The human body needs to replace the water that we lose via sweating and urination regularly so that the fluid balance is maintained. This most of us know already, but did you also know that stress and drinking water have a lot to do with one another?
What Has Stress Got To Do With Dehydration?
The link between drinking water to reduce stress has been documented in many studies; the reason for this is that the brain consists of approximately 80% water, so it needs to be hydrated to function optimally.
According to Amanda Carlson, RD, director of performance nutrition at Athletes’ Performance, who trains some of the world’s top athletes, being even slightly dehydrated raises the body’s cortisol levels. Cortisol is an adrenal-cortex hormone that is active in carbohydrate and protein metabolism. It reacts when the body is under stress, which it is when even slightly dehydrated.
Of course drinking water will not magically make all those bills go away, and neither will it solve the other problems that you may be facing, but it will stop your body from becoming more stressed by dehydration.
When we get stressed, we breathe more heavily and our heart-rate climbs, which causes us to sweat, thereby losing bodily fluids. Unfortunately, when stressed, the last thing we normally think of is drinking water, which leads to us becoming more dehydrated, which leads to our bodies becoming more stressed… and a vicious cycle is born.
Tips to Avoid the Stress of Dehydration
In order to avoid becoming dehydrated and causing your body more needless stress, it is important that you ensure that you drink water often. Remember that by the time that you actually feel thirsty your body is already mildly dehydrated. An easy method of assessing whether you are dehydrated or not is to check the colour of your urine; the darker it is the more dehydrated you are.
Here are some tips on how to drink more water every day:
- Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning and last thing at night
- Keep a glass of water on your desk at work
- Carry a bottle of water with you when you exercise
- Switch out one glass of carbonated drink or cup of coffee for a glass of water
- Invest in a water cooler in the office and at home so that you always have fresh, chilled, great-tasting water on hand
- Don’t try to drink your daily supply of water all in one go; the body does not store water so it is better to drink small amounts of water throughout the day
Remember, the next time you are feeling stressed, take a step back, take a deep breath, and drink water; you will be surprised how much better you will instantly feel.
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