Expert warns against popular summer drink which can cause dehydration as Scotland to hit 20C

Daily Record

a day ago

There are certain things people should be avoiding during hot weather, as it could worsen the effects of dehydration.
With temperatures soaring to highs of 20C in parts of the Scotland this week, it's clear that a heatwave has taken hold of the country this summer. There's a buzz of advice on what to be cautious of during the hot spell, including heatstroke, keeping cool, and maintaining hydration.
It is forecast to be 17C in Glasgow on Tuesday but this is expected to rise to 20C on Wednesday and Thursday. To help keep Brits cool, The Mirror has highlighted certain activities to avoid in the heat as they could exacerbate dehydration effects and this includes minimising intake of a certain drink - and it's not coffee.
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Today (June 10) is expected to be dry with sunny intervals. Wednesday should also be dry but will have light cloud until evening. Thursday is set to have heavy rain, with the damp weather continuing over the weekend and into next week.
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Rohini Bajekal, a nutritionist and Board-Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional with Plant Based Health Professionals, has issued a warning about the risks of dehydration. Rohini stated: "Hydration is super important, and you can find countless tips on staying hydrated, from time-marked bottles to whether tea and coffee count towards your water intake."
She continued: "Dehydration can cause several, and serious health issues ranging from headaches, dizziness and lack of focus, to kidney and brain problems in severe cases."
Rohini emphasised: "It's important that we stay hydrated at all times, but even more so as we approach the summer months."
While it's well-known that drinking plenty of water is crucial in hot weather, there's one popular summertime drink that could actually worsen dehydration. Rohini cautioned: "Alcohol is an obvious drink to avoid. Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it can cause your body to remove fluids from your blood through your renal system at a much faster rate than other liquids."
She added: "This means you dehydrate faster than usual.
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"When drinking, I would recommend drinking water at regular intervals to replenish your system, and choose lighter coloured drinks with lower alcohol content, and obviously limit how much you drink.
"I would also recommend avoiding sugary drinks. A study (July 2016) published in the American Journal of Physiology found that sugar sweetened beverages worsen dehydration and increase kidney injuries. These drinks often contain high amounts of caffeine too."
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Health expert Rohini also suggests incorporating hydrating food items into one's diet, highlighting vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes, as well as fruits such as watermelon, for their significant water content.
Rohini elaborated: "Roughly two-thirds of our body is made up of water. Whole plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables generally have a high water content.
"Cucumber (95 per cent water), watermelon (91 per cent), spinach (93 per cent), mushrooms (92 per cent) and tomatoes (95 per cent) are especially good sources.
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"They are also rich in fibre, a nutrient which only one in 10 UK adults meets the daily recommendation for."
Additionally, she remarked: "The eight glasses a day goal is rather arbitrary as there are many factors that affect water intake including age, gender, body weight, the overall environment (e.g. a hot climate), activity levels, medical conditions, pregnancy and breastfeeding."
While various beverages contain water, they could have diuretic effects, prompting more frequent loo visits.
Rohini cautioned: "If you're drinking alcohol or a lot of coffee, remember they are diuretics (which means they promote water loss through urine), so it is a good idea to drink a glass of water in between drinks."