Moody? Tired? You might just be dehydrated. Water has a bigger impact on our bodies than just quenching our thirst. When we don’t drink enough water, we can quickly become dehydrated, which can have a negative impact on our mood, energy levels and ability to think clearly. Researchers at the University of Connecticut’s Human Performance Laboratory discovered that even mild dehydration can cause people to feel anxious, tense or tired, affecting their ability to perform cognitive tasks and cope with stress throughout the day.
There are plenty of studies to support this.
One study in women showed that a fluid loss of 1.36% after exercise impaired mood and concentration and increased the frequency of headaches.
Other studies show that mild dehydration (1-3% of body weight) caused by exercise or heat can harm many other aspects of brain function.
Mild dehydration can also negatively affect physical performance, leading to reduced endurance.