Hydrate, mate.

Even mild dehydration can lead to measurable declines in mood, such as increases in anxiety and fatigue. Our cognitive performance can also be impaired by dehydration.

So, I should drink more water, right? The answer is yes and no. Cousins, Young, & Benton (2019) showed that a combination of plain water and electrolytes tended to be more effective than plain water at preventing a decline in mood.

So what are electrolytes? Electrolytes are minerals such as magnesium, sodium, and potassium that are essential for our neurological, physical, and emotional functioning.

Here is a recipe for making your own electrolytes at home, so you can avoid the extra additives found in some electrolytes that you can buy at the shop, and is much more affordable too.

1 litre of water

1/2 teaspoon of sodium chloride (such as sea salt)

1/2 teaspoon of potassium chloride

1/2 teaspoon of magnesium citrate