In children, dehydration is based on how much body weight they’ve lost due to a lack of fluids. After a night of drinking it’s important to make sure you rehydrate. Stoutz says the best way to hydrate is to alternate alcohol and water while you’re drinking. “You can’t is wine dehydrating entirely prevent it, but if you go into drinking well-hydrated, you are less likely to feel the negative effects of dehydration,” she says. That said, being dehydrated before drinking alcohol could cause your blood alcohol concentration to increase more quickly.
Drink an electrolyte solution or sports drink
Dehydration can cause headaches, muscle aches, brain fog, and fatigue, and hydrating with water and electrolytes helps restore fluid balance and can minimize the unpleasant aftereffects of alcohol. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that men don’t exceed two alcoholic drinks in a day and that women limit alcoholic beverages to one drink or less. Without replenishing electrolytes, the body won’t be able to utilize the water you consume, leaving you dehydrated despite drinking plenty of fluids.
What you should know about dehydration
Excessive urination from drinking alcohol causes your body to lose electrolytes, which are important minerals involved in many bodily functions, including nervous system function (4). In particular, it’s best to enjoy caffeinated energy drinks and alcohol in moderation and consume them alongside water to stay properly hydrated. 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). Even though we often drink more beer in a sitting than wine, wine’s higher alcohol strength still nudges it ahead in the dehydration stakes when you compare equal alcohol volumes. The actual dehydration effect depends on how much you drink and your body’s unique response, but generally, wine can be more dehydrating than beer, especially if you’re not balancing it out with enough water.
Alcohol and Dehydration
Though all liquids can help you meet your fluid needs, some may be more hydrating than others. Dehydration can affect multiple bodily functions and cause a wide range of symptoms. When its processed by enzymes in the liver, alcohol is converted into a large amount of acetaldehyde.
- If you lose too much water or don’t drink and eat enough, you can get dehydrated.
- Whether you have a hankering for a glass of pinot noir or something fun and frozen like a piña colada—it’s okay for most people to indulge on occasion.
- To understand how wine dehydrates you, we have to break down the dehydrating effects of alcohol overall.
- This may include medication available to purchase over-the-counter or online, such as anti-diarrhea medicines, anti-emetics (stop vomiting), and anti-fever medicines.
The fastest way to cure mild dehydration is by drinking water, electrolyte drinks, or oral rehydration solutions as soon as you notice signs of dehydration. See a doctor if you have signs of moderate to severe dehydration. The NIAA standards are based on beers that are 5 percent ABV, wine that is 12 percent ABV, and hard spirits that are 40 percent ABV. But it’s important to note that many alcoholic beverages exceed those concentrations. Craft beers can be particularly misleading because while they have an ABV closer to that of wine, they’re generally served in much larger portions. While there has been some past research showing that moderate drinking may have certain health benefits, those findings have been contradicted, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
That will increase your ability to reabsorb water, and leave you more likely to wake up feeling sparkling and ready to face the day — or at least less inclined to put a pillow over your head. Some cocktails can take a toll on your hydration because of additional ingredients. «If you pair alcohol with another diuretic substance such as caffeine, you may naturally urinate more and become even more dehydrated,» Dr. Alexa Mieses Malchuk, M.D., a family physician, tells Bustle.
Does Wine Dehydrate You More Than Beer?
- If you’re into cooking and you pour some wine into a frying pan then the alcohol disappears almost instantaneously.
- Stoutz says the best way to hydrate is to alternate alcohol and water while you’re drinking.
- But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy an adult beverage or two from time to time.
- No more sugar, so no sugary sweetness; the wine is therefore dry.
- And when it lasts a long time, it can cause serious health problems.
