Our pal Science now says that beer, yes beer, is more effective for rehydrating the body than plain ol' water.
Beer is safer than water
Even if it does go bad, though, there are no life-threatening bacteria bacteria (pathogens) that can live in beer. So drink up – even bad beer is safer than water.
The study suggests that beverages with low alcohol concentrations have “a negligible diuretic effect” when consumed in a state of exercise-induced dehydration, meaning that hydrating with water or a low-alcohol beer (~2% ABV) is effectively the same.
The amount of water present in beer is not good enough to keep you hydrated. The alcoholic contents can easily dehydrate your body. So make sure to drink water along with beer. By far, water is the best drink to consume.
The researchers found that while water — both still and sparkling — does a pretty good job of quickly hydrating the body, beverages with a little bit of sugar, fat or protein do an even better job of keeping us hydrated for longer.
No. While you can enjoy alcohol in moderation and make other lifestyle choices that will maintain your hydration, alcohol will never contribute to your hydration goal.
Beer contains carbohydrates, water, and small amounts of sodium and potassium, but also alcohol. Alcohol is known to increase urine output (8, 9), which could interfere with adequate rehydration after exercise.
They determined that the beer drinkers had “slightly better” rehydration effects, which researchers attribute to sugars, salts, and bubbles in beer enhancing the body's ability to absorb water. The carbohydrates in beer also help refill calorie deficits.
Beer is more than 90% water
While malt and hops add flavor, the fundamental base of a beer is water. Between 92 and 95% of beer is water and is used throughout the brewing process.
Not only does beer consist mainly of water – perfect for rehydrating after a long run – but it also provides carbohydrates which help your muscles refuel. “
NIAAA defines heavy drinking as follows: For men, consuming more than 4 drinks on any day or more than 14 drinks per week. For women, consuming more than 3 drinks on any day or more than 7 drinks per week.
Heavy drinking – regardless of the type of alcohol selected – can negatively affect health and life in general. The effects of drinking 12 beers a day can be catastrophic. The use of alcohol in the United States is considered a way of life.
If you kept to a strict beer diet—and swore off plain water altogether—you'd likely die of dehydration in a matter of days or weeks, depending on the strength and volume of beer consumed.
In other words, the alcohol alone in one standard drink can make your body produce a little less than half a cup of pee. Part of what causes you to urinate more while drinking alcohol is that alcohol inhibits the release of an anti-diuretic hormone (also called vasopressin) [4].
That's right: a beer that won't drain your body of vital moisture but will actually help replace it! The new beer, SeaQuench Ale, is made by DogFish Head Craft Brewery, and is the product of two years of research and a big passion for summer-friendly beer that won't leave you panting for H2O.
Alcohol increases the amount you urinate because it suppresses the production of ADH. A sufficiently alcoholic drink can suppress ADH to the point where your kidneys actually excrete more water than the volume of the drink itself, and so there's a net dehydrating effect.
In general, drinks with a higher alcohol content – think spirits such as vodka, gin, whiskey, and rum – are higher on the spectrum of alcohol content, making them more dehydrating per ounce than alcohols such as beer and wine.
That makes beer the clear contender as the least dehydrating, with a big caveat. As important as alcohol content may be, even more important is how much you drink in a given sitting. Drink too many beers too quickly, and you'll end up as dehydrated as you would taking a shot at the bar.
While beer is mostly water, it is still hypotonic, meaning it contains little to no electrolytes. Electrolytes are just as important as water for our bodies to function properly, and replenishing them after a workout is vital.
Chugging as much water as you can all day is likely not the best or most efficient way to stay hydrated, and it's technically possible to overdo it. There is such a thing as overhydration that causes some unwanted and potentially dangerous side effects.
In general, however, it usually takes about two hours for your body to rehydrate fully after drinking a significant amount of water. As for how you should rehydrate, water is the best choice. Sports drinks, such as Gatorade, can be helpful for athletes who need to replenish electrolytes.
Do caffeinated drinks like Coca‑Cola count towards my recommended daily water intake? Yes. Sparkling soft drinks, including reduced and no sugar, no calorie options, contain between 85% and 99% water, which means they can help quench thirst and count towards your recommended daily fluid intake.