What Alcohol Dehydrates You The Most? Doctors Explain

If you are wearing multiple layers or in a warm environment, you could induce a light sweat if you drink multiple glasses of wine in a row. For example, research from 2017 found that in elderly men at risk of dehydration, moderate consumption of high alcoholic beverages such as wine and liquor caused a diuretic effect. Beverages with lower alcohol content, such as beer, did not appear to have this effect. A lower-alcohol beer, if you don’t drink too many, will be less dehydrating than wine or hard liquor, since beer generally has a lower alcohol content. No matter what you choose to drink, drinking slowly and savoring your drink is a good way to moderate your total alcohol consumption and minimize alcohol’s dehydrating effects. Therefore, it’s best to moderate your intake of energy drinks and alcoholic beverages and pair these drinks with plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it can increase urine production and potentially lead to dehydration. Therefore, it is crucial to consume wine in moderation and balance it with adequate water intake. Alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and liquor increase urine output and could cause dehydration if consumed in large amounts. Caffeinated energy drinks may also contain ingredients that increase urine production and contribute to dehydration.

Eat hydrating foods

As a wine enthusiast, I often find myself pondering various aspects of this beloved beverage. One question that has crossed my mind is whether wine dehydrates the body. It’s a topic that has sparked much debate, and in this article, I aim to delve deep into the details to provide you with a comprehensive answer. Dehydration can affect every area of your body, so it’s only natural to wonder how widespread the effects of alcohol-induced dehydration can spread. Studies reveal that adult men and women should drink no more than four standard drinks on any one occasion. If you drink six to 10 standard drinks, this could lead to 600–1,000 mL of lost fluids, causing dehydration.

Milk is also a good choice to help you rehydrate, assuming your hangover hasn’t put you off dairy. The same 2016 study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that milk was more hydrating than water, sports drinks, coffee, tea, and a handful of other common beverages [6]. Drinks that contained electrolytes—milk and oral rehydration solutions, for example—were more hydrating after two hours compared to water. [6] In other words, subjects peed less relative to their fluid intake two hours after consuming these drinks compared to water. In another study in 20 older adults, drinking just 2 servings of wine increased short-term urine output. However, the effects of certain types of alcohol may differ, as drinking 2 servings of beer did not have a significant effect (11, 12).

Is it safe to drink a cork-tainted wine?

A 2021 trial study of coronary heart disease patients found that low to moderate wine consumption lowered their inflammation (12). Most research on drinking wine has been observational, meaning it has shown a link rather than conclusive proof of its benefits. Further studies are needed to establish whether small amounts of red wine are beneficial for health (4). Your body uses vitamin B12 to eliminate alcohol from your body and aids in breakdown of carbs. Many carbs in alcohol turn to sugar that will spike your blood sugar levels.

• Drinking just one glass of wine a day over your maintenance level of calories can add 13 lbs.
• With interrupted production of vasopressin due to the consumption of alcohol, you start to lose more water through urination, which can cause those symptoms of dehydration.
• Gene variants that cause reduced activity may increase the risk of cancer with wine consumption.
• Drinking water while you’re still drunk isn’t going to prevent you from becoming dehydrated, but it may help lessen the degree to which you’re dehydrated.
• Beer and cider have lower alcohol contents than other alcoholic drinks and are less dehydrating.

The more time the wine cooks, the slower evaporation is, so even after a long braise or simmer, there’s still some alcohol left. So if you have guests who perhaps can’t or shouldn’t consume alcohol, let them know before they dig in, does alcohol dehydrate you or opt for an easy ingredient swap like vinegar, stock, or lemon juice. Some chemicals in wine provide antioxidants, may promote longevity, and can help protect against heart disease and harmful inflammation, among other benefits.

Medical Links

But if you’re in danger of a hangover or are already in the throes of this unpleasant but common alcohol aftereffect, you can try treatments like Next Health’s IV Drip Therapy. This is not likely to cause dehydration by itself, but in conjunction with the other side effects above, it could lead to a mild dehydration effect. For larger families that take meals to work and school, this set is perfect, as there’s a size for every need.

• So, the next time you’re mastering your cooking techniques and aren’t sure which wine to go with, taste it.
• Generally, the higher the alcohol content of a beverage, the more dehydrating it can be.
• I know that alcohols are more volatile than water and that ethanol boils at only 78 degrees as opposed to 100 degrees Celsius for water.
• Liquor and wine also have a higher amount of alcohol by volume (ABV) than beer, contributing to a potentially greater risk of dehydration from these beverages.

Next Health clarifies the relationship and difference between alcohol and hydration. The flat bottoms of these reusable bags make them extra versatile, working even better than your typical plastic zip storage bag. While these aren’t dishwasher safe, they’re pretty easy to clean by hand and air dry. These stylish containers nest really nicely, making them easy to store when they’re not in use.

How LivPur’s Hydration May Help Alleviate Dehydration

When you have food in your stomach, alcohol is absorbed more slowly into your system. It’s best to drink while eating or just after, and to snack as you continue to drink. Gene variants that cause reduced activity may increase the risk of cancer with wine consumption. Consuming alcohol leads to dehydration and can affect several systems and functions in the body. It is important for a person to be aware of the signs and symptoms of alcohol-induced dehydration and the ways to avoid it. To stay hydrated, a person needs to take steps before, during, and after alcohol consumption.