How water can reduce anxiety

Growing evidence suggests being dehydrated can affect our mood and stress levels

A recent tweet by Australian federal health authorities suggesting water could help reduce anxiety was received with scepticism. But, evidence shows water and hydration can actually play a role in preventing and managing the symptoms of anxiety.

A well-oiled machine

Several years ago, a group of researchers undertook a review that focused on the various ways hydration impacts health. They found that overall, negative emotions such as anger, hostility, confusion and tension as well as fatigue were found to increase with dehydration. One trial induced mild dehydration and found increased reports of tension or anxiety and fatigue in participants.

Researchers have also found people who usually drink lots of water feel less calm, less content and tenser when their water intake drops. When researchers increased the participants’ water intake, people in the study felt more happiness, no matter how much water they normally drank.