When you're thirsty and need a drink, what drinks are best for keeping you hydrated?
Sure, you can always grab a glass of water — but H20 isn't the most hydrating drink, according to a study from the University of St. Andrews of Scotland who compared the hydration reactions of several different beverages.
Researchers found that while water – plain and sparkling – does a pretty good job of quickly hydrating the body, drinks with little sugar, fat or protein do an even better job of keeping us hydrated for longer.
The reason has to do with how our bodies react to drinks, according to Ronald Maughan, a professor at the St. Louis School of Medicine. Andreas and author of the study. One factor is the volume of a given drink: The more you drink, the faster the drink empties from your stomach and is absorbed into your bloodstream, where it can dilute body fluids and hydrate you.
Milk is more hydrating than water
The other factor that affects how well a drink hydrates is related to the nutritional composition of a drink. For example, milk is more hydrating than plain water because it contains the sugar lactose, some protein, and some fat, all of which help slow the emptying of fluids from the stomach and keep you hydrated for longer.
Milk also has sodium, which acts as a sponge and holds water in the body and results in less urine being produced.
