Schools Should Encourage Hydration for Kids

Dehydration is the #1 cause of performance-related decline, but not just physiological decline.

Even mild-to-moderate dehydration in school-aged kids can adversely impact cognitive performance.  Being dehydrated by just 2% impairs performance in tasks that require attention, psychomotor, and immediate memory skills, according to research from the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

Many of the student-athletes we train tell us that water bottles are forbidden in their schools.  Perhaps there’s some safety/security issue that I just don’t see, but I don’t understand this policy.

Teachers and administrators should be encouraging their students to stay hydrated throughout the day.  I’ve read about schools whose teachers remind their students, at the end of each period, to get a drink of water between classes.  I’ve also heard about schools that set up “drink stations” in their halls to ensure that students have an opportunity to drink water between classes.

Improving education and awareness among administrators, teachers, and students — as is relates to proper hydration and its impact on daily physiological and psychological function — is a step in the right direction.

Get STRONGER, Get FASTER!

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