Water and Its Effect OnMood in Healthy Women  

Previous studies have shown that the greater your water intake, the better your mood state is. The authors of this study observed the relationship between habitual 24-hour total water intake (TWI) and mood, and accounted for multiple mood-altering factors in healthy young women undertaking usual daily activities (Muñoz et al.

, 2015). TWI is defined as total moisture in solid foods plus water and other drinks. Continuing negative mood states (anger and anxiety) can result in a reduced quality of life. The purpose of the study was to examine relationships between frequent water intake and mood.

The participants of this study were 120 healthy 18-22-year-old female college students. All participants used oral contraceptives for at least two months before enrolling. This promoted hormonal homogeneity among the women to reduce fluctuations of total body water during observations and provided ecological validity (Muñoz et al., 2015). There was a baseline visit to get height and weight, as well as to present testing process and questionnaires.

Get quality help now

RhizMan

Verified writer

Proficient in: Desalination Of Water

4.9 (247)

“ Rhizman is absolutely amazing at what he does . I highly recommend him if you need an assignment done ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

Participants were taught how to accurately record their food and fluid consumption during a 24-hour period. They were asked to maintain their regular diet during the consecutive 5-day study, but to abstain from alcohol consumption to avoid mood variations. Each morning, the participants came to the lab to review the previous day’s recording with a nutrition counselor. On days 3 and 4, participants were asked to complete the Profile of Mood State (POMS) questionnaire. The POMS is a 5 point self-administered scale that assesses 6 mood states: tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger-hostility, vigor-hostility, and confusion-bewilderment (Muñoz et al., 2015). The greater the POMS value, the greater the seeming mood state and the total mood disturbance (TMD) represents the negative and positive mood scores. The participants did a medical history questionnaire answering question about supplements, vitamins, current illnesses, prescription drug use, alcoholic beverage consumption, family medical history and exercise. this allowed the researchers to consider the possibility of influences on mood state from behaviors and predispositions.

The participants were evenly distributed into 3 groups based on the TWI from the 5-day records: low (LOW), moderate (MOD) and high (HIGH). The results show that, of the POMS 6 mood states being assessed, the results from HIGH showed less mood disturbance than LOW, while HIGH leaned toward a lower mood disturbance than MOD. Caffeine and carbohydrate intake were greater in HIGH than LOW and MOD, fat consumption was lower in HIGH tan LOW and MOD, and HIGH reported greater average hours of exercise per week than LOW. After accounting for other variables identified in other studies that influence mood (protein, carbohydrate, fat, caffeine intake and weekly exercise duration) TWI predicted TMD (Muñoz et al., 2015). Of all the collected variables, only TWI was significantly associated with TMD.

As stated before, the researches hypothesis of greater TWI showed greater mood states. The results show that HIGH felt a smaller TMD than LOW, and differences show that LOW consumed half of what HIGH consumed in TWI. What the researches want us to understand is that these results are not able to distinguish improved mood state as a function of upbeat/positive women tending to consume more water, or if drinking water enhanced mood state in these women (Muñoz et al., 2015).

There are two theoretical ideas have been used to explain the correlation between TWI and negative mood. One is negative mood state and the target receptors of catecholamines. Reduction in water intake causes strengthening of the sympathetic nervous system which could bring negative mood states by the target receptors. Another explanation is that regularly reducing water intake could threaten brain function and integrity, resulting in an altered mood (Muñoz et al., 2015). Even though these explanations are theoretical, professionals need to study these correlations more. Previous studies have already shown that a decrease in TWI links fatigue, tension and confusion with less energy, which in turn results in a reduced quality of life.

I believe this applies to my behavior change because throughout this project I’ve noticed a positive increase in my mood state. I wasn’t ever angry or sad or stressed before this project, but I’ve noticed I have more energy and just overall feel better. I haven’t decided if I’m going to modify my goals or plan yet. I’ve noticed the last week that I’ve been drinking a little bit more fluids than what my target goal was. If I decide to change anything, I might increase my overall goal a little bit. This article has taught me that my overall increase in a positive mood could be because my increase in water intake. I think this will help me keep meeting the mini and overall goal that I’ve set, and I hope to continue this behavior change even after this project is over.