Hydration & Stress 101: Connection & Control

What if I were to tell you that there is a connection between hydration and stress that could be throwing off your body and doing it harm? It’s true, and if you can’t get both your hydration and stress under control, you may be headed toward a downward spiral with your overall health.

But let me first ask you a question… Are you feeling overwhelmed and stressed out? If you said yes, you’re not alone.

Many of us struggle with the daily pressures of life, and it’s taking a toll on our mental and physical health. We’ve all been there, grappling with anxiety and searching for effective ways to manage stress when it feels like the world is coming down on top of us.

That’s why we believe it’s so important to not only focus on your hydration levels but also stress management techniques.

Here’s an interesting fact that most people don’t know: even mild dehydration can increase cortisol, the stress hormone. And as we know, when cortisol levels rise, so do your hunger hormones and fat storage.

In this article, we will dive deeper and uncover the fascinating link between hydration and stress and provide practical strategies on how you can leverage proper hydration as a power tool for stress control. We’ll explain how to optimize your water intake and reduce anxiety with tips you can easily integrate into your daily routine.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition. It is recommended that you speak with your doctor before starting any exercise program, making changes to your nutrition plan, or adding any new supplements into your current routine.

Understanding the Link Between Hydration and Stress

Many people believe that having total control over your body isn’t possible. The reality is that you have more control over what takes place with your body than you think. Many people believe stress comes from external factors, such as work, family life, and your environment. Not many people think hydration and stress are actually linked.

The fact of the matter is that hydration plays a crucial role in your body’s stress response. Research indicates that there is a direct correlation between proper hydration and lower cortisol levels, the primary stress hormone in your body. Let’s take a closer look.

How hydration affects cortisol levels and stress response

It’s hardly ever mentioned, but stress can cause dehydration, and dehydration can cause stress. How can you solve this? We’ll have some strategies in the next session, but for now, let’s look at how hydration affects cortisol levels and stress response.

We’ve discovered a crucial link between hydration and our body’s own stress response. Proper hydration plays a vital role in regulating cortisol levels, the primary stress hormone in our bodies.

Research shows that even mild dehydration can lead to increased cortisol production, potentially amplifying our stress reactions. This connection underscores the importance of maintaining adequate fluid intake throughout the day, especially while exercising or training.

You can follow that up with how your body manages temperature regulation. A loss of water can impact how quickly your body can cool itself when training or outdoors in the head. When your body temperature rises, it causes a stress response.

Our bodies respond to dehydration as a form of physiological stress, triggering the release of cortisol. This hormone helps manage stress but can have negative effects when chronically elevated.

By staying well-hydrated, we can help keep cortisol levels in check and improve our overall stress management.

When you think about it, our bodies are made up primarily of water. Every single organ and cell needs water to function properly. When you become dehydrated (even slightly), it can throw everything off and cause a stress response in the body that drives up cortisol levels.

It’s absolutely fascinating when you think about how something as simple as drinking enough water and ensuring you replenish lost minerals and electrolytes can have such a profound impact on our body’s stress response.

Now that you have a better understanding of the relationship hydration plays on stress and cortisol, let’s look at ways you can improve your hydration to hopefully sidestep encountering a stress response due to dehydration.

10 Tips and Strategies for Managing Stress and Hydration Levels

Maintaining optimal hydration levels is crucial for managing stress and promoting overall well-being.

Below, we’ve put together a list of practical tips and strategies to support proper hydration levels throughout the day and to help better manage stress:

1. Carry a reusable water bottle: Keep a filled bottle with you at all times, making it easy to sip water regularly, no matter where the day takes you. This constant visual reminder can help encourage consistent hydration.

2. Flavor your water: Water can become boring, but it doesn’t have to be. Add some slices of lemon, lime, strawberries, cucumber, or other fruits to your water for a refreshing taste. This simple addition can make drinking water more enjoyable and increase your intake.

3. Hydrate during workouts: Drink water before, during, and after exercise to replenish fluids lost through sweat. This practice helps maintain performance and aids in recovery.

4. Distinguish thirst from hunger: Often, we mistake thirst for hunger. Try drinking water when you feel hungry — it might satisfy your craving and help you with weight management.

5. Establish a drinking schedule: Create a routine by drinking water at specific times, such as upon waking, with meals, and before bed. This habit ensures consistent hydration throughout the day.

6. Choose water at restaurants: Reach for water instead of sugary drinks when dining out. It’s usually free and helps maintain hydration while socializing.

7. Monitor urine color: Use your urine as a hydration indicator. Dark yellow or amber urine suggests you need to increase your fluid intake, while pale yellow indicates proper hydration.

8. Set reminders: Use smartphone apps or alarms on your phone or smartwatch to prompt regular water consumption, especially if you tend to forget during busy days.

9. Eat water-rich foods: Incorporate fruits and vegetables with high water content into your diet, such as watermelon, cucumbers, and tomatoes, to help boost your overall fluid intake. 

10. Adjust your water intake based on activity and climate: Increase your water consumption during hot weather or intense physical activity to help compensate for additional fluid loss through sweat.

Enhance Your Hydration and Water Flavor the Easy Way

Staying well-hydrated is an easy yet powerful tool in our stress management arsenal. The goal should be to stay hydrated and lower your stress response. But we also understand that sometimes that sounds easier said than done — especially if you’re not a big water drinker.

We have a simple and effective solution for you… Evogen Nutrition Hydration.

First and foremost, Evogen Nutrition Hydration tastes amazing. But other than taste alone, it provides you with all the essential minerals and electrolytes your body needs to support optimized hydration levels.

But that’s not all! Evogen Hydration also includes powerful nootropics and energy enhancers to keep your mind and body energized and sharp throughout the day.

Best of all, you can use Evogen Hydration any time of day because it is stimulant- and caffeine-free.

Put more emphasis on your hydration and see what happens to your stress (and vice versa). Leverage the tips and strategies in this article, pick up a tub of Evogen Nutrition Hydration for yourself, and feel the difference!