Hydration and Stress: Is There a Connection?

Do you see the effect of hydration and stress in your life?

Share it with me...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Last week I talked about hydration because I believe it is one of the most important things we can focus on when it comes to taking care of ourselves and our body on a daily basis.

I hope you have tried the strategies I suggested because it’s amazing how good you can feel when you're hydrated.

And I wanted to go a little deeper into this topic with you today and connect the importance of hydration with stress.

Yes, the two are connected and I hope to empower you to learn more so you can feel calm and hydrate on!

When we are under more stress, stress hormones like cortisol come out, putting us in fight or flight, heart beat and blood pressure can increase, and breathing can also increase.

All of these processes can create more water loss, because the body is literally heating up.

What else can happen when we are really stressed, for some of us, we don’t eat or drink, because we are in fight or flight and just keep doing, whatever it is we are doing.

And other times we might rely on dehydrating drinks like coffee or soda, or because of hte rise of cortisol, might give into our cravings and eat sugar or carbs.

All of these actions can contribute to water loss - too much caffeine - you’ll be in the bathroom more, too much sugar - also in the bathroom as your body tries to get rid of extra sugar, and forgetting to eat or drink - well that will also lead to dehydration.

And what happens when we do drink that water. Well think about stress, it starts out like a little flame - and if it continues, it can become a hot fire inside, and if not contained, just like any fire, can burn out of control.

Stress is literally hot and dry, and adding water to the mix is exactly what can cool you down and hydrate those cells and especially your brain! Yes, water is so good for your brain and that is where the stress response starts in the body.

So on that note - remember, drink when you wake up, between meals, and all through the day, and especially by your side when you are stressed!

Let hydration be your stress-reducing ally, you got this!

Until next time, I wish you well!