Hydration is often associated with physical performance, but it also plays a critical role in mental performance.
Research suggests mild dehydration can put you in a bad mood and make you feel more fatigued, less focused, and more anxious and tense.
And that’s because not getting enough liquid is enough to trigger the dreaded “brain fog.” Research suggests that when you’re even 1 to 2 percent dehydrated, your brain cells temporarily shrink in size and mass, leading to impaired cognitive function and noticeable effects on your energy, memory, and cognitive performance. Not to mention, it also decreases your physical performance, whether or aerobic or strength training.
In general, it’s recommended that you drink four to eight 8-ounce cups of water per day, depending on your body size. The need for water increases if you exercise.
Researchers examined training performance and found that you should drink 200 to 330ml of liquid for every 30 minutes of training. The more you sweat or train (especially if you exercise for more than 60 minutes), the more salt and additional electrolytes you need.
If you train hard and sweat a lot, our go-to drinks include Electro-Lite, which provides the electrolytes your body needs without any added sugar, artificial ingredients, or colours.
Your muscles and neurons need electrolytes — such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium. And sweating depletes your body of electrolytes, which can affect performance and recovery. Plus, if you don’t usually drink water, flavoured electrolytes can be an easy way to make you more likely to improve hydration without added calories.
