Why you need to be well-hydrated to function well will be easy to understand if you realise that our brain is about 73 percent water content and just two percent dehydration can lead to a decline in our memory, attention and other cognitive skills.

In winter, most people drink less water because they don’t feel thirsty so it is very easy to become dehydrated without realising it. I know drinking lots of water or liquid can be a problem as it means more trips to the washroom, but that’s fine if your keep in mind that even mild dehydration adversely affects our short-term memory, concentration and alertness.

Also have warm or hot drinks such as hot chocolate, milk and soup, but don’t overdo coffee. Yes, drinking coffee is rather fashionable with the youth and it gives some metal boost but the caffeine in coffee isn’t too good for school children. Those who become dependent on coffee or caffeine, and consume too much of it end up feeling more fatigued, irritable, sleepless and anxious in the long run.

Green tea is a better option as it provides you with antioxidants while boosting your concentration.

Drinks with caffeine, energy drinks and sugar-laden packaged juices are not healthy choices as they contain far more harmful chemicals than nutritive value. Sugar has been linked to memory impairment, learning disorders and shortened attention span.

Sugar is addictive and if you eat sweet things regularly then you may feel sugar withdrawal when you don’t eat something sweet. This can lead to headaches, fatigue and anxiety, and you just need to give in to your sweet tooth.

Soups, with lots of fresh vegetables such as carrots, peas, cabbage, spinach and whatever else you want, are simply great during the long cold nights when you are staying up studying.—A.K.

Published in Dawn, Young World, December 1st, 2017