If you drink plenty of water but you're still feeling thirsty all the time, it's time to switch things up. Don't cut out the H2O, but use these liquid alternatives for some extra hydration when you need it.
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00:00If you drink plenty of water but you're still feeling thirsty all the time, it's
00:04time to switch things up. Don't cut out the H2O, but use these liquid
00:09alternatives for some extra hydration when you need it. This may surprise you,
00:14but milk is one of the most hydrating drinks around. Whether you prefer skim or
00:18whole, milk contains a significant water content in general. The fat, lactose, and
00:24sodium content all help to balance the fluids in the body. Additionally, the
00:28nutrients and water from milk will stick around in your body for longer
00:32than plain water, which is filtered out rather quickly. You probably don't see
00:36too many people at the gym with a tall glass of whole milk after a strenuous
00:40workout, but maybe they should start. However, it's worth noting that milk
00:44contains a lot of calories, which can add up if you're drinking eight glasses a
00:49day instead of water. Non-dairy milk like almond or oat varieties are also just as
00:54hydrating, if not more so, than water. These alternatives are made by blending
00:59the base ingredient with water to turn it into milk, so the body will still
01:03absorb all of that water along with any additional nutrients.
01:06We're out of milk. Are you kidding me? Another great alternative to water that
01:14also nourishes your body with added vitamins and minerals is fruit juice.
01:18Juices tend to contain electrolytes, which are compounds like sodium, potassium,
01:23and magnesium that keep your bodily fluids balanced and help your cells
01:27function properly. In general, replenishing your body with electrolytes
01:31can help promote recovery better than water alone. Fruit juice is also loaded
01:36with vitamins like vitamin C, which can promote a strong immune system.
01:39Additionally, the average orange juice is composed of 90% water, so it's nearly
01:44just as hydrating as a glass of plain water alone. Grapefruit and pineapple
01:49juice are two other great vitamin-packed options to add to your daily diet,
01:52especially in the morning as a kickstarter to the day. While fruit juices
01:57can be a beneficial addition to your diet to stay hydrated, they should never
02:00totally replace your water intake for long periods. Sports drinks are a common
02:06hydration replacement for water, as the average brand like Gatorade contains
02:09electrolytes and additional carbohydrates to replenish the body
02:12after an intense workout. It's why athletes are often featured in
02:16advertisements for sports drinks, as they are the target audience after all.
02:19However, due to their high sugar content, sports drinks shouldn't totally replace
02:24water for most people unless they want to impact their physical health in
02:28negative ways, such as tooth enamel erosion. Sports drinks also contain
02:33sodium, which helps the body to retain water better, and many feature amino acids
02:38that can aid in muscle recovery. In addition to the old standby of Gatorade,
02:42Body Armor is another popular sports drink that has the added benefit of
02:45containing no artificial sweeteners in its bottled beverages. The brand also
02:50has zero-sugar light options, or edge drinks that contain caffeine. For those
02:55who live an active lifestyle, incorporating a sports drink into your
02:58diet can absolutely help to keep your body at its optimal level of hydration.
03:03Gatorade not only quenches your thirst better, it tastes better too.
03:08One of the best alternatives for water for staying hydrated on a hot day is
03:13coconut water, which is the clear fluid in coconuts that's slightly sweet and nutty.
03:17Unlike coconut juice, it typically doesn't contain any puree from the
03:21actual fruit. Coconut water is high in a variety of electrolytes, particularly
03:27potassium, which can aid in maintaining low blood pressure. Hydration is also an
03:31essential aspect in preventing kidney stones, and the electrolytes in coconut
03:35water help the body's filtration process function even better. Vita Coco is a
03:40well-known brand that you can find at the average grocery store that can work
03:43as a fun swap for water. Vita Coco offers an original variety, which is pure
03:48coconut, as well as pineapple and peach mango flavors to make it even tastier to
03:52do something good for your body. Sparkling water is just water fizzed up
03:57with carbon dioxide, and it's just as hydrating as the still version. It might
04:02be more beneficial to some people than regular water, as the fun flavors will
04:05encourage them to consume more throughout the day. Your body will still
04:09ingest the water just the same, whether or not it has a bit of gas in it.
04:12Researchers even believe that the carbon dioxide dissipates once it hits those
04:16gases in your stomach, so it's all just water to your digestive system anyway. It
04:21may not be better for a workout or for people with gastrointestinal issues,
04:25though, as the carbon dioxide can cause bloating. Nixie is one of the newer
04:30options on the market that's organic and offers flavor mashups like watermelon
04:34mint and strawberry hibiscus. And there's also Sanzo, which offers bubbly
04:39water in Asian-inspired flavors like yuzu and calamansi. Just as with fruit
04:45juice, the juice pressed from fresh vegetables can provide a double whammy
04:48of hydration and vitamins. Pressed juice is the best option, as it helps to
04:53retain all of the nutrients in each vegetable while also offering all of
04:57that water content. Also, like fruit, each vegetable contains a varying amount of
05:01water. Some of the most water-dense vegetables are celery, cucumber, leafy
05:07greens, and bell peppers, which can also help keep your body hydrated when eaten
05:11fresh. If you have a juicer at home, you're in great shape, but you can also
05:14pick up something from a juice bar to feel energized for the remainder of the
05:18day. V8 is one of the most well-known vegetable juices on the market. Famously,
05:22each 8-ounce can contains two servings of vegetables like beets, carrots,
05:26tomatoes, spinach, and more. V8 has gone on to expand its line of flavors,
05:30including both fruit and vegetable juices, and the drinks are a great option
05:34for anyone looking to stay healthy and hydrated.
05:37Wow, I could have had a V8.
05:40Aloe vera juice isn't the most popular drink around, but this underrated
05:44beverage can provide plenty of health benefits that include keeping you
05:48hydrated. Aloe vera juice is either made from the green outer leaf or by mixing
05:53aloe vera gel with water or citrus juice for added flavor. Aloe vera offers plenty
05:58of antioxidants as well as antimicrobial properties. Some people believe that it
06:02can also help promote a healthy digestive system and clear skin, though
06:07the studies aren't clear-cut. There's also a laxative effect that's been tied
06:11to aloe vera juice when it's made out of the green outer part of the plant. It's
06:15important to note that in large amounts, the version made with the outer leaf can
06:18be unsafe. However, the mainstream bottled versions contain just trace amounts that
06:24provide a safe mix of vitamins and minerals when enjoyed in moderation.
06:29Bone broth isn't the miracle health cure that some people may tout it as, but this
06:33trendy ingredient does offer plenty of health benefits. It's made out of claws,
06:38knuckles, tendons, and bones from different animals to make a rich soup.
06:42Soup made with stock from bones has long been associated with healing, and bone
06:47broth can also help to replenish your electrolytes. Bone broth is also a
06:51naturally hydrating liquid with the added benefit of sodium, which is key for
06:55hydration retention. It doesn't matter if the broth is made from the bones of
06:59chicken, pork, beef, or fish. In any case, the nutrients that seep out into the
07:04broth are undoubtedly a boost to your health. So, swapping out one glass of
07:08water per day for bone broth could very well help your body better absorb all of
07:12the water and electrolytes that you consume throughout the day. The main
07:16marketing tactic for electrolyte drink powder mixes is hydration. Whether it's
07:22after a hot day in the sun or too much alcohol, brands like Pedialyte and Liquid
07:26IV boast added electrolytes to help your body better absorb the water it's mixed
07:31into. Pedialyte is the old-school option available in liquid bottles and drink
07:35mixes. It's full of nutrients, and it's even recommended to help keep babies
07:40hydrated. Pedialyte flavors are pretty typical, like berry or orange, so
07:49Liquid IV is for those with a more sophisticated palate. Both brands boast
07:53similar benefits of electrolytes and vitamins, but Liquid IV offers them in
07:57flavors like pina colada and seaberry. The list of brands making variations of
08:02electrolyte drink mixes is quite extensive, and all of them can be an
08:05appropriate way to replenish your body when water alone isn't cutting it.
08:09Additionally, they can be useful when you drink them before a long day of exercise
08:13or consuming alcohol to prevent dehydration in the first place. Kombucha
08:18is another buzzy health drink that gets a lot of praise, and it can also help you
08:22keep your daily fluid intake on par while boasting digestive health benefits.
08:26Kombucha is a fermented tea, usually made with a brew of sugar, black or green tea,
08:32and SCOBY, which is the bacteria and yeast culture that adds all of those
08:36important probiotics. This powerful drink can help support a healthy immune system
08:40as well as gut health when you drink it along with water. It's also a great
08:44option if you want to drink something a little fancier than water and you want
08:47something healthier than a sugary soda or an alcoholic cocktail. There are
08:52plenty of popular kombucha brands on the market. HealthAid is one bottled option
08:56with a flavor for nearly every palate. Covita also has an extensive line of gut
09:00boosting drinks from bubbly kombucha to vinegar tonics. For those who prefer
09:05something without the funky fermentation, there are also probiotic soda options
09:09like Culture Pop that provide similar benefits but are a bit more flavorful
09:13than plain water. The key here is to drink plenty of water with your kombucha
09:17it is a diuretic after all so if you just drink kombucha all day you risk
09:22dehydrating yourself and that defeats the purpose altogether. Plenty of
09:27non-alcoholic canned drinks combine flavor with function and the base is
09:31often significantly composed of water. A prime example is Hi-Yo, a functional
09:36tonic that markets itself as better than alcohol. The brand utilizes a unique list
09:41of ingredients including nootropics, botanicals, and adaptogens to help boost
09:47your mood and make you feel calm without the buzz of alcohol. Gia is another
09:51popular non-alcoholic brand with aperitif cocktails that can keep you
09:54hydrated while tricking yourself into thinking that you're drinking booze. Some
09:59studies even show that non-alcoholic beer is a suitable swap for water when
10:03it comes to hydration. Non-alcoholic beer typically contains sodium and potassium
10:07so it can be even quicker to hydrate your body than regular water after
10:11exercise. It might sound crazy but it's not the worst idea in the world to chug a
10:16non-alcoholic beer before a workout to stay hydrated. Plenty of mainstream beer
10:21brands sell non-alcoholic versions of their brews that can provide the same
10:25great flavor as the originals just with more hydrating qualities.