Brainprotection – supporting the psyche

A stable psyche allows us to cope well with life’s challenges and to absorb many a low blow without long-term consequences. In times of the corona pandemic, which is accompanied by restrictions in many areas, such as social isolation, job loss and only very limited opportunities to ensure a healthy balance, the ice is getting thinner. Resources are disappearing and people are often left on their own with additional burdens such as homeschooling or financial losses.

This makes it all the more important to find new and proven ways to help the psyche gain a sufficiently stable foundation, even in these times. Physical exercise is one of the most important pillars of mental health and resilience. But it is even more important to keep the body well hydrated. The body is only efficient when it is well hydrated. And our psyche also needs sufficient fluids to keep us well hydrated in everyday life.

Nuts were yesterday: Water as brain food

Without water, there is no life – this applies to the smallest plant as well as to the highly complex human organism. In adults, this consists of around 65% water – a proportion that must be continuously maintained in order to ensure the optimal functioning of the complex interplay of all structures. The human brain as the body’s superordinate control center even has a water content of 90 % – especially here: water as a natural component is the fuel that must never run out! If you don’t drink enough, this quickly becomes noticeable in the brain, for example through headaches and a loss of concentration.

To keep the entire body sufficiently hydrated throughout the day, we need to drink about 1.5 to 2 liters per day, preferably spread evenly throughout the day. If you are about to make a special effort, such as sport or a study marathon before an exam, you may want to drink a little more immediately beforehand, as the need for fluids increases in situations of particular exertion. However, our brain is more than just a control center: it is also home to what we call the psyche. This is where it is decided whether we go through the world in a good mood or sit in a dark apartment without hope, whether we effortlessly master what everyday life demands of us or whether the mere thought of the dishwasher overwhelms us.

Water for mental well-being

If we drink too little, it’s not just the physical symptoms of dehydration    med.: Volumenmangel der extrazellulären Flüssigkeit, u.a. des Blutplasmas – dem Körper wird weniger Flüssigkeit zugef... that show up. The mood can also plummet. Even the loss of 1.5% of the body’s normal water volume, i.e. slight dehydration, has a negative effect on mood. The brain needs sufficient fluid to ensure optimal signal transmission. Glucose is the brain’s only source of energy. To reach its destination, it has to cross the blood-brain barrier in dissolved form. It does this as a hydrophilic substance dissolved in water.

Water is therefore an indispensable means of transportation for the substance that drives our thoughts and feelings. If we drink too little, our brain is not only undersupplied with fluid, but also with glucose, and symptoms such as depression and anxiety can occur. This has a doubly negative effect on our well-being, because a lack of fluids means that the brain has to work harder than when it is well hydrated, so the need for glucose increases. However, if the body is well hydrated, our higher-level control center for thinking and feeling is also optimally supplied.

Think about drinking first

If we are feeling down and tense, it is worth looking back at the last drink. Often this was simply too long ago and our body is already slightly dehydrated. To get our mood back on track quickly, we can have a juice spritzer as well as water – this provides the brain with readily available glucose and the dark clouds can disappear again in no time. For people with existing psychological stress or a particular vulnerability to this, a balanced supply of nutrients is particularly important in addition to sufficient fluid intake. Essential fatty acids, B vitamins and magnesium should be an integral part of the daily diet .

Here you can do yourself a double favor. You can drink part of your daily intake in the form of smoothies. This not only provides the body with sufficient fluids, but also supplies it with valuable nutrients. These support the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which are partly responsible for mental well-being. Suitable ingredients here are green vegetables such as broccoli or spinach, apples, bananas, pineapple, fennel and oranges. When drunk well chopped, they are an ideal source of fluids and nutrients that ensure the well-being of body and soul.

Self-care starts with drinking

In challenging times like these, it is particularly important to take good care of our health and well-being. Drinking enough healthy fluids is one way of preventing any mood lows that may occur and keeping our psyche stable. If we also provide our bodies – and therefore our souls – with sufficient essential nutrients, this makes us feel good in more ways than one. We feel good in our bodies and have actively contributed to this – for our health and well-being.