Is Water the Most Hydrating Drink? You Might Be Surprised

Which drinks keep you the most hydrated when you're thirsty and in need of a drink?

A study from Scotland's St. Andrews University evaluated the hydration responses of numerous different drinks and found that while water is always an option, it isn't the most hydrating one.

While still and sparkling water both perform an excellent job of instantly hydrating the body, the researchers discovered that beverages with a little bit of sugar, fat, or protein do an even better job of keeping us hydrated for longer.

According to research author and professor at St. Andrews School of Medicine Ronald Maughan, the cause has to do with how our bodies react to beverages. One aspect is the size of a particular drink: The faster you drink, the quicker the liquid leaves your stomach and is absorbed into your bloodstream, where it can hydrate you and dilute bodily fluids.

Water Is Not as Hydrating as Milk.

The nutritional makeup of a beverage has an impact on how well it hydrates as well. Because milk contains the sugar lactose, some protein, and some fat, all of which help to slow the emptying of liquids from the stomach and maintain hydration going over a longer period, milk has been proven to be even more hydrating than plain water.

Additionally, salt in milk serves as a sponge to hold onto water in the body, reducing the amount of pee generated.

The same is true for diarrhea treatments that involve oral rehydration solutions. Small levels of sugar, sodium, and potassium are all present in those, and they can all contribute to the body's tendency to retain water.

But this is where it gets complicated: Fruit juices and colas are examples of beverages with concentrated sugars that may not be as hydrating as their lower-sugar siblings. When these beverages enter the small intestine, a physiological process known as osmosis dilutes their high concentration of sugars, even though they may take a little longer to digest and empty than plain water. In order to dilute the sugars in these drinks, this process essentially "pulls" water out of the body and into the small intestine.

According to Majumdar, juice and soda are not only less hydrating but also include extra sweets and calories that don't keep us full as long as solid foods do. When choosing between soda and water to stay hydrated, always choose the latter. After all, water is essential for flushing toxins from our bodies through the kidneys and liver, and it also helps to keep our skin smooth and elastic. You won't find a moisturizer cheaper than this one.

While it's vital to be hydrated because it keeps our joints lubricated, fights infections, and delivers nutrients to our cells, most people don't need to worry too much about how hydrating their beverages are.

Depending on how much caffeine you consume, your coffee will either adequately hydrate you or not. According to Maughan's research, a typical coffee with about 80 milligrams of caffeine, or about what you would find in 12 oz. of Folgers' house blend, would be nearly as hydrating as water.

More than 300 mg of caffeine, or around 2-4 cups of coffee, may cause you to lose more water than you should since caffeine has a modest, transient diuretic impact. If you don't regularly drink caffeine, you are more likely to experience this. You can counteract it by putting a tablespoon or two of milk in your cup of joe.