Can Water Help You Stay Fit?

Drink water. It seems easy enough, and yet many of us don't do it. New research shows that it's not just good for our bodies, it's good for our minds.

Athletes typically lose between 2 and 4 percent of their body weight during athletic performance. (James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, was said to typically lose 10 pounds of water during an hour show!). And while that kind of water loss isn't typical of the average person, it's well-known that most of us go through our day with far from optimal levels of hydration.

Now a new study investigated the effect of this water loss on cognition and mood.

About 30 students from Tufts University participated in the study. Half were assigned to the "dehydration" group, which was not given fluids during athletic practice. The other half drank to their hearts content.

Then the researchers gave all participants a series of "cognition tests" which included evaluation of mood and short-term memory.
Even the mild dehydration produced by the "fluid-restricted" condition resulted in negative moods, more fatigue and more confusion. And that level of mild dehydration was as little as 1 or 2 percent.

It's not much of a stretch to say that when you're in a lousy mood, or tired, or confused, you tend to eat more. And it's not the healthy stuff you tend to reach for. Weight loss coaches have already long pointed out that a lot of thirst masquerades as hunger, advising clients to make sure to drink at minimum eight glasses of the stuff a day.

Moral of the story -- drink up.

One formula I've used throughout the years is to take your weight and divide by two; aim for that number of ounces of water a day.

You may not always achieve it, but you definitely won't be dehydrated. And that could affect your mood, your well-being, your performance and maybe even your weight!

For more information on weight loss, nutrition, well-being and nutritional supplements visit Jonny Bowden Solutions.

Jonny Bowden, author, nutritionist and weight loss coach cuts through all the misconceptions about diet and fitness to help you transform your body, your health and your life.