Summary

An individual reports significant stress relief by increasing their daily water intake to 3 liters, detailing personal experiences and citing case studies to support the benefits of proper hydration.

Abstract

The author of the web content, who has been dealing with acute stress for a decade, shares a personal account of how adopting a habit of drinking 3 liters of water daily led to a marked reduction in stress and related physical symptoms. Initially skeptical, the author was inspired by a fellow writer to try the method and found it effective in managing stress during a challenging 100-day writing endeavor. The article also references historical and contemporary case studies, including the work of French biologist René Quinton and Dr. Fereydoon Batmanghelidj, to illustrate the broader health benefits of increased water consumption. Additionally, the author provides practical tips for incorporating more water into one's daily routine and mentions the potential benefits of "gel water" from certain foods for optimal hydration, as discussed in the book "Quench."

Opinions

The author was initially skeptical about the benefits of drinking large amounts of water but became a proponent after personal experimentation.
Drinking more water is suggested as a simple yet effective method for reducing stress and improving overall health.
The author believes that water has a direct impact on stress levels and stomach health, based on their own experience and the case studies mentioned.
The article promotes the idea that proper hydration can enhance skin health, as supported by a 2015 study.
The author endorses the use of reminders, such as smart water bottles or placing water bottles in visible locations, to encourage consistent water intake.
There is an endorsement of the book "Quench" for those interested in learning more about optimal hydration techniques, including the concept of "moving your water" through exercise.
The author values the importance of drinking water before meals to aid digestion, as advised by Dr. Batmanghelidj.

STRESS

Drinking 3 Liters of Water per Day: How I Cured Myself of Acute Stress

I could not believe it!

Did you know drinking more water can cure you of acute stress? Yes, it’s true. I’ve tested it and it works. Now you might say: it’s way too simplistic! I was also skeptical, but I was convinced to give it a try and loved the results.

Today, I’ll tell you about my water drinking experiment. I’ll also give you additional case studies to understand the effects of drinking more water. Then I’ll share some tips to implement this habit in your life…

I did not want to believe it

How can drinking more water help you get more healthy? It’s way too simplistic! I’ve known the drinking water trend for years. But somehow, I never took it seriously.

That was until I met fellow writer Sufyan Maan, M.Eng one month ago, and learned about his daily habit of drinking one gallon of water (or 3.8 liters of water). One gallon of water per day? How could it be! At the time, I was barely drinking 1 liter of water per day.

While I was not fully convinced, I was intrigued. In the following days, I tried making an experiment. From now on, I would try to drink 3 liters of water per day. And I’m glad I’ve done this as the habit had great results on my stress levels!

The results from my drinking experiment

I’ve been suffering from the effects of acute stress for about 10 years. Whenever I get stressed, I start to develop tightness and cramps in my stomach and I have to use deep relaxation techniques to cope. At some point, I resigned myself to this condition. I even came to see it in a positive light, as it helped me recognize when I am too tense and need to release tension in my body.

But lately, with my 100 days writing challenge, I was worried that I push myself too hard. I’m a full-time software developer, and this job gets crazy stressful at times, especially when a customer pesters me while facing a bug. So I feared I would have to give up on this challenge at some point because of all the stress produced by my workload.

Fortunately, I did not have to give up on my challenge. As I started to drink 3 liters per day, I quickly experienced positive effects. My stomach did not get tight as often as it used to be and I felt less stressed. It was so liberating to me!

I don’t know if water acts directly in my stress levels or my stomach, but it must help both. Let’s see a couple of other case studies to explore this further.

Case studies: the incredible effects of water

First, it’s important to realize how water is essential for our biology, notably salty water from the ocean. French biologist René Quinton (1866–1925) once deprived a dog of half its blood. Of course, the dog felt very weak after this. But when Quinton injected the dog with the same amount of salty water, the dog felt great again, and even more energetic than before!

Second, I like the story of Fereydoon Batmanghelidj (AKA: Dr Batman) curing ulcers with more water intake. In 1979, after the Iranian Revolution, Dr. Batmanghelidj was a political prisoner in Evin Prison for two years and seven months. As he didn’t have much medicine, he told an ulcer patient with severe abdominal pain to drink two glasses of water. “His pain became less severe and then disappeared completely after eight minutes.” said the report. He was so impressed by the results that he prescribed two glasses of water six times a day to his patient. Many prisoners suffered stress-induced ulcers in the prison. So he used the treatment on them and cured them.

Third, there’s water fasting. Did you know you can survive for many weeks by only drinking water? I discovered water fasting about five years ago thanks to the French documentary The Science of Fasting, and I embraced the concept. I now do water fasting very regularly. My record is absorbing nothing but water for 12 days. And I drink lots of water during that time.

Fourth, there’s a 2015 experiment that found positive effects on skin hydration and biodynamics when you drink more water. The participants of the study were instructed to drink 2 additional liters each day. And it was clear higher water inputs positively impact skin physiology.

Getting started on the drinking habit

Now if you want to increase your water intake, here are a couple of tips. First, it’s important to have reminders if you want to get used to drinking more. Since I’ve started my experiment of drinking 3 liters of water per day, I personally like to put two bottles of 1.5 liters on my desk. If you want a more precise way to measure the amount of water you drink each day, you can also get yourself a smart water bottle.

Also, keep in mind the most important time to drink is while eating since it helps to have good digestion. For example, Dr Batmanghelidj advises drinking 2 glasses of water 30 minutes before you eat.

Last but not least, I like the book “Quench” by Dana Cohen and Gina Bria. Inside this book, you learn the best way to help your body get proper hydration is to eat food that contains “gel water”, like cucumber, berries, and aloe.

The authors also advise to “move your water”. That is: using exercises to make sure the water circulates in all your body. To be honest, I just skimmed this book, but it’s probably worth a read if you want to become a master of optimal hydration!

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Today, I shared with you my story of drinking more water, and how it helped me lower my stress levels. We’ve seen the many positive effects water has on your body. And I’ve added practical tips to start making a habit of drinking more water.

Finally, you learned about the book “Quench”, which has further ideas on optimal hydration, such as eating food with “gel water”. I hope it makes you more healthy. And don’t forget it can make you look younger thanks to the positive effects on your skin!

On February 1st, 2022, I’ve embarked on a 100 days writing challenge. This is post number 46.