It’s a jungle in there… well, really more like a rain forest

Have you noticed that scientists like using a computer as an analogy when describing our minds?  They make statements like our brains are ‘wired’ and process information in parallel and series circuits, with gears churning through thoughts until the pieces fit. Their descriptions bring across a point, though it feels a bit too dry and orderly to me.

I prefer to view the inner region between our ears as a wet, vibrant, and wild rain forest, with our creative inspirations stampeding like elephants, our repetitive thoughts calling back to us like Myna birds, and our confused notions swirling and swinging like monkeys across the canopy, searching for a point on which to land. I also prefer this analogy because just like the rain forest, our brains need a lot of water to thrive.

Did you know:

• Our brain cells are about 85% water?

• Water is directly connected to brain function and is used to make neurotransmitters, including serotonin (helps with depression) and melatonin (which improves attention span)?

• Headaches, forgetfulness and dizziness are symptoms of dehydration?

• A lack of water in the body - chronic dehydration - has been shown to be the root cause of many painful diseases, asthma, allergies, hypertension (high blood pressure), excess body weight, and some emotional problems including depression.* 

How much water do we need to thrive?

One of the first assignments I give my students is to drink more water. It’s simple and it helps. Doctors advise that to be properly hydrated, we need to drink the equivalent of ½ our body weight in ounces of water every day. For example, a child weighing 100 lbs would shoot for the goal of 50 ounces of water a day. For my teenage and adult students, it amounts to 2 to 3 quarts a day.  Most people are surprised to learn that they need that much water. Don’t worry; you don’t have to drink all of it. If every day you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, you can subtract one quart. That leaves 2 quarts a day to drink. 

Rule of thumb: drink about 2 quarts of water a day.

Now, I’m talking water - not soda, not juice, not milk, or coffee, and definitely not energy drinks. Your body and brain uses the water to clean out toxins. Consider how taking a shower in juice would feel compared to taking a shower in water? Just not the same. If you choose to drink something caffeinated then you need to add more water; 8oz coke = another 8 oz glass of water. If you decide to drink something with alcohol, then you need to double the amount of water; 4 oz glass of wine = 8 oz glass of water.

Fresh, clean, filtered water is essential to our health in so many ways. Relating to our brains, water provides the medium necessary for optimum communication between the neurons in our brain and throughout our nervous system. 

So, get out your water bottle, fill it up with filtered water and say “cheers” to the rain forest between your ears!


*This information is presented in the book 
Your Body's Many Cries for Water by F. Batmanghelidj, M.D.