Staying dehydrated is one of the central pillars of good health. In fact, some studies show that dehydration could be as bad as smoking for the body. So it is important to always look for signs from your body that indicate if you're drinking enough water or not.
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With heatwaves set to arrive with the onset of summer, you should be extra careful about your health, looking for signs to see if your skin is dehydrated or dry, while avoiding things which can exacerbate dehydration. Believe it or not, doing this also includes avoiding certain drinks.
As reported by Express, there are certain drinks which can make your body dehydrated, and which must be avoided particularly when there is a heatwave.
Beware of dehydrating food and drinks
Express reported about the importance of keeping properly hydrated, particularly in the event of possible forthcoming heatwaves in various parts of the world. The article presented the advice from nutritionist Toby King, who revealed that even though drinking a lot of liquids is supposed to be how people can keep themselves properly hydrated, not all drinks are made equal.
In fact, as Mr. King states,
You may think that consuming any liquid will help you to fight dehydration this summer but that isn't the case.
Some foods and liquids will cause more water to leave your body than is being put in.
Yes, some food and drinks can actually worse your body's water content, leaving you more dehydrated than before.
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Avoid drinking these during a heatwave
Here are the drinks you should avoid to guard your body against dehydration.
Alcohol
Though a chilled Rosé or sparkling Spritz might be the drink of choice for many during summer, alcohol is best avoided because it decreases the body's water reabsorption rate while making you want to go to the bathroom more often.
As per the dietician,
Alcohol inhibits the production of a hormone called vasopressin. Vasopressin is the hormone responsible for decreasing water excretion and water reabsorption in the body.
Alcohol turns this hormone off which makes us go to the bathroom more.
Soda
Another popular summer drink, chilled sodas of all kinds too should be avoided because of its dehydrating properties due to its caffeine content. As per the expert,
While some research on caffeinated drinks may suggest that the fluid in caffeinated drinks balances out the water lost because of the diuretic effect, it's always safer to be cautious.
Energy Drinks
Energy drinks have become very popular over the last couple of years, with a wide array of them available in the market, and usually advertised as healthy at best, or harmless at worst. However, make no mistake, energy drinks can be harmful for the body, especially when it needs to preserve hydration.
As per Mr King,
Energy drinks are filled with sugars, caffeine and other chemicals that make them a bad choice for hydration in this heat
So this summer, be mindful of what drinks you consume to keep the thirst at bay.
Read more:
⋙ Climate change could bring deadly diseases to the UK, experts warn
Sources used:
Express: 'Three drinks that could leave you dehydrated - avoid during the heatwave'
