PDF AARP Magazine
by Holly St. Lifer
Feeling out of sorts but not sure why? You might be dehydrated. Two studies found even mild dehydration comes with big consequences: altered mood, impaired memory, trouble concentrating, fatigue, headaches, anxiety. While the reasons for these symptoms are unclear, researchers at the University of Connecticut Human Performance Laboratory noted that dehydration causes changes in electrolyte balances in the blood as well as serotonin levels in the brain, which can affect memory and mood. How to tell if you’re dehydrated? Check the color of your urine. “Anything darker than a pale, straw hue means you need to drink more,” says study author Lawrence Armstrong, Ph.D.
