Water: A Secret Weapon in Fighting Stress

Everybody in farming knows that water is essential in agricultural production. We watch the weather forecasts, pray for rain during dry spells, and worry when too much rain waterlogs the fields.  But did you know that water is a weapon in fighting stress?

When you are under stress, your heart rate is up and you’re breathing more heavily, which means you’re losing fluids and your body gets dehydrated more quickly. Under stress it’s also more likely you may forget to eat and drink well.  In addition, dehydration in and of itself can increase your stress levels. Studies have shown than being dehydrated by just half a quart can spike your cortisol levels—cortisol is one of the major stress hormones.

Staying Hydrated

Stress and dehydration can turn into a dangerous cycle—stress increases dehydration and dehydration increases stress. This can make you feel tired, headachy, nauseated, and make it hard for you to think clearly. The good news is that there are some really simple ways to break this cycle.

• Keep track of your water consumption. You should be drinking between ½ to one ounce of water per pound of body weight.
• Carry a water bottle with you at all times and make a conscious effort to drink from it all day long and keep refilling it.
• During moments of high stress, stop, take a breath, and have a drink of water
• Keep a glass of water next to your bed. Most of us wake up dehydrated and need water in the morning.

Some Drinks Don’t Help

Remember that coffee, soda, and energy drinks are not the same thing as water and do not have the same positive effects. In fact, one study showed that, rather than give you more energy and help you think more clearly, under mental stress energy drinks actually decrease the amount of blood flowing to your brain. Alcohol doesn’t count either—it can be a diuretic and make your dehydration worse.

So, while drinking water won’t improve the weather or commodity prices or make your other stressors go away, it will help you feel stronger, more energetic, and more clear-headed so you can tackle the work you’ve got to do. Cheers!