When thirst strikes, most people reach for a glass of water. But surprising new research reveals that plain H2O may not be the most effective drink to keep your body hydrated. Here’s how popular beverages stack up — from most to least hydrating.
Skim Milk
Thanks to its blend of protein, lactose, and sodium, skim milk keeps fluids in the body longer than water, making it the top performer for hydration.
Oral Rehydration Solutions
Specially formulated drinks like Pedialyte or electrolyte mixes offer a powerful combo of sugar, sodium, and potassium to lock moisture into your cells.
Whole Milk
Full-fat milk slows down fluid emptying even more due to its fat content, providing sustained hydration over time.
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Orange Juice
Packed with natural sugars, vitamins, and water, orange juice hydrates well — but not as efficiently as milk or rehydration drinks due to its higher sugar concentration.
Regular Cola
Surprisingly, soda can hydrate in the short term. However, its caffeine and sugar levels mean it’s not ideal for lasting hydration.
Diet Cola
With less sugar but still some caffeine, diet cola performs moderately well — but still falls short compared to nutrient-rich options.
Cold Tea
Unsweetened iced tea without caffeine offers decent hydration, especially when served chilled and consumed in larger volumes.
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Hot Tea
Warm tea hydrates similarly to water, although small amounts of caffeine can slightly increase fluid loss over time.
Sports Drink
Marketed for hydration, sports drinks can be hit or miss — often containing too much sugar and not enough key electrolytes to be top-tier.
Still Water
Water does a solid job of quickly quenching thirst, but because it empties from the stomach rapidly, it doesn’t stay in the body as long as other drinks.
Sparkling Water
Carbonation doesn’t improve hydration and may cause a feeling of fullness, leading to lower fluid intake overall.
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Beer
Beer contains more liquid than hard liquor, but alcohol acts as a diuretic. While mild beers hydrate slightly, they still result in water loss.
Coffee
In small amounts, coffee hydrates almost as well as water. But too much caffeine can increase urine production, especially in those not used to it.
This article is based on information from CNN
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