Archive · 30 Sep 2025
Study Links Dehydration to Increased Stress Hormone
Imagine your body has a stress alarm, and water helps keep it calm.
A new study showed people who don't drink enough water have a stronger alarm response when stressed, meaning they produce more of the stress hormone cortisol.
When stressed, not drinking enough water can make it difficult to focus and can lead to fatigue.
Aim for about 2.5 liters of water a day to help regulate stress levels and improve your health.
Check urine color, aim for pale yellow.
Study links low water intake to higher cortisol levels during stress.
Participants with low fluid intake experienced significantly higher cortisol spikes.
Low intake group showed darker urine and increased vasopressin levels.
Chronic high cortisol can increase health risks such as heart disease.
Adequate hydration is linked to better cognitive function and mood.
- Who
- Researchers
- What
- Found that dehydration increases cortisol levels during stress.
- When
- Published September 3, 2025
- Where
- Journal of Applied Physiology
- Why
- To understand the impact of hydration on stress response and health.
- Study Title
- Habitual fluid intake and hydration status influence cortisol reactivity to acute psychosocial stress
- Published In
- Journal of Applied Physiology
- Year of Study
- 2025
- Daily Fluid Intake (Low Intake)
- Less than 1.5 liters
- Daily Fluid Intake (Recommended)
- At least 2.5 liters
- Cortisol Increase (Low Intake)
- Over 50% higher
- Effects of Hydration
- Improves cognitive function, mood, regulates metabolism
