Reframe supports you in reducing alcohol consumption and enhancing your well-being. Thirst, lightheadedness, and dark urine are three signs of dehydration, but there are many others to watch out for. In another study, thirsty adults perceived a cold carbonated beverage to be more thirst-quenching than water.

How to Minimize Dehydration from Alcohol

• Heavy drinking will cause dehydration, no matter what preventative strategies you are using.
• Experts believe that too much sugar may make dehydration and other symptoms worse.

The higher the alcohol content, the more dehydrating the drink will be. A heavy alcoholic drink like whiskey, brandy, or rum can dehydrate you more than lighter drinks. Stick to beer and wine to mitigate any dehydration you may experience. Contrary to popular belief, is vodka dehydrating alternating alcoholic drinks and water will not help you avoid dehydration. But you can certainly ensure you are as hydrated as possible before consuming alcohol.

How to Rehydrate Fast After Drinking

• If you’re drinking at altitude (and you’re not used to it!) remember that dehydration is a much bigger concern.
• And when ADH release is suppressed, your body’s natural mechanism for holding onto fluid ceases to function.
• Alcohol is a natural diuretic that draws fluid out of your body, expelling it through your kidneys and bladder more rapidly than usual.

There are, however, some studies to suggest that alcohol may have some other health benefits when enjoyed in moderation. For example, one study, published in July 2021 in BMC, Medicine found that moderate consumption of any type of alcohol decreased risk of death in those with preexisting heart disease. Additionally, red wine is well known to contain resveratrol, an antioxidant that Mayo Clinic points out may decrease inflammation and play a role in decreasing the risk of heart disease. Maintaining proper fluid balance helps eliminate waste, protect body tissues, and keep energy levels up, according to Mayo Clinic. And while it may sound easy, a lot of people struggle with chugging enough H20 in a day to keep their bodies functioning optimally.

• Below is a list of drink types that fall within these categories.
• Drinking water while you’re still drunk isn’t going to prevent you from becoming dehydrated, but it may help lessen the degree to which you’re dehydrated.
• We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology.
• The best way to ensure proper hydration is to drink plenty of water.

So, which alcohols are the most hydrating — or the least dehydrating?

• This is important because increased urination flushes electrolytes and nutrients out of your system, as well as fluid.
• Using electrolytes while drinking alcohol may be especially beneficial for individuals with high blood pressure and other cardiovascular issues.
• Interestingly, a review of 49 studies even reported that caffeinated energy drinks, wine, and spirits can all significantly increase urine production (14).
• Alcohol decreases the amount of ADH your body produces, making it harder to retain enough fluids.
• Dehydration occurs when fluid loss is greater than fluid intake.

Experts believe that too much sugar may make dehydration and other symptoms worse. This is likely because of the interaction of sugar and water within the cells. Higher sugar intake causes the cells in the body to transfer more water and increase urination. While tea tends to have less caffeine than coffee, increased tea consumption can still contribute to the total amount of caffeine a person has each day and yield dehydration. For many adults, the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected how much and how often they drink alcohol. Nearly 1 in 4 adults (23 percent) said that they increased their alcohol consumption during the pandemic, according to a 2021 report from the American Psychological Association.

shop your all day essentials

As the liver breaks down the alcohol, it is converted into a substance called acetaldehyde, which can be toxic in high doses. Our liver quickly works to break down acetaldehyde into acetate. According to science, about 90% of alcohol is eliminated by our liver, but 2-5% of alcohol leaves our body through urine, sweat, or breath. And since alcohol increases our heart rate, it makes us sweat more, which accelerates how fast we become dehydrated. The best way to avoid alcohol dehydration is to avoid consuming alcohol entirely.

But, as Lindsey Pfau, M.S., R.D., points out, just one beer, for example, also has a lot of non-alcoholic fluids, which will help lessen the dehydrating effects of one beer. Although we can’t fully prevent dehydration that accompanies drinking alcohol, we can take steps to help our body process the alcohol and lessen the effects of dehydration. Let’s review some things we can do before drinking alcohol to prevent severe dehydration.