How to stay hydrated: What to eat and drink

It’s hot out there. With heatwaves continuing across the country, you need to make sure you’re taking all the necessary precautions to stay hydrated and healthy.

But hydration can be difficult. Do you really know need drink something with electrolytes? Are there foods that help hydrate? And what about things to avoid? We’ll answer all your questions to help you reach your hydration goals and stay safe – even on the sweatiest days.

What about the electrolytes?

Whether you’re training or suffering from a hangover, we’ve all heard about the importance of replenishing electrolytes. But how important are they really?

If you sweat due to high temperatures but don’t exercise, do you still need to pay attention to your intake of these foods?

According to lead scientist Dr. Dave Ellerby, the answer is a clear yes.

“It’s important to note that hydration is not just about water replacement, but also about salt intake,” says Ellerby. “When it’s very hot and you sweat, especially during exercise, you lose a large amount of salt through sweat.”

Sodium is naturally an electrolyte that helps balance water levels in the body and is an important part of hydration, so when you sweat a lot, you not only lose water, but also these important electrolytes.

“Depending on the situation, you may need to replace electrolytes as well as water,” says Ellerby. “If you sweat a lot, too much water can without Electrolytes can be bad for you.”

The solution can be simple: add salt to your water. Or, for a tastier (and more convenient) option, add electrolyte packets to the water, use Vitapod Go, or choose ready-to-drink beverages like Gatorade.

How hydrating are your favorite drinks…really?

We all have our favorite drinks and snacks that we reach for throughout the day. But is your favorite beverage doing more harm than good? And are there better alternatives? We asked our chief scientist to find out.

Does sparkling water hydrate you?

If you’re a sparkling water junkie and have a hard time keeping still water down throughout the day, you’re in luck: sparkling water can serve the purpose just as well as regular water.

In fact, according to several scientific studies, as long as you are adequately hydrated (read: not sweating heavily), there is no difference in hydration between water, sparkling water, and even sodas and juices (although the last two can lead to sugar-related problems in excess).

As long as you drink fluids, it doesn’t make much difference What You drink. But variety is actually key here; drinking too much soda, for example, can worsen dehydration problems.

For all fans of sparkling and flavored water, this is a sign to invest in a Ninja Thirsti. This kitchen appliance allows you to customize each drink with different flavor capsules (which can provide electrolyte and vitamin benefits) as well as fizz and flavor levels.

Ninja Thirsti

With the Ninja Thirsti, you can make a high-quality, customizable drink that’s ready in minutes and requires virtually no cleanup.

Does Gatorade keep you hydrated?

There’s a reason the iconic Gatorade logo is present at so many major sporting events. Gatorade, like other sports drinks with electrolytes, can help you regulate your fluid levels better than water alone. This is especially true after a workout or when you’ve been sweating heavily due to extreme heat.

Does milk hydrate you?

How about drinking milk (or protein shakes with milk) after losing electrolytes?

Milk contains naturally occurring electrolytes, making it great for rehydration after exercise (or when sweating in the heat).

Does coffee hydrate you?

You may think that it’s best to avoid coffee (and other caffeinated beverages) completely when trying to stay adequately hydrated, since these beverages are considered diuretics.

But science says that’s not the case. Caffeine in and of itself has no dehydrating effect. In fact, one study showed that there was no difference between the effects of caffeinated and non-caffeinated beverages on hydration.

So keep drinking your cold brew or iced matcha! Just make sure you keep your fluid levels balanced.

The best things to eat and drink to stay hydrated after sweating

Coconut water

Electrolyte preparations

Sports drinks

fruit and vegetables