Could Better Hydration Make You More Resilient To Stress?

The researchers believe this link comes down to vasopressin, a hormone that helps the body retain water when hydration levels drop. Vasopressin also interacts with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the same network that triggers cortisol release. When water intake is low, this pathway may stay more active, leading to an exaggerated stress response over time.