Best and Worst Drinks for Hydration

Water is key for staying hydrated, but there are also other drinks and foods that are hydrating. Some liquids can encourage water to leave your body. When reaching for a refreshing sip to quench your thirst, make choices for hydrating beverages and avoid the sneaky drinks that dehydrate and may contain too much sugar, salt and calories.

Hydrating: Fruit juice contains 85% water. Make sure you are picking 100% fruit juice. Dehydrating: Commercial fruit juice that is not 100% juice. Read the label.

Hydrating: Tea is refreshing and packed with antioxidants. Herbal teas are best, but even regular tea in moderation can help you get to your daily 8 glasses of water. Dehydrating: Sweet tea and soda may feel refreshing, but the sugar can deplete fluids.

Hydrating: Coffee, while it does have caffeine that in general is good to avoid, in moderation, it does hydrate. Dehydrating: Energy drinks have fluid robbing effects.

Hydrating: Milk has calcium and vitamin D, plus contains protein to help your body retain water. Plain coconut water is a trendy beverage that can help you hydrate in ways water can’t. Dehydrating: Alcohol squeezes water out of your cells.

“Iced tea is too pure and natural a creation not to have been invented as soon as tea, ice and hot weather crossed paths.”   John Egerton