Does water relieve stress and anxiety — an overview of the effect of liquid on the human nervous system

Dehydration of the body, first of all, affects the functionality of the brain. With a total violation of fluid metabolism, the first thing that is disrupted is the work of the nervous system, which can subsequently provoke a coma altogether.

All this is a kind of protective reaction of the body, which slows down or stops the functions of most organs altogether in order to save life.

Research also confirms that the psycho-emotional state and cognitive functions directly depend on adequate and timely hydration of the body.

Is regular water really able to relieve stress, calm nerves, reduce anxiety, and even act as a way to treat certain nervous diseases? We will try to figure this out in our article.

Why do I need to drink enough fluids?

To the brain for normal operation it is necessary to absorb vitamins, iron, magnesium, zinc, and amino acids. All these components come to him through the blood, which is based on water.

It acts as a kind of solvent of amino acids (the same lymph, for example, consists of 3% of interchangeable and irreplaceable proteins).

Only in this case the brain can normally form neural impulses and control, among other things, the endocrine system . Namely, the concentration and combination of hormones (mainly produced by the pituitary gland) are responsible for good mood , as well as for Memory and attention .

Learn more about the effect of water on the brain see in a separate article.

What happens in the body when there is a lack of fluid and electrolyte? In fact, this is the most common stress. For Maintaining normal blood flow at the same time, blood pressure increases (and adrenaline is released for this), heart rate. At this moment, a person feels excitement, anxiety, anxiety and fear.

How much water should I drink daily?

It often sounds from the TV screen that you need to drink at least 2 – 2.5 liters of water every day, and other liquids (juices, entrees, coffee) are not taken into account. Doctors confidently declare that this is a lie.

The rate of water consumption for each person is individual and, first of all, depends on the amount of physical activity. The average range is from 1 to 4 liters per day . In fact, you should drink only when you want to.

Over the norm is not necessary, but there will be practically no harm from it. It's just that the kidneys will have to pass more fluid through themselves to filter.

In most cases, a person needs 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day. And juices, the same coffee – all this should also be taken into account. For those who are actively involved in sports, the rate of fluid intake is up to 2.5 – 3 liters per day.

What is the danger of dehydration?

Frequent dehydration is constant stress, during which the brain tries to adapt to new "working conditions", slowing down the absorption of certain micronutrients .

After the electrolyte balance is restored, the brain "rebuilds" the work of the entire body again.

However, the electrolyte balance does not normalize instantly. This process takes up to 12 hours. That is why, after intoxication, patients are prescribed medications such as Rehydrone (which is a concentrated solution of salts) for the next 3-4 days. A single dose will not be enough to normalize fluid metabolism.

That is, not to allow thirst is an important nuance that will help not to create a stressful situation for the entire nervous system.

4 useful tips

In order not to forget to drink water in a timely manner, you can use simple mobile applications dedicated to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

They have "push reminders" functions when a notification is sent to the phone about the need to take a break from training or drink water. And how to stimulate yourself? There are several useful tips:

1. Always keep a glass of water nearby. The most common option is to simply put it next to your workplace (you can right on the table if you are talking about office work ).
2. Take a thermos or a small bottle of water with you on walks. Now many people prefer to carry urban backpacks with them, which necessarily have a compartment or a special holder for a water bottle.
3. Put a glass of liquid near the bed. Many people feel thirsty after waking up, and cold water will also help the gastrointestinal tract "wake up" - breakfast will be absorbed faster and the body before leaving the house will get a boost of energy .
4. Replace the usual cup of coffee or tea at lunchtime with a bottle of mineral water. It will be much more useful for the brain.

Interesting video

And now we invite you to familiarize yourself with the video:

In total, the psychoemotional state of a person really depends on thirst and lack of fluid in the body. This, first of all, disrupts the work of the endocrine system, which slows down the production of the same serotonin and dopamine. In addition, the feeling of thirst is a stressful situation for the brain, they should be avoided if possible. How much water should I drink daily? The average rate is from 1 to 1.5 liters of liquid. In fact, you should drink as much as you want.