Seventy five percent of our brain is made up of water. Dehydration spans a spectrum of effects upon your mood, cognitive performance, attention span, psychomotor function, and immediate memory skills 🧠💧
The recently discovered GLYMPHATIC SYSTEM is a series of vascular tunnels or pathways in the brain used specifically to remove any accumulated cellular waste and debris from the central nervous system. This allows for elimination of potentially hazardous or neurotoxic waste products to accumulate, such as beta amyloids, which are known for their pathology in alzheimers disease. In fact, the failure of glymphatic function is now being partly contributed in the pathology of neurodegenerative disorders, traumatic brain injuries, and stroke.
Staying hydrated helps to support our cerebral flow. Along with quality sleep, iIncluding adequate water and fluids without caffeine, is vital for this system to perform at its best 🥊
A tasty, earthy, and fun way to drink plain water is to INFUSE with herbs, fruits, or even vegetables. I am savoring the end of summer here with sweet orange and basil still abundant in my garden. Please, get CREATIVE! What are some of your favorite herbs and fruits. Add them to a water bottle, you will be grateful you did. Simple lemon, lime, mint, or cucumber are usually always in my fridge and are always refreshing.
I also love making herbal teas and then chilling them for something cool, refreshing and even medicinal, that is quickly available in my fridge. Some combinations I have been doing lately are:
🌺🍊 Hibiscus & Orange Peel
🌼🌿 Chamomile & Chocolate Mint
🍋🌸 Ginger, clove, cinnamon, and lemon
🥥 SHOUT OUT to all the coconuts out there too! Coconut water is a delicious way to soak up a decent dose of the electrolyte potassium and is one of nature’s most hydrating offerings ✨
Happy Hydrating to All XO 😎💦✨🍉