When you need to rehydrate, water is the obvious beverage choice. But there’s one unexpected beverage that’s as hydrating — if not more hydrating — than water.
This surprising drink choice comes with natural electrolytes, says Joy Bauer, TODAY contributor and registered dietitian, that help your body hang onto hydration longer.
Nutrition tip of the day: This drink is even more hydrating than water
What’s more hydrating than water? Milk, Bauer says, including skim and whole milk.
People are always surprised to hear it, she adds, but it’s true. There is some research suggesting that milk is more hydrating than water. In particular, a few small studies have shown that people who drink milk retain hydration longer than those who drink water.
The thinking is that the natural sodium in milk acts as an electrolyte to keep hydration in your body, she explains. And the fat and protein in milk further help your body hang onto that precious hydration.
Why it matters
Staying hydrated is always important, but it can be harder to accomplish during these hot, sweaty summer months.
And some people need to be more mindful of hydration needs than others, including those spending time outside, older adults and people taking certain medications like GLP-1s.
If you’re working out for more than an hour, have been sick or are sweating a lot, you may need to also think about hydrating with electrolytes. These are minerals that help your body balance the amount of water inside and outside of your cells.
Keep in mind that some people are just naturally “salty sweaters,” Bauer says, meaning they lose more salt in their sweat than others. So they might need to use electrolytes more often.
Most adults don’t know how much water they should drink in higher temperatures. Andie Lee Gonzalez, licensed registered dietitian and scientist at Abbott, shares what you need to know about staying hydrated during a heatwave.
How to get started
For most of us, drinking water and regularly eating meals is all we need to do to stay hydrated. Our food contains enough electrolytes, so we don’t need to add more.
But, for those times when you do need more hydration plus electrolytes, Bauer recommends opting for:
- Milk
- Water with a salty snack
- Coconut water
You can also make a DIY electrolyte drink with water, a squeeze of citrus fruit, a pinch of salt and either a splash of 100% fruit juice or honey.
TODAY’s Expert Tip of the Day series is all about simple strategies to make life a little easier. Every Monday through Friday, different qualified experts share their best advice on diet, fitness, heart health, mental wellness and more.
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