The Least Dehydrating Cocktail To Enjoy A Breezy Night Out

Let's be honest: When you're unwinding after a long day with a cocktail or downing beers on the beach while on vacation, you're completely in the moment. You're enjoying yourself and the drinks, and probably the last thing on your mind is hydration. Usually, it only comes up the next morning when you wake with a splitting headache and an uneasy stomach and are kicking yourself for not drinking enough water while imbibing.

It's pretty well known that hydration is vital when it comes to drinking alcohol, but it's amazing how often we forget or simply ignore that fact when the drinks are flowing. But, there is a way to make things a little easier. Specifically, there's a choice of cocktail you can make that has built-in hydration because it contains a good amount of water. It's vodka soda or vodka water. Vodka soda contains a mix of vodka with either soda water, club soda, or seltzer, whereas vodka water is simply the liquor combined with still water. Mild and refreshing, the drink can give you a head start on rehydrating your body, which may prevent those awful hangover symptoms.

Typically, any kind of alcohol can dehydrate you because it's considered a diuretic, meaning it encourages urine production and clears your kidneys and bladders of liquids quicker, according to Medical News Today. The faster those liquids leave your body, the quicker you'll become dehydrated. And, sometimes (like when you're drinking alcohol and distracted), you may not even realize you're dehydrated until hours later, or the next morning. In order to prevent this, Healthline suggests drinking a 16-ounce glass of water for every 12-ounce bottle of beer or 4 to 6 ounces of liquor you enjoy.

With vodka soda or vodka water, you're already rehydrating yourself somewhat, so you don't have to work as hard to get those 16-ounce glasses of water in between drinks. Plus, it's quite an easy cocktail to prepare. To make a vodka soda, pour 1.5 ounces of vodka (any flavor) over ice and top the rest of the glass with soda water (about 5 ounces). You can add a squeeze of lemon or lime, or a splash of any kind of juice you want, for some added flavor. 

Now that it's clear how to get a leg up on hydration while drinking cocktails, there's even more you can do before and after a night of indulging to keep you feeling good and hydrated. If you know you'll be ordering beer, wine, or specialty drinks, you'll want to intake plenty of water and fluids during the day and eat vitamin and protein-rich meals to supplement your body. Maple water is a great option for hydration and electrolyte-fueled beverages are smart, too. But, shockingly, water may not be the best beverage for staying hydrated — that title is reserved for milk.

You'll also want to take in extra fluids throughout the night of drinking, and it's best to take it slow so you can recognize when your body has had enough alcohol. Finally, when your night comes to an end, drink something non-alcoholic and hydrating before you go to bed. All of these steps can help you wake up feeling refreshed and hydrated.