Health YOU & YOUR
Brain Booster Drink Up! Dehydration can drain your mind and mood ILLUSTRATION B Y JON HAN B Y HOLL Y S T. LIFER
Feeling out of sorts but not sure
why? You might be dehydrated. Two
new studies found even mild dehydration comes with big consequences:
altered mood, impaired memory,
trouble concentrating, fatigue, headaches, anxiety. While the reasons
for these symptoms are unclear,
researchers at the University of
Connecticut Human Performance
Laboratory noted that dehydration
causes changes in electrolyte balances
in the blood as well as serotonin
levels in the brain, which can affect
memory and mood. How to tell if
you’re hydrated? Check the color of
your urine. “Anything darker than a
pale, straw hue means you need to
drink more,” says study author
Lawrence Armstrong, Ph.D. ;
