if you're thirsty, it's not just water that will help you clear your throat, though having a sip works just fine. Here are five uncommon ways to rehydrate when you're feeling parched. Milk does a body good. When the body needs a drink. Take it from a British study from a few years ago, The New York Times reports. Beverages like fat free milk and whole milk were more effective than water in rehydrating the body. Researchers think it's because of milk, sodium and potassium levels, which make us get rid of the liquid. More slowly, chugging water doesn't keep you hydrated if you head to the bathroom immediately afterward. The same study also found orange juice did a better job than water at rehydrating the body, but not as good as milk live strong reports. Foods that are high in electrolytes and water are best think fruits and veggies for their high water content. A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found filling up on water and a meal was a better way to rehydrate than with just a sports drink. Hot soup may not come to mind when you're thirsty, but the daily meal says super PACs, sodium and water, making it the perfect remedy when your body feels dry as a bone. The daily meal also suggests reaching for yogurt because it's loaded with potassium and sodium. That's important because chemicals like sodium and potassium are lost when we sweat, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Just like that, a few simple yet uncommon ways to rehydrate no sweat.
These are the best hydrating drinks out there — and the ones you should avoid
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Updated: 11:53 AM CDT Jun 29, 2020
Staying hydrated is one of the simplest things you can do to keep your body healthy, but we get it: It's hard to remember to drink as much as you should. Water can get boring after a while, and maybe you want something with flavor to pair with a certain meal. Either way, hydration is important for regulating body functions, improving sleep and keeping your immune system strong. Delish connected with Kimberly Arnold, licensed Dietitian Nutritionist and owner of Enlitened Nutrition for her insight on the best hydrating drinks — and the the least hydrating ones, too.Best Drinks For Hydration WaterThis one is a no brainer. Water (both still and sparkling!) is the easiest way to stay hydrated on a day to day basis. It's calorie-free, more readily available and super refreshing on hot days. Our bodies are also made up of about 60% water, as Arnold pointed out, so it's important we are constantly putting more into our body. "On any given day, we lose about eight to 12 cups of water through sweat, breath and urine," she said. If you don't love the taste of plain water all the time, mix it up with fresh fruit slices or frozen juice ice cubes. Sports DrinksSports drinks like Gatorade are good for rehydrating, but only under specific circumstances. Arnold said these drinks are only really helpful after you've worked out or done any other high intensity activity. "When we sweat, we lose both water and electrolytes. Many people assume that these recovery drinks are healthy or even essential because they provide these electrolytes," she said. "In most circumstances, these drinks are only needed after moderate to high intensity workouts that have lasted over an hour or with excessive sweating." Arnold also suggests really reading the labels before you choose a sports drink because there can be a lot of artificial colors, sweeteners and excess sugar depending on the product.Tea or CoffeeIf you want a caffeine boost that doesn't totally dehydrate you, go with tea or coffee instead of an energy drink. Many energy drinks have way more caffeine from both natural and artificial ingredients than the recommended daily intake. "Energy drinks can be deceiving and may contain excessive amounts of caffeine, often alongside herbal stimulants, sugar, sodium and artificial ingredient," Arnold explained. "In healthy adults, 400 mg caffeine per day or less is generally considered safe if consumed over the course of a day. Some energy drinks can contain close to that in one bottle." Tea and coffee are also good options because you can dilute tea with water and add milk or your preferred sweetener to your coffee yourself rather than guessing what you're getting from a label.Worst Drinks For HydrationEnergy DrinksEnergy drinks pack way more sugar and unwanted ingredients than you may think. That's why Arnold suggests sticking with coffee or tea if you really need that extra boost. Energy drinks are also a bad choice for children and adolescents because of the caffeine content. Whenever you're looking for a caffeinated drink, "Be sure to look at the serving size and count all sources of caffeine towards your total," Arnold said.AlcoholThis should seem like a given, but it's an important one, nonetheless! Any alcoholic beverage like beer, wine or liquor, and especially anything with over 10% ABV will be dehydrating. This is why if you're drinking and it's hot out, you should definitely take that one water per drink ratio seriously. It'll keep you hydrated while keeping you buzzed and lessen your chances of a nasty hangover. Hot CocoaSure, you may not be gravitating toward hot beverages in the summer, but in case you were thinking about it, hot cocoa isn't a great choice for hydration purposes. It's thick in consistency and packed with sugar making it more of a dessert than a hydration beverage. This also goes for other fancy drinks like pumpkin spice lattes. Drinks like that are great for satisfying your sweet tooth, but make sure you're drinking a lot of water throughout the day, too.
is one of the simplest things you can do to , but we get it: It's hard to remember to drink as much as you should. after a while, and maybe you want something with flavor to pair with a certain meal. Either way, hydration is important for regulating body functions, improving sleep and keeping your immune system strong. Delish connected with Kimberly Arnold, licensed Dietitian Nutritionist and owner of for her insight on the best hydrating drinks — and the the least hydrating ones, too.
Best Drinks For Hydration
Water
This one is a no brainer. Water (both still and sparkling!) is the easiest way to stay hydrated on a day to day basis. It's calorie-free, more readily available and super refreshing on hot days. Our bodies are also made up of about 60% water, as Arnold pointed out, so it's important we are constantly putting more into our body. "On any given day, we lose about eight to 12 cups of water through sweat, breath and urine," she said. If you don't love the taste of plain water all the time, mix it up with fresh fruit slices or frozen juice ice cubes.
Sports Drinks
Sports drinks like Gatorade are good for rehydrating, but only under specific circumstances. Arnold said these drinks are only really helpful after you've worked out or done any other high intensity activity. "When we sweat, we lose both water and electrolytes. Many people assume that these recovery drinks are healthy or even essential because they provide these electrolytes," she said. "In most circumstances, these drinks are only needed after moderate to high intensity workouts that have lasted over an hour or with excessive sweating." Arnold also suggests really reading the labels before you choose a sports drink because there can be a lot of artificial colors, sweeteners and excess sugar depending on the product.
Tea or Coffee
If you want a caffeine boost that doesn't totally dehydrate you, go with tea or coffee instead of an energy drink. Many energy drinks have way more caffeine from both natural and artificial ingredients than the recommended daily intake. "Energy drinks can be deceiving and may contain excessive amounts of caffeine, often alongside herbal stimulants, sugar, sodium and artificial ingredient," Arnold explained. "In healthy adults, 400 mg caffeine per day or less is generally considered safe if consumed over the course of a day. Some energy drinks can contain close to that in one bottle." Tea and coffee are also good options because you can dilute tea with water and add milk or your preferred sweetener to your coffee yourself rather than guessing what you're getting from a label.
Worst Drinks For Hydration
Energy Drinks
Energy drinks pack way more sugar and unwanted ingredients than you may think. That's why Arnold suggests sticking with coffee or tea if you really need that extra boost. Energy drinks are also a bad choice for children and adolescents because of the caffeine content. Whenever you're looking for a caffeinated drink, "Be sure to look at the serving size and count all sources of caffeine towards your total," Arnold said.
Alcohol
This should seem like a given, but it's an important one, nonetheless! Any alcoholic beverage like beer, wine or liquor, and especially anything with over 10% ABV will be dehydrating. This is why if you're drinking and it's hot out, you should definitely take that one water per drink ratio seriously. It'll keep you hydrated while keeping you buzzed and lessen your chances of a nasty hangover.
Hot Cocoa
Sure, you may not be gravitating toward hot beverages in the summer, but in case you were thinking about it, hot cocoa isn't a great choice for hydration purposes. It's thick in consistency and packed with sugar making it more of a dessert than a hydration beverage. This also goes for other fancy drinks like pumpkin spice lattes. Drinks like that are great for satisfying your sweet tooth, but make sure you're drinking a lot of water throughout the day, too.
