Viral Now - Does Beer Actually Hydrate Us Or Dehydrate Us?

Are you the type of person who drinks beer regularly because it has such great taste, has a small percentage of alcohol, and ultimately makes you feel more relaxed? Have you ever craved a cold beer during a particularly hot summer night, having a feeling it would refresh you and quench your thirst? Yet, have you ever wondered whether it is really the case or just your subjective feeling that beer can hydrate you? Does beer actually hydrate us or dehydrate us?

Its popularity differs slightly from country to country, but in most cases, beer is considered a number-one drink that can almost replace water. This is true because beer was actually used a long time ago as a cleaner alternative to bacteria-infected water. However, it should be noted that such beer was quite mild, with only about 0.5% alcohol, whereas modern beer contains about 4-6% alcohol.

The facts are clear ^[1] as far as beer consumption and hydration are concerned, and they all lead to the conclusion that beer actually speeds dehydration. Since it affects the release of ADH (anti-diuretic hormone), beer actually increases the amount of urine we produce. Normally, the amount of urine we produce per hour depends on our weight. A person who weighs 60kg produces about 60ml of urine. Yet, if a person takes one glass of beer, their ADH production decreases, and an additional 120ml of urine is produced. The overproduction of urine leads to dehydration.

Although it may seem logical, drinking more water with beer won’t actually help significantly, as our bodies will only keep a third of it, making beer-caused dehydration inevitable.

A beer or two every once in a while won’t leave serious consequences for your health. However, next time you are thirsty, try opting for water instead, as it will actually help you hydrate.

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