Blog

We all know water is essential to our health. After all, it makes up over 75% of our bodies and is vital for the functioning of all of our organs. Our bodies need water to help regulate our body temperature and transport oxygen to all our cells. Water also protects our joints and removes waste from the body. But many parents don’t realise, as their children head back to school, how important water is to their child’s mental and physical performance.

Poor hydration can affect your child’s concentration levels, memory and learning ability. Hydration is particularly important for children as they have higher water requirements in relation to their body weight than adults. The Institute of Medicine has determined that an adequate intake for children should be 7 glasses (1.5 litres) for 9 to12 year olds and 8 to 10 glasses (2 litres) for 13+ years.

Water is essential to your child’s mental performance

The brain is one of the most important organs in the body to keep hydrated. It is approximately 85% water and brain function depends on the brain being adequately hydrated. According to the Advanced Learning and Development Institute, the brain needs twice more energy than any other cells in the body and water provides this energy.

Studies have shown that if the body is dehydrated by only 1%, it results in a 5% drop in cognitive function. A drop by 2% can result in fuzzy short-term memory, problems with focusing and having trouble with maths calculations. When your child’s brain is functioning with an optimum level of water it will be able to think faster, be more focused and experience greater creativity and clarity. Water has also been shown to offer the best form of hydration, with fizzy drinks proven to leach calcium from bones while also containing huge loads of sugar.

Water is essential to your child’s physical performance

Your child’s skeletal muscle is more than 70% water and all the contractions and heavy muscle protein synthesis takes place in water. During physical activity, water is driven from blood into muscle cells and the surrounding areas. But if the body is dehydrated or even slightly low in water, water is actually drawn out of the muscle back into the blood to preserve circulation and keep the child’s blood pressure steady.

The net result is that their muscles lose out. According to the International Olympic Committee, “dehydration impairs an athlete’s performance in most events” and up to 90% of people are in the early stages of dehydration. It’s important to note here, that children often only feel thirsty when you are already dehydrated, which means their physical performance will already be affected.

Give your child the best: 100% purified water straight from the tap

H₂O International SA water purifying solutions guarantee the finest quality water straight from the tap at home. Fill up their water bottles (glass or stainless steel are best) and make sure they have a plentiful supply throughout the school day.

Many children choose not to drink the water because they don’t like the taste, but our purified water removes all the chlorine and harmful, unwanted contaminants from your water – giving them great taste and you the knowledge you’re doing 100% best for your child!

It’s what’s inside that counts