A fresh study from Liverpool John Moores University in the UK reveals that not drinking enough water could make you more vulnerable to stress-related health problems. Researchers found that people who consume less than the recommended daily water intake show stronger stress hormone reactions hormones linked to depression, diabetes, and heart disease.
According to a report by NDTV, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology on August 22, 2025, those drinking less than 1.5 liters of water daily had cortisol responses to stress that were 50% higher than those who met their daily hydration needs.
Water is essential for life. Humans can survive only a few days without it. Our cells and bodily balance rely heavily on water a newborn’s body is about 75% water, and even elderly adults have around 55%.
Keeping properly hydrated supports digestion, brain function, and energy. Even slight dehydration can lead to tiredness, headaches, trouble concentrating, and a dip in both physical and mental performance. Simply put, without enough water, your body can’t work at its best.
There’s also a strong link between hydration, mental wellbeing, and stress. When your body lacks water, cortisol the hormone responsible for stress increases, making you feel more anxious, stressed, and drained. Drinking enough water helps regulate hormone levels, improves blood flow to the brain, and aids neurotransmitters, all of which help calm stress and boost relaxation. Staying hydrated can also improve sleep quality and emotional resilience, both crucial for handling daily pressures.
Here’s how drinking enough water can improve your mental health and mood:
- Balancing Stress Hormones:Â Sipping water regularly throughout the day keeps your body and cortisol levels balanced, preventing stress from escalating.
- Boosting Brain Power:Â The brain is about 75% water. Even mild dehydration leads to fatigue and hampers focus, memory, and decision-making, so drinking enough water daily is vital to stay sharp.
- Elevating Mood:Â Research shows that dehydration can trigger irritability, anxiety, and low mood. Proper hydration supports neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine that stabilize and uplift your mood.
- Increasing Energy Levels:Â Lack of water often causes fatigue, which fuels stress and reduces your ability to cope. Staying hydrated helps maintain steady energy and lessens feelings of weakness.
- Improving Sleep Quality:Â Drinking water regularly during the day promotes deeper, more restful sleep, which reduces stress sensitivity and enhances emotional stability. However, experts advise against drinking too much water right before bed.
- Reducing Headaches and Stress:Â Dehydration is a common cause of headaches and migraines, which can worsen mental stress. Drinking plenty of water helps ease these pains and keep stress in check.
- Regulating Body Temperature:Â Water intake and circulation help keep body temperature balanced. Without enough water, you may feel overheated and uncomfortable, which can increase stress.
- Aiding Digestion:Â Consistent water intake supports digestion and keeps your stomach and digestive system running smoothly. It also plays a key role in kidney function.
In short, staying properly hydrated does more than just quench thirst it helps keep your mind calm, mood stable, energy up, and stress levels down. So next time you reach for a drink, remember it might be just what your brain needs to keep stress at bay.
