Imagine that you have spent an hour in the heat, actively playing sports. Sweat is pouring down your body, and thirst is overwhelming you from within. At this moment, you bring a bottle of water to your lips and take the first sip. What an incredible relief and pleasure you experience! The water seems incredibly tasty to you, and your whole body rejoices in its refreshing coolness. Everyone on Earth is probably familiar with this amazing sensation. But have you ever thought about why this happens? Why does water seem so tasty to us precisely when we are thirsty? According to scientists, a complex mechanism is involved in this matter, which makes us find water especially pleasant precisely at those moments when we need it.
Even tasteless water seems wonderful when you're very thirsty. Image source: grazia.ru
Why do people want to drink
When a person feels thirsty, their body sends alarm signals to the brain that it lacks water. This usually happens after intense exercise or eating salty foods. The reason is simple: during physical activity, we sweat, and along with sweat, we lose fluid, which reduces the volume of blood. The body perceives this as a potential threat, because the blood becomes less effective in transporting oxygen and nutrients.
Water is extremely important for the functioning of the human body. Image source: eda.show
Certain parts of our brains quickly detect such changes in the blood. These areas act as sensors that monitor how much water is left in the body. As soon as neurons detect a lack of fluid, they immediately send a signal, causing a feeling of thirst.
This quick response is critical for our survival. After all, if the body does not have time to warn about the lack of water, it can lead to dehydration.
Read also:Does Drinking Lots of Water Help a Hangover? Here's What Science Says
Why Water Tastes Good
When we finally drink water, our body reacts almost instantly. With the first sip, the brain receives a signal that liquid is coming in. This triggers the release of dopamine, a hormone responsible for feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. Dopamine helps animals repeat rewarding behaviors like eating and drinking, making the act of drinking especially enjoyable.
Interestingly, it is the act of drinking, not the actual receipt of water, that triggers the release of dopamine. This was proven in a study where thirsty mice released dopamine after drinking, but not when they were given water directly into their stomachs. So when we drink a cold glass of water, we not only quench our thirst, but also experience pleasant emotions that make us repeat the experience again and again and avoid dehydration.
As always, much about the functioning of the human body is known thanks to mice. Image source: m24.ru
However, swallowing is not the only way the body signals satiety. When water enters the stomach, the salt level in the blood decreases and the level of a hormone called vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) increases. This hormone, not the water itself, activates neurons that tell the brain that thirst has been satisfied. Although many aspects of this process remain a mystery, one thing is clear: our bodies are designed to manage thirst quickly and efficiently.
It is also worth noting that these mechanisms can play an important role not only in the survival of an individual, but also in the preservation of the species as a whole. When resources such as water are limited, a rapid thirst response can help maintain the life of not only each individual, but also entire groups of people. Research in this area is ongoing, and scientists are eager to unravel all the mysteries associated with this amazing system.
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Now that we understand why water seems so tasty when you are very thirsty, it would be a good idea to find out what is the best way to quench your thirst in hot weather. The wrong choice of drinks can lead to fatigue and other ailments, so everyone should read our article “What is the best thing to drink in the heat so as not to faint.”