Three drinks that could leave you dehydrated – avoid during the heatwave

With the UK set to continue to experience hot weather in the coming weeks there are several health warnings to be aware of.

Dehydration is one such issue to look out for and it can become serious if not treated.

While the obvious answer would seem to be drinking any form of liquid, there are some beverages that could actually exacerbate the problem.

Nutritionist Toby King, working with Hot Tub Lodges, explained: “You may think that consuming any liquid will help you to fight dehydration this summer but that isn’t the case.

“Some foods and liquids will cause more water to leave your body than is being put in.”

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He shared three types of drinks that should be avoided if you are at risk of becoming dehydrated.

Soda

Cracking open a cold can of soda may feel like the thing to do this summer but the majority of soda drinks will contain caffeine.

Caffeine increases the production of urine which leads to more water leaving the body.

Mr King said: “While some research on caffeinated drinks may suggest that the fluid in caffeinated drinks balances out the water lost because of the diuretic effect, it’s always safer to be cautious.”

Alcohol

It’s very tempting to open the bubbly during this beautiful weather but any alcoholic drink will make you want to pee more.

“Alcohol inhibits the production of a hormone called vasopressin,” Mr King explained.

“Vasopressin is the hormone responsible for decreasing water excretion and water reabsorption in the body.

“Alcohol turns this hormone off which makes us go to the bathroom more.

“Combining alcohol and heat can be very dangerous as you can easily get dehydrated.

“Dehydration can start with you feeling thirsty, dizzy and tired but can be far more serious and lead to confusion and seizures.”

Energy drinks

“Energy drinks are filled with sugars, caffeine and other chemicals that make them a bad choice for hydration in this heat,” Mr King added.

According to the NHS, symptoms of dehydration include:

• Feeling thirsty
• Dark yellow, strong-smelling pee
• Urinating less often than usual
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• Feeling tired
• A dry mouth, lips and tongue
• Sunken eyes.