Turns Out Water Isn't Actually the Best Thing for Staying Hydrated

When you're really thirsty and need something to drink, which beverages actually keep you hydrated the longest? Most people automatically grab water, but plain old H2O isn't the most hydrating drink you can get your hands on.

Some researchers from Scotland's St. Andrews University decided to test how different drinks affect hydration, and their findings might surprise you. While water - both still and sparkling - does an okay job of quickly getting your body hydrated, drinks with a bit of sugar, fat, or protein actually keep you hydrated way longer.

The reason boils down to how our bodies handle different beverages, according to Ronald Maughan, a professor at St. Andrews' School of Medicine. Two main things affect how well a drink hydrates you.

First is how much you drink - the more you gulp down, the faster it empties from your stomach and gets soaked up into your bloodstream, where it can water down your body's fluids and hydrate you.

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