of life and there are simple ways to ensure that students can get the most out of their brains by making a simple change in their lifestyle. The key is to simply stay hydrated, and brain function will naturally improve. For example, if you are 1% percent dehydrated, your brain function decreases by 5%.

 

Easier said than done though as many people prefer delicious sugary drinks over water because it is always thought of as boring and tasteless. Parents face an uphill challenge especially when it comes to children and teenagers avoiding sugary drinks. But, there are ways to make water more exciting. One of the ways is to own a home carbonation device like a Sodastream. The devices come in various models and a variety of sugar and aspartame free flavours, or you can even make your own fruit infused sparkling water according to your own taste preferences.

 

“Sodastream actually conducted its own research into hydration,” says Saskia Koter, Marketing Manager of Sodastream South Africa, “The study revealed that on average, homes that owned a Sodastream, drink 3 more glasses of glasses of water a day.”

 

What many parents need to understand is that even though their kids are drinking, what they are drinking can be a double edge sword. What children are drinking can be just as dangerous as not drinking anything at all. 

 

Why it is important to stay hydrated the right way:

1. As you know brain is one of the most important organs in your body to keep fueled. It is approximately 85% water and brain function depends on having abundant access to water. Water gives the brain the electrical energy for all brain functions, including thought and memory processes. Daily hydration will not only help with better thinking, it can help prevent attention deficit disorder in children, teens and adults.

 

2. Hydrated brains help the blood transport nutrients to the brain while removing toxins.  Water is also needed for the brain’s production of hormones and neurotransmitters. If these transmitters are well hydrated brain function can run smoothly and concentration and memory performance become effortless. 

 

3. Sugary drinks accelerate dehydration which hampers concentration and overall learning skills. A study by the University of California (UCLA), revealed that high levels of sugar negatively impact insulin levels in the blood which impairs brain function because too much insulin can affect the function of your brain’s synapses.

 

4. Sugar causes an intense cycle of craving and crashing. When people crash after a “sugar rush” feelings of depression and irritability can happen, but most importantly a condition known as “brain fog” can occur which makes it difficult to focus on the work that needs to be done.

 

A simple lifestyle change can have a positive impact on your children/teens at a time when they need it most. Proper hydration doesn’t need to be a daily fight but can be simple and effective when handled with a positive approach.