02/10/2023
Which foods and drinks cause dehydration and what hydrates the body?
Feeling thirsty, dark colored urine, tiredness, dizziness, headache, or dry lips and dry skin. These are some of the common symptoms of dehydration. What causes dehydration and what foods and drinks can make it worse? In this article, we will present a list of them.
What is dehydration?
First of all, let's clarify what dehydration is. Dehydration is a deficiency of water in the body. It occurs when the body loses more fluids than it takes in. Dehydration can be divided into mild and moderate to severe. Mild dehydration can be treated effectively at home, but if you experience symptoms of severe dehydration, you should seek medical attention.
What are the possible causes of dehydration?
Our body loses fluids through breathing, sweating, urination, and bowel movements. The body needs to replenish these fluids through drinking. If you don't drink enough fluids during the day, your body can become dehydrated. Dehydration is also caused by excessive sweating, excessive urination, fever, and illnesses associated with diarrhea and vomiting.
Which foods and drinks are dehydrating?
What foods and drinks should you avoid if you struggle with dehydration? Foods and drinks that can make dehydration worse include fizzy drinks, fruit juices, energy drinks, coffee, tea, alcohol, asparagus, artichokes, beetroot, high-protein foods, salty foods, soy sauce, and fried foods. Let's take a closer look at some of the mentioned drinks.
Coffee
Why can coffee worsen dehydration? Caffeine belongs to the so-called diuretics, i.e., substances that cause the body to produce more urine than usual. Increased urination is one of the possible causes of dehydration. However, it must be said that for coffee to be the only cause of dehydration, you would have to drink a large amount of it - 5 cups or more.
Tea
Why is tea dehydrating the body? Like coffee, tea can contain caffeine (black, green, and white tea), which has a diuretic effect on the kidneys. This diuretic effect can cause you to urinate more, which affects body hydration.
Alcohol
Alcohol also has a diuretic effect which, among other things, can negatively affect not only the level of fluids in the body, but also the level of electrolytes, which are important for preventing dehydration and maintaining overall health. To stay hydrated, always drink at least one glass of water with every alcoholic drink.
Best foods for hydration
While some foods and drinks can make dehydration worse, others can help hydrate the body quickly. Let's take a look at the foods and drinks you should eat or drink if you're dehydrated or want to prevent dehydration.
What is the best food to hydrate the body? Especially watermelon and soups - i.e., foods with a high water content.
Watermelon
Fruits and vegetables with a high water content are great choices for staying hydrated. Ideally, you should reach for a watermelon, which, in addition to approximately 90% water, also contains a number of valuable components, such as vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, and fiber.
Soups
Soups also help with dehydration. Soups are associated with a high water content and, in addition, they also contain electrolytes - minerals that perform important functions in the body. This combination is very important in rehydration.
What kind of soup should you eat if you experience symptoms of dehydration? Ideally beef broth or gazpacho - soup made from raw tomatoes and vegetables.
Drinks that effectively hydrate the body
What drinks to choose if you need to hydrate the body? Besides plain water and drinks containing electrolytes, you can also reach for milk and coconut water.
Milk
Wondering if milk is good for hydration? Yes, it is. A glass of milk will supply the body with the necessary fluids, as well as proteins and carbohydrates. Milk, like soups, provides the body with a lot of useful electrolytes, such as potassium or magnesium.
Coconut water
Coconut water is great for dehydration because it supplies the body with the necessary water, as well as electrolytes and carbohydrates. If you experience nausea or vomiting, drink the coconut water slowly. Drinking too much coconut water at once could irritate your stomach.
Label.BlogRelatedPostsText
