Boston, MA (PRWEB) March 13, 2012
The Doctors Health Press, a publisher of various natural health newsletters books and reports, including the popular online Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin, is lending its support to a new study that has found a link between dehydration and mood, energy levels and the ability to think clearly.
Two studies on this issue were recently conducted at the University of Connecticut, as reported in Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin on Monday, March 12, 2012 (http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/general-health-2/is-this-the-real-reason-youre-feeling-moody).
The Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin reports that the tests showed that it didn?t matter if a person had just walked for 40 minutes on a treadmill or was sitting at rest ? the adverse effects from mild dehydration were the same. Mild dehydration is defined as an approximately 1.5% loss in normal water volume in the body.
The test results affirm the importance of staying properly hydrated at all times and not just during exercise, extreme heat, or exertion. The thirst sensation doesn?t kick in until a person is one- or two-percent dehydrated. But at this point, it?s already impacting the mind and body.
The new study tested two groups of young adults who walked on a treadmill to induce dehydration. In 25 women, mild dehydration caused headaches, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. They also perceived tasks as more difficult when slightly dehydrated. For the men, mild dehydration caused some difficulty with mental tasks, particularly in the areas of vigilance and working memory. While they also experienced fatigue, tension, and anxiety when mildly dehydrated, adverse changes in mood and were more pronounced in women.
The Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin reports that the results show that not drinking enough water in an ordinary day will affect basic activities and degrade how one is feeling. This is most important for women. For everyone, these adverse mood changes may limit the motivation required to engage in even moderate aerobic exercise. And that bears consequences for those who have diet plans.
Some research has shown that neurons in the brain detect dehydration and may signal other areas that regulate mood. This process could be part of an ancient warning system protecting humans from more dire consequences, and alerting them to the need for water to survive.
These researchers recommend eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day. Urine should be a very pale yellow in individuals who are properly hydrated. Urine that is dark yellow or tan in color indicates greater dehydration. Proper hydration is particularly important for high-risk groups, such as older adults and diabetics.
(SOURCE: “Mild Dehydration Affects Mood in Healthy Young Women,” J. Nutr., Feb. 2012; 142: 382-388)
Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin is a daily e-letter providing natural health news with a focus on natural healing through foods, herbs and other breakthrough health alternative treatments. For more information on the Doctors Health Press, visit http://www.doctorshealthpress.com.
David Juan, MD, is the editor of The Vitamin Doctor newsletter that reveals some of the inside facts, including potential hazards, of today’s popular world of vitamins and supplements. The Vitamin Doctor has released a new video revealing the foods that can have negative consequences when mixed with popular supplements. To see the video, visit http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/foods-never-to-mix.
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