The Best Drinks To Keep You Hydrated (& It's Not Water)

Oct 26, 2023

For years, a familiar refrain has been that drinking water is key to a healthy lifestyle. The human body is mostly comprised of water, so it makes sense that rehydration would be as necessary a part of everyday life as eating and sleeping. Anyone who has experienced fatigue from strenuous exercise (or a hangover after too much alcohol) knows the effects dehydration can have on the body, ranging from a mild headache to severe organ complications. In fact, not drinking enough water can cause complications leading to death.

Water is so much a part of everyday life that we've deferred to it as the default, and only, option for hydrating the body and maintaining a balanced diet. However, some research shows that despite popular belief, water isn't always the best drink to grab to fuel your body. We've rounded up 12 of the best drinks to grab to keep the body hydrated besides water. We're, by no means, suggesting that you cut drinking water out of your daily routine. But adding different drinks to your diet can end up resulting in even more positive health benefits than just the plain stuff. Plus, everything on our list contains much more flavor than a glass of water from the tap.

A great alternative to water that also nourishes your body with added vitamins, and minerals is fruit juice. A lot of health drinks, including fruit juices, boast about their electrolyte content. Electrolytes are compounds like sodium, potassium, magnesium, and more. Essentially, electrolytes keep a person's bodily fluids balanced and help the different cells each function properly. It's why if you work out or have a hangover, replenishing your body with electrolytes can help promote recovery better than water alone.

Fruit juice is loaded with vitamins and electrolytes that are essential to replenish your body, such as orange juice rich with Vitamin C which can promote a strong immune system. Additionally, the average orange juice is comprised of 90% water, so it's nearly just as hydrating as a glass of water alone. Grapefruit juice, pineapple juice, tomato juice, and more all are vitamin-packed drink options to add to your daily diet, especially in the morning as a kickstart to the day. One myth is that eating fruit is twice as hydrating to the body as water, which has been proven to be false. Fruit and fruit juice can be a beneficial addition to a person's diet to help keep them hydrated, but they should never totally replace a person's water intake for long periods.

Contrary to popular belief, milk is one of the most hydrating drinks you can opt for. Whether you like skim or full-fat milk, both varieties contain a significant water content in general. When you consider the fat, lactose, and sodium content of milk, these factors will help to balance the fluids in the body. Additionally, the nutrients/water from the milk will stick around in the body for longer than water, which is filtered out rather quickly, and ultimately results in your body absorbing more of it.

It's a fun fact to tell people that milk is arguably more hydrating than water. It's not common to see a person at the gym replenish with a tall glass of whole milk after a strenuous workout, but it might be a better option than water in some cases. However, it also doesn't provide a suitable swap for every glass of water. Milk contains a lot of calories, which can add up if a person is drinking eight glasses a day instead of water.

As with everything, it's important to equip your body with both milk and water in tandem in an attempt to keep yourself as hydrated as possible. Additionally, non-dairy milk, like almond milk or oat milk, is also as hydrating — if not more so — than water. These alternatives are made by blending the base ingredient with water to turn it into milk, so the body will still absorb all of that water along with any additional nutrients.

There's an everyday misconception that anything with caffeine is dehydrating, which is far from the case. Firstly, tea is made with water. The drink, in and of itself, is enhanced water, so the body still absorbs that for hydration. In addition, the antioxidants in herbal tea, whether it's hot or cold, can be beneficial to one's general health. Herbal tea contains a wide range of antioxidants, including flavonoids, that can help cells repair themselves. Some research indicates that the antioxidants in tea can help a person prevent diseases like heart attack and cancer or other issues like bone loss.

The great part about herbal tea is the large availability of options for flavor preference. Some brands, like David's Tea, sell a huge inventory of loose-leaf teas that are each loaded with wholesome ingredients to appease every palate, and market tea blends aimed at particular health goals, whether it be aiding in sleep, immune support, or digestion. It doesn't matter if the herbal tea is served hot or cold, your body is still going to appreciate the water it's receiving, even if your drink is boosted with herbs and plants from flavored tea.

Sports drinks are a common hydration replacement for water, as the average brand like Gatorade contains electrolytes and additional carbs to replenish the body after intense movement. It's why athletes are often used in advertisements for sports drinks, as they are the target consumer audience. However, due to the sugar content, sports drinks shouldn't totally replace water for most people unless they want to impact their physical health in negative ways, such as tooth enamel erosion. Sports drinks also contain sodium, which helps the body to retain water better, and many feature amino acids that can aid in muscle recovery.

Outside of the longstanding option of Gatorade, Body Armor is another popular sports drink brand that has the added plus of containing no artificial sweeteners in its bottled beverages. The brand also has zero-sugar Lyte options or Edge drinks that contain caffeine. For those who live an active lifestyle, incorporating a sports drink into your diet can help to keep your body at its optimal level of hydration.

One of the best alternatives to water for keeping hydrated on a hot day (or after a night out of drinking) is coconut water. Coconut water is the clear fluid in coconuts that is slightly sweet and nutty. Unlike coconut juice, it typically doesn't contain any purée from the actual fruit. Coconut water is high in a variety of electrolytes, particularly potassium, that can aid in keeping low blood pressure. Hydration is also an essential aspect in preventing kidney stones, and the electrolytes in coconut water help the body filtration process function even better to avoid a trip to the hospital as a result of one.

Vita Coco is a common coconut water brand you can find at the average grocery store and can be a fun drink swap for water. The brand has an original variation, which is pure coconut, pineapple, and peach mango flavors to make it even tastier to do something good for your body.

Technically, sparkling water is just water fizzed up with carbon dioxide. Contrary to what some might believe, sparkling water is just as hydrating as the still version. It might be more beneficial to some people than regular water, as the fun flavors will encourage them to consume more throughout the day than the plain stuff.

The body will still ingest the water just the same, whether or not it has a bit of gas in it. Researchers even believe the carbon dioxide dissipates once it hits those gases in your stomach, so it's all just water to your digestive system. It may not be better for people working out or with gastrointestinal issues, as the carbon dioxide can cause bloating and result in a person drinking less seltzer than they would still water.

LaCroix is one of the most popular grocery store brands of sparkling water that is lightly flavored with options like tangerine, apricot, and peach-pear. Nixie is one of the newer options on the market that's organic and offers flavor mashups like watermelon mint or strawberry hibiscus. A final sparkling water brand worth seeking out is Sanzo, which offers bubbly water in Asian-inspired flavors like yuzu and calamansi.

Similarly to fruit juice, the juice pressed from fresh vegetables can provide a double-whammy benefit of hydration and a hit of vitamins. Pressed juice is the best option, as it helps to retain all of the nutrients in each vegetable while offering all of that water content. Also like fruit, each vegetable contains a varying amount of water. Some of the most water-dense vegetables are celery, cucumber, leafy greens, and bell peppers, which can also help keep the body hydrated when eaten fresh. Some people have juicers at home to make their own fresh-squeezed vegetable juice, but it's also a healthy treat from a juice bar that can keep you feeling hydrated and energized for the remainder of the day.

V8 is one of the longest-available vegetable juices on the market. Famously, one of the brand's 8 oz. cans contains two servings of vegetables like beets, carrots, tomatoes, spinach, and more. The brand has gone on to expand its line of flavors, including both fruit and vegetable juices, and the drinks can be a great addition to the diet of anyone who is looking to keep healthy and hydrated.

Aloe vera juice isn't the most popular drink on the list, but the underrated beverage can provide plenty of added health benefits that include keeping you hydrated. Aloe vera juice is either made from the green outer leaf or by mixing aloe vera gel, which is often used as a topical medicine, with water or citrus juice for added flavor. Aloe vera has a plethora of antioxidants and antimicrobial properties. Some people believe it can help to promote a healthy digestive system and clear skin, but the studies aren't clear-cut.

There is also a laxative effect that's been tied to the drink when it's made out of the green outer part of the plant. It's important to note that, in large amounts, the aloe vera juice made with the outer leaf can be unsafe. The mainstream bottled versions just contain trace amounts that provide a safe amount of vitamins and minerals when enjoyed in moderation. This is also something you can easily make a home by cutting up the aloe vera leaf and mixing it with water, juice, or added sweeteners, and you can boil it over the stove for a DIY aloe vera tea drink that's bound to help settle your stomach. At the very least, it's sure to help keep your daily water intake on track.

Bone broth is one of those nutrition fads in recent years that was seemingly everywhere for a while. It's not the miracle health cure that some advertisements may suggest, but the trendy ingredient (also known as stock) does have plenty of benefits for the body. Bone broth is made out of uses claws, knuckles, tendons, and bones from different animals, depending on the recipe, to make a rich soup. Soup made with stock from bones has long been associated with healing, and bone broth can also help to replenish a person's electrolytes.

Bone broth is a naturally hydrating liquid with the added benefit of sodium, which is key for hydration retention. It doesn't matter if the broth is made from the bones of chicken, pork, beef, or fish — the nutrients that seep out of the bones into the broth are undoubtedly a boost to your health. Again, it's not that everyone should replace their daily water intake with bone broth. However, swapping out one glass could help your body better absorb all of the water and electrolytes you are consuming throughout the day.

The main marketing tactic for electrolyte drink powder mixes is hydration. Whether it's after a hot day in the sun or too much alcohol, brands like Peditalyte and Liquid IV boast added electrolytes like sodium, glucose, and potassium to help your body better absorb the water it's mixed into. Pedialyte is the old-school option, available in liquid bottles and drink mixes, that is full of nutrients, and is even recommended to help keep babies hydrated.

The flavors of Pedialyte are pretty typical like berry or orange, so Liquid IV is for those with a more sophisticated palate. Both brands boast similar benefits of electrolytes and vitamins, but Liquid IV offers them in flavors like piña colada and Seaberry. The list of brands making variations of electrolyte drink mixes is extensive, but all of them can be an appropriate way to replenish your body when just water isn't cutting it. Additionally, they can also be very useful when you drink them before a long day of exercise or consuming alcohol to prevent your body from getting so dehydrated in the first place.

Kombucha is another buzzy health drink that gets a lot of praise, but it can also help you keep your daily fluid intake on par while boasting digestive health benefits. Kombucha is a fermented tea, usually made with a brew of sugar, black or green tea, and Scoby, or the bacteria and yeast culture that adds all of those sought-after probiotics. Kombucha can help to support a healthy immune system as well as gut health when you drink it alongside water. It's a great option for someone who wants to drink something a little fancier than water but wants a healthier option than a sugary soda or an alcoholic cocktail.

There are so many popular kombucha brands on the market. Health-Ade is one bottled option with a flavor for nearly every palate. KeVita also has an extensive line of gut-boosting drinks, from bubbly kombucha to vinegar tonics. For those who prefer something without the funky fermentation, there are also probiotic soda options like Culture Pop that provide similar benefits but are a bit more flavorful than plain water. At their base, all of these probiotic health drinks are made with plenty of water, so they'll undoubtedly help to keep you hydrated.

Finally, unlike its alcoholic counterpart, the category of non-alcoholic drink options also usually includes several drinks that will help to boost a person's hydration levels. Many of the non-alcoholic options combine flavor with function, and the base is often majorly comprised of water anyway. A prime example at work is Hiyo, a functional tonic that markets itself as "better than alcohol." The brand uses a unique list of ingredients including nootropics, botanicals, and adaptogens in its canned drinks to help boost your mood and make you feel calm without the buzz of alcohol. Ghia is another popular nonalcoholic brand with aperitif cocktails that can keep you hydrating while tricking yourself into thinking you're drinking booze.

Some studies even show that nonalcoholic beer is a suitable swap for water when it comes to hydration. Nonalcoholic beer typically has sodium and potassium, so it can even be quicker to hydrate your body than regular water after exercise. It might sound crazy, but it's not the worst idea in the world to chug a non-alcoholic beer before a workout to keep your body hydrated. Mainstream beer brands like Dos Equis, Heineken, and Samuel Adams all sell nonalcoholic versions of their brews that can provide the same great flavor as the originals, just with more hydrating qualities.