This year the theme of World Health Day is Depression – Let’s talk. Depression is something beyond a low mind-set, it is a serious condition that affects your physical and psychological wellness. It is a brain illness that causes serious symptoms that influence how you feel, think, and handle day by day exercises. Did you know that the depression can be cured by drinking water? Yes, you heard it right! You can get rid of Depression by following some tips and drinking more water is one of them. Let us study how does dehydration affect your brain.

Our brain is comprised of 75% of water, there should be no surprise that the dehydration can dramatically affect brain’s health. Drinking water frequently is imperative for proper functioning of the brain. When the balance between water and the other required vital components in the brain is disrupted it becomes less efficient. Not drinking an adequate amount of water throughout the day can easily affect your mood.

How Dehydration affects the brain and causes depression

Dehydration occurs in our body when more water is being lost through sweat, urine, and respiration than consumed. Our body is constantly utilizing and losing water, even when we rest or sleeps water goes out of our body with each breath we breathe out. Even mild dehydration can cause a loss of 1.5% of normal water volume in our body. Our brain and heart comprise of more water than the other body parts. Therefore it is quite obvious that we need water to let them function properly.

Dehydration lowers the flow of blood in the body, which means less oxygen will be transported to all parts of the body including the brain. Even mild dehydration can quickly affect your mood and make it harder to concentrate and also results in a headache. Water interestingly affects migraines and temperament levels, and advantages both with its consumption. Depression, loss of concentration, mental fatigue, and confusion can occur when your brain is not properly hydrated.

Aging makes the human cerebrum shrivel, yet so dehydration, researchers have shown that 90 minutes of nonstop sweating without rehydrating can shrink the brain as much as one year of ageing.

If the dehydration gets worse, it may result in impaired cognitive function leading to delirium and extreme dehydration results in unconsciousness it may even lead to coma.

How much water is required to hydrate the brain?

There is no any set amount of water intake in your body, the consumption of water depends upon the age, gender, climate, and the level of activity we do on a regular basis. We mostly assume thirst as the first of dehydration, which is true in a way. But by the time you feel thirsty your body is already dehydrated that affects your mood. It is recommended that you should drink 8 glasses of water every day. During hot days or increased physical activity, the water consumption should be increased as our body loses more water during hot weather.

To get the best result, you must focus on consuming water frequently throughout the day. Try not to attempt to drink a lot of fluid at one time, just have sips of water at a time. Your body can just assimilate little measures of water at once and overabundance water is held in the stomach will make you feel bloated and uncomfortable.

Learn: Useful summer tips to stay hydrated in hot weather

Besides drinking water, there are a few home cures that you can attempt to cure depression. Start eating wisely, eat fruit and vegetable that contains more water, and reduce the intake of caffeine.