Whether it’s meditation, videogames or booking an extended vacation, we’ll try just about anything to curb our daily angst. But what if you didn’t need to lock in an extended stay in a far-flung locale? What if all you needed to do to beat stress is knock back a glass of water.
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It’s estimated that around 92% of adults aren’t getting adequate hydration. And while it’s well-known that a shortage of H2O can impact everything from your sleep schedule and physical performance to your skin health, new research has revealed that hydration may also play a significant role when it comes to stress.
The Flood Line: Why Low Hydration Can Lead To High Stress
A new study, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, found that people who drank less than 1.5 litres of water per day had far higher levels of cortisol when confronted with stressful scenarios than those sipping on a healthy supply. As part of the study, researchers divided healthy young adults into two groups based on their typical fluid intake. The first group drank less than 1.5 litres each day while the second group exceeded typical hydration recs.
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After two weeks of maintaining their “drinking” habits, the participants were asked to undergo a stress test that involved mental arithmetic and public speaking. While both groups were understandably nervous, the hydration-starved group experienced a much higher cortisol surge in response to this stressor. (Cortisol is commonly referred to as the “stress” hormone”.)
The reason? When you’re dehydrated, the brain releases the hormone vasopressin which tells the kidneys to conserve water. But it’s posited that it might have a knock-on effect on your brain’s stress-response system, leading to heightened cortisol surges during trying times.
How Can I Make Sure I’m Drinking Enough Water?
According to Mayo Clinic, you should try to drink around 3.7 litres of water per day. However, that amount can vary especially on days when you work out. Plus, you’ll want to drink water gradually throughout the day as trying to down all 3.7 litres in short space of time will just result in more visits to the WC.
While water is probably your best choice when it comes to hydration, it’s not your only option. Anything from juices to your morning coffee can help you zone in your hydration targets. If you’re worried that you’re missing your hydration target, you can always check your urine. If the stream is the colour of your typical lager, you probably need to ramp up your hydration efforts. Ideally, you should be shooting for a pale straw colour.
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Are There Any Other Benefits To Drinking More Water?
Absolutely. The perks don’t start and end with your stress levels. In fact, getting adequate hydration is one of the best steps you can take for your health, so it should always be a priority. Here are just a few ways being diligent about your water intake can upgrade your life:
1. It Can Help You Lose Weight
Drinking a glass of water before every meal could ensure that you don’t over indulge. Studies have found that this practice may curb your appetite, with participants shedding almost 45% more weight compared to those who skipped these starter sips.
2. It Can Re-Energise Your Workouts
Even minor levels of dehydration can kill your energy levels, motivation and muscle function. As such, you should be sipping aqua throughout your sweat sessions, making to ramp up your hydration for more strenuous sessions or more sweltering conditions.
3. It Can Prevent Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are incredibly painful with particularly large “boulders” requiring procedures to remove. While there’s scarce research as of now that suggests upping your water intake will prevent kidney stones from forming, it’s possible that better hydration may help dilute the concentration of these minerals.
4. It Can Prevent Headaches
Headaches are one of the most common symptoms of dehydration. Thankfully, downing a glass of H2O is a quick remedy that can help halt these brain pains.
