I’m a nutritionist – the 3 drinks that can leave you dangerously dehydrated in heatwave
WHEN it comes to staying hydrated in this hot weather, you might think that any liquid will do the job.
But according to nutritionists, having some drinks can leave you more parched than when you started out.
Dehydration isn’t something to be taken lightly.
According to nutritionist Toby King: “High temperatures and excessive sweating can make you become dehydrated fast which can lead to constipation, fatigue and headaches.”
And nutritionist Rohini Bajekal told the Mirror that dehydration can also cause “kidney and brain problems in severe cases”.
Toby revealed which drinks you should avoid consuming during hot weather.
1. Fizzy drinks
The idea of cracking open a cold fizzy can is glorious with temperatures expected to stay in the high twenties until next week.
But according to Toby, the majority of soda drinks will contain caffeine, which increases the production of urine and leads to more water leaving the body.
Not exactly what you want on a hot summer’s day.
Toby said: “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.”
2. Wine, Beer and Alcohol
If you’re frequenting the pub one of these warm summer evenings, you might reach for an alcoholic beverage to quench your thirst.
But Toby warned that any alcoholic drink will just make you want to pee more.
According to the nutritionist, wine, beer and other boozy drinks inhibit the production of a hormone called Vasopressin.
“Vasopressin is the hormone responsible for decreasing water excretion and water re-absorption in the body. Alcohol turns this hormone off which makes us go to the bathroom more,” he explained.
“Combining alcohol and heat can be very dangerous as you can easily get dehydrated,” Toby went onto warn.
“Dehydration can start with you feeling thirsty, dizzy and tired but can be far more serious and lead to confusion and seizures.”
3. Energy Drinks
Another not-so-great source of fluids are energy drinks, Toby said, warning against using energy drinks in the hot weather.
“Energy drinks are filled with sugars, caffeine and other chemicals that make them a bad choice for hydration in this heat,” he explained.
What should I be drinking instead?
Water is the obvious choice for making sure you’re keeping hydrated.
But according to the nutritionist, there’s another drink that packs a hydrating punch – it might come as a surprise to you.
Tony said the nutrient composition of a food or drink also affects how it may hydrate you.
He even said: “Milk is more hydrating than water because of the nutrient composition. Milk has fats and proteins that slow the emptying process of fluids in the stomach allowing the hydration process to happen over a longer period.”
Tony advised you aim to drink between one and a half and two litres of water – or other hydrating fluids – per day.
If that difficult, you can also top up your intake by snacking on some water-rich fruit.
Watermelon is one such contender, as it has a 92 per cent water content, as are tomatoes with 95 per cent water, according to Tony.
Berries such as blueberries, raspberries and strawberries are also bursting with water and can help prevent dehydration.
GP Dr Sarah Jarvis recently shared dehydration red flags to watch out for in your children.