8 Glasses A Day

Our bodies are made up of 60% water. It is recommended that we drink 8 8oz. glasses of water per day to ensure that our body stays hydrated throughout the day. While there is little evidence as to how the powers that be came up with this amount, there are both mental and physical benefits to staying hydrated.

Drinking water can help increase cognitive abilities. The brain is one of the most important organs in your body to keep fueled. It is approximately 85% water and brain function depends on having abundant access to water. Water gives the brain the electrical energy for all brain functions, including thought and memory processes. In a study of young women, fluid loss of only 1.36% after exercise impaired both mood and concentration. When your brain is functioning on a full reserve of water, you will be able to think faster, be more focused, and experience greater clarity and creativity.

Staying hydrated also plays a critical role in our ability to physically perform. Our muscles are 80% water, therefore, when our body is dehydrated, our muscles suffer. A loss of 2% of fluids can lead to muscle fatigue and make exercise or other physical activity feel much harder than it is. Because your body loses water (sweat) during exercise as a way to regulate its body temperature, re-hydration is imperative. Keeping the body hydrated helps the heart more easily pump blood to the muscles and increases their ability to work hard.

These are a few reasons why it is critical that our dancers bring bottles of water to class and maintain proper hydration throughout their dance class. It will increase their ability to concentrate and absorb new information as well as allow their bodies to perform at its highest level. Also, this advice doesn’t just apply to dancers or athletes. Anyone participating in a physical or mental activity will benefit from drinking water.  So, grab a (reusable) bottle of water and drink up!