Even better than water: These drinks keep fluids in the body longer.

Water is considered the best thirst quencher. However, a study shows it is not always the most effective choice for rapid hydration. Find out here which drinks help the body retain fluids longer, and why.

Adequate hydration is essential for health – especially during the summer months. Increased sweating significantly increases the body's fluid needs. To prevent dehydration, water is generally considered the ideal choice. However, a study shows that it is not always the most effective drink. Find out why and which alternatives are better suited here.

Drinking water in summer? According to a study, it is not the best choice.

Researchers wanted to find out which drinks best hydrate the body. To do this, they developed a new metric: the so-called "Beverage Hydration Index" (BHI). This index shows how well a drink "stays" in the body, i.e., how much of it is actually stored in the body after drinking, compared to water. The study's starting point was the hypothesis that drinks with a high electrolyte or energy content lead to greater fluid retention—that is, the fluid remaining in the body for a longer time—than pure water.

For their study, published in 2016 in the journal *The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition*, the scientists investigated how 13 common beverages affect urine output and fluid balance. They determined the so-called BHI (Biological Health Index) for each beverage. The study involved 72 fasting male participants. Within 30 minutes, each person consumed either 1 liter of still water or 1 of the tested commercially available beverages, including milk, cola, and juice.

Surprising study results: Water is good – but not always the best.

Over the next 4 hours, the researchers collected urine samples, which they used to calculate the Beverage Hydration Index (BHI), adjusted for the water content of the beverages. The analysis showed that some beverages had a higher hydrating effect than water. For example, the total amount of urine excreted within four hours after consuming three of these beverages was less than after the reference intake of still water. The researchers interpret this as a clear indication that more fluid was retained in the body. These beverages included:

• oral rehydration solutions
• Whole milk
• skim milk

In contrast, excretion values ​​after consuming common beverages such as cola, diet cola, hot tea, iced tea, coffee, lager beer, orange juice, carbonated water, and a sports drink did not differ significantly from those after consuming still water.

Oral rehydration solutions: chicken broth, tomato juice, etc.

Consuming so-called oral rehydration solutions can help fluids stay in the body longer than drinking plain water. These are liquid nutrient solutions that, through a combination of sugars, salts, nutrients, and electrolytes, promote the rapid reabsorption of fluid into the tissues and support its retention in the body. According to a guide from the University of Virginia, the following beverages, among others, are suitable as oral rehydration solutions:

• Chicken broth (4 cups water, 1 bouillon cube, 2 tablespoons sugar)
• Cranberry juice (3/4 cup juice, 3.75 cups water, half a teaspoon salt)
• Tomato juice (2.5 cups tomato juice and 2.5 cups water)

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