5 Emotional and Mental Benefits of Drinking Water

We’ve already highlighted and touted the general benefits of drinking water. Drinking water can help us with digestion, weight loss, bad breath, and boost our immune system. Our bodies are comprised of around 60% of water and our blood is actually made up of 90% water. Needless to say, blood carries oxygen to different parts of our body so water is extremely important to our physical health and well being. But did you know that drinking water could also be good for your mental health? 

Here are the emotional benefits of drinking water:

Drinking water decreases risk of depression and anxiety in adults. A research conducted by the World Journal of Psychiatry of more than 3300 individuals showed that participants who drink more water daily have reduced the risk of depression and anxiety. Participants with the lowest level of water consumption were reported to have doubled the risk of depression and anxiety. 

Hydration reduces panic attack. Panic attacks are a result of high anxiety, Solara Mental Health mentioned how panic attacks usually have physical triggers, one of which is dehydration. “When dehydration occurs, if you’re prone to panic attacks,”  Solara Mental Health describes, “you can easily begin to panic, even to the point of feeling like you’re dying.” Dehydration could expose you to many symptoms that trigger panic attacks, such as, headaches and increased heart rate. Hydration may not eliminate panic attacks, but it surely could make it less frequent. 

It could help you control your mood swings. University of Connecticut reported in its recent study how even mild dehydration could “alter a person’s mood, energy level, and ability to think clearly.” They indicated that mild dehydration not only can negatively affect a person’s daily activities but also even during times when “there is no physical demand component present.” Not only will you have trouble controlling your mood swings, but it could also cause some difficulties with mental tasks such as vigilance and working memory. Tension and anxiety have also been recorded in the study. 

Dehydration can cause difficulty in concentrating. A study from The Journal of Nutrition mentioned how mild dehydration can cause headaches, fatigue and concentration difficulties. University of California, Davis (UC Davis) indicated that dehydration can affect your motor skills and awareness. Water is essential, as UC Davis reported that only when the brain is fully hydrated, the exchange of nutrients and toxins will be more efficient, and therefore, ensuring better concentration and alertness. 

Drinking more water makes you happier. Water Way reported how hydration is one of the keys to a happy life. If you are dehydrated, you might notice yourself feeling tired, stressed, and foggy, but these symptoms could be reduced — or even eliminated — by an increase in water intake. 

Surely, increasing your water intake has its benefits to your body and most importantly your mind. If you can increase your happiness just by consuming more water, then it is definitely worth giving it a go, so drink up!