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‘Paani Peete Rehna Chahiye’ (we should keep drinking water) is a dialogue made popular by a cult Hindi film called Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota. In the story, the protagonist suffers from a rare condition which makes him immune to pain—but there’s a catch: he has to stay hydrated, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to function. While not as exaggerated as in the film, we’ve always been advised to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, and led to believe that water is the best option for doing so. Well, according to a new study, that is not the case.
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Milk Is The Most Hydrating Liquid, Not Water
A study from Scotland’s St. Andrews University compared the hydration responses of some of the usually consumed drinks. The researchers found that while water remains an easily available and convenient option to quickly hydrate ourselves, contrary to the common view, it may not be the most prudent. The research suggested that beverages with a little bit of sugar, fat or protein do a far more efficient job of keeping us hydrated. “The reason has to do with how our bodies respond to beverages,” according to Ronald Maughan, a professor at St. Andrews’ School of Medicine and the study’s author. “One factor is the volume of a given drink: The more you drink, the faster the drink empties from your stomach and gets absorbed into the bloodstream, where it can dilute the body’s fluids and hydrate you,” he adds.
Why Milk Is Better Than Water
The researchers found that when it comes to hydration, milk was the most efficient primarily owing to its nutritional composition. “The difference lies in how our body reacts to a particular liquid,” Kanika Malhotra, Dietitian and Communications Expert, HealthPresso, says. We pee more after drinking water than drinking milk and that suggests our body retains more milk than water. “That is because of the nutritional value in the milk,” the expert adds. Milk is a nutrient-rich beverage containing a wide array of essential vitamins and minerals. According to the American Dairy Association milk is a good source of calcium, protein, vitamin D, phosphorus, vitamin A, riboflavin, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, niacin, zinc, selenium, iodine, and potassium. Some sources, like Arla Foods, also highlight that milk is a source of potassium, magnesium, and choline.
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Beware Of Sugar
The research also shows that the drinks that have more sugar concentration may not be as hydrating as thought earlier. Fruit juices and colas are examples of beverages with higher sugar content that may not be as hydrating as their lower-sugar counterparts. Osmosis, which draws water from the body into the small intestine to dilute the sugars, causes them to spend more time in the stomach and empty more slowly than plain water.Besides being less hydrating, juice and soda contain additional calories and sugars that won't satisfy our hunger as well as solid foods. If you have to choose between water and a sugar concentrated drink, the experts believe water should be your choice.
Conclusion
Despite not being the best hydrating liquid, drinking water remains essential. Especially during the summers as the temperature keeps rising. If milk is easily available one should drink as often as possible, and if not, water is not a bad option either.