Hydration research
What the science says about water.
Independent research from the UK and the USA on why staying hydrated matters for how we feel and perform, including at work.
The numbers
Many of us aren't drinking enough
Key findings
Hydration, mood and mental performance
Mild dehydration (about 1.6% body mass loss) was linked to more errors on vigilance tasks, slower working memory and more fatigue and tension in men.Ganio et al., British Journal of Nutrition, 2011
Mild dehydration (about 1.4%) lowered mood and concentration and increased perceived task difficulty in young women.Armstrong et al., Journal of Nutrition, 2012
Adults who drank water improved on an attention task 20 minutes later. (University of East London & University of Westminster)Edmonds et al., Appetite, 2013
These are third-party findings about drinking water and hydration in general. They are not claims about FLAVRING.
Watch
What happens if you don't drink water?
Video: TED-Ed, “What would happen if you didn't drink water?” by Mia Nacamulli.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- NHS
Water, drinks and your health ↗
The UK Eatwell Guide recommends 6 to 8 cups or glasses of fluid a day, with water a healthy, cheap choice.
- British Nutrition Foundation
Hydration ↗
Why we need water, how much to drink and which drinks count towards hydration.
- Appetite, 2013 (Edmonds et al.)
Water consumption affects cognitive performance in adults ↗
UK study: drinking water improved attention, independent of expectations about it.
- Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2013
Subjective thirst moderates speed of responding after water ↗
UK study: drinking 500 ml of water was linked to faster reaction times, mainly in people who were thirsty.
- British Journal of Nutrition, 2011
Mild dehydration impairs cognitive performance and mood of men ↗
Mild dehydration linked to poorer vigilance and working memory, plus fatigue and tension.
🇺🇸 United States
- Nutrition Reviews, 2010 (Popkin et al.)
Water, hydration and health ↗
A widely cited review of how water intake relates to physical and mental function and health.
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Water ↗
Water makes up about 60% of an adult's body weight. Guidance on how much to drink and healthy choices.
- CDC
Water and healthier drinks ↗
US public health guidance on choosing water over sugary drinks.
- CDC, Preventing Chronic Disease, 2013
Plain water intake among US adults ↗
Found 43.7% of adults drank fewer than 4 cups of water a day.
- Journal of Nutrition, 2012 (Armstrong et al.)
Mild dehydration affects mood in healthy young women ↗
Mild dehydration linked to lower mood and concentration.
- Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 2012 (Adan)
Cognitive performance and dehydration ↗
Review of how dehydration can affect attention, memory and mood.
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