Water found to increase academic performance

New school and water research results are good news for parents wanting their children to improve their academic performance, but bad news for teachers fed up with kids fiddling with plastic bottles.

A survey commissioned by the Natural Hydration Council (NHC) found that school children aged between 11 and 12 years of age, could increase their interest in learning by doubling their water intake during the school day.

In a project led by Dr Emma Derbyshire from Manchester Metropolitan University and involving 166 children from St James’s C of E School & Sports College, Bolton, researchers found an increased interest in learning, increased cognition and calmer and more alert children simply by increasing the amount of water they consumed.

Before the water trial, 8.4 per cent of the children drank the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA ) recommended daily intake of water.

Each child taking part in the study was provided with three 500ml bottles of water during the school day for three weeks.

Whilst only 28.9 per cent said they felt interested in their lessons before the trial, this increased to 57.9 per cent at the end of the trial.

Dr Derbyshire believes children should aim to have 6-8 drinks per day and be encouraged to sip fluids at regular intervals,

She says: “The simple addition of a bottle of water to the school lunch box or backpack could help to reinforce healthy hydration habits in children and have benefits beyond the lunch break.”