Water can indeed provide some relief from anxiety and help keep you calm, according to MedicalXpress..

Many of us at some point in our lives may feel overwhelmed by feelings of tension, nervousness, and fear of the worst.. A staggering 3.2 million Australians suffer from anxiety disorders, with the biggest increase in recent years in people aged 15 to 24.

A growing field of nutritional psychiatry focuses on the impact of food and drink on our mental health.. Even though water makes up 60-80% of the human body, it is often overlooked as an essential nutrient.. In fact, available evidence suggests that water and hydration may play a role in preventing and treating anxiety symptoms..

Several years ago, a group of researchers conducted a review on various aspects of the impact of hydration on health.. In general, negative emotions such as anger, hostility, confusion and tension, as well as fatigue, have been found to increase with dehydration.. One study caused mild dehydration and found increased reports of stress, anxiety, and fatigue in participants. The researchers also found that people who typically drink a lot of water feel less calm, less satisfied, and more stressed when their water intake drops.. When the researchers increased the participants' water intake, the people felt happier, no matter how much water they usually drank..

Another large study found that people who drink five or more cups of water a day have a lower risk of depression and anxiety.. In comparison, drinking less than two cups a day doubles the risk. More recently, researchers have found that water with electrolytes can prevent anxiety more than plain water, but it has been noted that a placebo effect may explain this association, as study participants knew when they were given an electrolyte drink..

The link between dehydration and anxiety is also observed in children who are at risk of dehydration.. Dehydration can also affect how well we sleep.. Poor sleep can exacerbate feelings of anxiety.

Almost every bodily function depends on water. Because 75% of brain tissue is water, dehydration reduces the brain's energy production and can change the structure of the brain, causing the brain to slow down and not function properly.. On a molecular level, if the water level is too low, our brain cells cannot function properly and the brain shows signs of working harder to complete tasks..

Our cells recognize the state of dehydration as a threat to survival, which leads to a state of anxiety.. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (a chemical messenger between brain cells) that stabilizes our mood and regulates our emotions.. When we're dehydrated, we struggle to get the chemicals needed to make serotonin to the brain..

Being only half a liter dehydrated can also increase levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which has been linked to a range of mental disorders, including anxiety..

So, based on what is currently known and emerging evidence, government health communication provides some good advice.. Incorporating lifestyle factors, including water intake in the context of overall diet, physical activity and sleep levels, is an important framework that can support a person's mental health. And there is evidence that dehydration can affect our mood..

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