29/10/2025
We are all aware that water is essential for life but did you know that insufficient water could be fueling your stress, brainfog and even dis-ease? Drinking sufficient water is imperative for the healthy functioning of our bodies - afterall we are 75-85% water (depending on what part of your body you are considering). The fluids that lubricate and nourish our body such as blood, lymph, tears, cerebrospinal fluid can be up to and over 99% water when fully hydrated and functioning.
So what if something as simple as chronic dehydration is fueling our stress, fatigue and the mental health crisis that seems to be so prevalent across the globe? And what is the answer to much of this is simply drinking more water?
A massive 2024 study published in Epidemiology and Health analyzed 112,250 Korean adolescents and found drinking less than one glass of water daily increased depression risk by 30%, suicidal ideation by 39%, su***de planning by 46%, and su***de attempts by 38%. Even moderate dehydration showed effects: 1-2 glasses daily increased depression risk by 5% and suicidal ideation by 8%.
Wow, that's huge! And Korea is a relatively cold climate compared to the majority of Australia.
A 2025 study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology adds more weight to this finding that individuals drinking less than 1.5 litres (7 cups) daily had cortisol responses to stress over 50% higher than those drinking 1.5 litre of above daily. Elevated cortisol is directly associated with increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and depression.
Whilst many mental and emotional complaints do have underlying physical causes, simple dehydration can also trigger the same symptoms as clinical depression.
Without sufficient water, our body cannot absorb and process food, make the hormones, amino acids and other substances is needs to keep us healthy and repair itself.
Additionally, all bodily fluids are saline – blood, sweat, tears, urine, lymph. Any fluid loss depletes electrolytes, primarily sodium. Scarily, the mental state of hyponatremia (low sodium) is symptomatically identical to depression and has even been misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder.
Studies show that dehydration triggers vasopressin (a hormone that regulates blood pressure, water balance, and blood osmolality) release, which acts on the brain’s stress-response center, amplifying cortisol . Cortisol being the stress hormone that drives depression risk.
Another critical function of our body is detoxification. Adequate hydration is also essential for the detoxification of our bodies - aka cleaning out the garbage. Your kidneys, liver, lymphatic system, and cells require proper hydration and electrolyte balance to eliminate the environmental toxins, heavy metals, and chemicals as well as bodily waste materials that burden your nervous system and contribute to depression, anxiety, and brain fog.
Simply said: our little talked about lymphatic system which is unglamourous yet essential the trash collector that keeps our body clean s***k and span on the inside cannot do its job without sufficient water and electrolyte balance and the result is the build up of toxicity in our bodies.
Key indicators of electrolyte depletion can alert us to impaired detoxification processes:
Frequent lightheadedness or POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)
Decreased stamina and feelings of fatigue when standing
Numbness in various body parts
Ringing in the ears
Dry skin and hair shedding (poor circulation impairs toxin elimination)
Unquenchable thirst
Pimples and lymphatic swelling (indicating lymphatic blockages)
Water retention and swollen body parts.
Depressed mood, brain fog, anxiety
And as mentioned chronic long term dehydration is linked to diabetes, heart disease and other bodily malfunction.
So here are the tips and take homes to remedy this:
Start with clean water: at least 1.5 - 2 litres daily, more when you're hot and sweaty and men need about 2.5 litres.
Try to filter your drinking water. Bunnings and tradelink sell a simple to install inline water filter that will help remove chlorine and other contaminants from your cold water tap. I sits under your kitchen bench and doesn't take up much space.
Replace electrolytes, not just water: You need sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium – the minerals that support both hydration and detoxification. Skip the sugar-laden soft drinks energy and sports drinks that add to your toxic load and often to dehydration and investigate more natural supplements.
Coconut water is natures own electrolyte drink. It's low in sugar and has a balance of electrolytes that is similar to human blood. And from personal experience, I find it not only hydrating, but lowers my blood pressure significantly within half an hour of consuming around 250mls.
Bone broth or a pinch of Celtic sea salt or Himalayan pink salt in your water provide the electrolytes and trace minerals that your body craves and needs to run efficiently.
Open your detox pathway by eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, get adequate fiber to bind toxins, and sweat regularly through exercise or sauna sessions. A clean charcoal or green superfoods supplement daily can also help to bind toxins and es**rt them from the premises.
Keep your lymphatic system moving Your lymphatic system is critical for toxin removal, but unlike your blood, it has no pump. It relies entirely on movement and hydration. When you’re dehydrated, lymphatic drainage stops and toxins accumulate. So drink more water and get moving
Without sufficient water our blood becomes sticky, lymph becomes turgid and our cellular processes for producing energy stagnate and are damaged.
From an energetic perspective, our energy simply cannot flow freely when we are dehydrated and low on electrolytes.
Since everything is energy - if that energy cannot flow, then everything becomes stagnant. So as well as physical dysfunction we cannot process and 'digest' the emotional side of our lives - particularly the heavier more stressful emotions.
Stuck emotions condense and get stuck in our body causing blockage, inflammation and pain. Chronic inflammation eventually can condense and become more solid. Lumps, tumors and even cancer and be the result of long term stuck energy and blockage.
So instead of reaching for that can of coffee, coke or monster - why not try grabbing a large glass of water instead?
Better yet - If you're feeling drained, fatigued or worse - why not try a 7 day water challenge? Challenge yourself for the next 7 days to make drinking 1.5-2 litres of water minimum a day a challenge? Remember to include electolytes to keep your internal balance of essential minerals.
Make a note of how you feel mentally, physically, emotionally before you commence your week and compare it to the way you feel after 7 days. What other changes do you note?
Have a hydrated day! Susie
