Anyone in the teaching profession will be painfully aware that when a student of any age is tired or hungry, it can be an uphill battle trying to impart any kind of knowledge or learning. Younger ones will start acting up, while those at the opposite end of the age spectrum will mentally switch off and even start to fall asleep.
Teaching in the pre-lunch period or at the end of the day can often seem like something of a graveyard shift, and plenty has already been said and written about the need for the right nutrition to encourage learning and help youngsters acquire habits that will improve their health in later life.
Yet there is another factor that is, perhaps, even more important, but has had far less in the way of discussion, and that is hydration. The adult human is approximately 60 percent water, and in children, that percentage is even higher. Everyone talks about “feeding the brain” both in terms of nutrition and mental exercise. But we so often let all that effort go to waste by not drinking sufficient amounts of water.
Water boosts mental acuity
The brain is 73 percent water, and needs to be constantly topped up. Failure to do so results in reduced concentration levels, fatigue, headaches and that catch-all malady “brain fog.” Put simply, water increases the brain’s ability to function.
The interesting thing is that we have all seen it. We mentioned the “graveyard shifts” a moment ago, but think about that class immediately after lunch. Surely this is when students should be at their sharpest, rested, fueled up and ready to learn – yet more often they are sleepy, distracted and lacking focus. Usually, this is simply down to reduced hydration levels.
It has to be water
We’ve all heard people say they “don’t like water” – when you consider how important it is, you wonder how they survive, and the answer is, not very well at all. Water has exactly what your body needs, and those who opt instead for carbonated fizzy drinks, juices or caffeine-laden drinks like cola, coffee or tea get additional ingredients that might provide a short-term energy boost, but actually leave the body and mind in an even worse state of dehydration.
Use a filter
Most of the people who claim not to like water are actually complaining about the taste of the impurities or chlorine that can be found in tap water, as opposed to the taste of water itself. Providing filtered water is a double win, as it will both improve the flavor and is even better for health. It removes impurities and toxins, providing the body with a ready-made brain booster.
There is an immense choice out there when it comes to filtration systems, but in a classroom environment, one of those little jugs that goes in the refrigerator is unlikely to cut the mustard. Many opt for Berkey water filters, as they have a multi-gallon capacity and also have the additional bonus of filtering out fluoride. Of course, fluoridation is one of those contentious topics that is still open for debate, but this is a factor well worth keeping in mind.
The science that backs up the theories
It seems intuitively obvious that hydration is important for better brain function, and it’s also backed up by scientific research. When the brain is properly hydrated, it carries out a number of tasks better than when it is not:
Improved memory – short term recall is significantly enhanced when both the brain and the body are properly hydrated. Researchers believe this relates to keeping minerals in the right balance.
Better focus – maintaining hydration promotes clarity of thought and better concentration.
Improved mood – at its simplest, when someone is dehydrated they are more likely to become irritable and grouchy. Of course, everyone’s mood will fluctuate throughout the day, but those fluctuations are exacerbated and magnified if the body is dehydrated. This is probably connected with hormone imbalances, which can be challenging at the best of times with a classroom full of teenagers!
Better sleep – sleep is essential for effective cognitive function and to remain alert throughout the day. When the body is hydrated, it sleeps better and deeper.
Feed, water and nurture the brain
The brain is the heaviest organ in the human body, yet it remains the most enigmatic. Many of the secrets related to its inner workings are still a mystery to today’s scientists. That’s fine, it would be a boring world if we knew everything.
One thing we can be sure of, however, is that to nurture the brains of students, it takes more than just imparting knowledge and delivering lessons in an interesting and engaging way. In order to function properly, the brain needs to be fed the right balance of protein, carbohydrates, minerals and most of all, water.
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