Nutritionist shares foods that can ‘work against you’ and cause dehydration

The significance of maintaining hydration during the summer is a well-established fact. However, ensuring proper hydration extends beyond just consuming an ample amount of water; it also involves steering clear of certain foods that could contribute to dehydration. Nutritionist Lovneet Batra recently addressed this aspect on Instagram, shedding light on foods that may have a reverse impact on your hydration levels.

In her post, Batra emphasized the importance of hydration and highlighted that some foods can work against you, potentially causing increased dehydration. Here are the foods she mentioned:

1. **Coffee:** Renowned for its dehydrating nature, coffee is also identified as a diuretic. Consuming more than two cups can hinder sodium reabsorption in the body, leading to dehydration. Batra recommends regulating coffee intake to avoid this.

2. **Diet soda:** Despite being a common choice for quenching thirst, diet soda can have a hypernatremic effect due to its sugar content, drawing water from tissues. Additionally, the caffeine in these drinks acts as a mild diuretic, further impacting hydration.

3. **Alcohol:** Known for its substantial dehydrating properties, alcohol commonly causes feelings of dehydration the morning after consumption. Batra attributes this effect to the impact of alcohol on the brain.

4. **High protein intake:** Individuals on high-protein diets may experience dehydration. The body utilizes more water to metabolize the nitrogen naturally present in protein, leading to a significant loss of water content in cells and an increased sense of dehydration.

5. **Salty snacks:** High salt content in snacks induces dehydration by influencing the body’s sodium levels. This prompts the kidneys to compensate by extracting water from other areas in the body, leaving organs and cells lacking fluid. Any food with elevated salt levels can contribute significantly to dehydration.

Batra’s insights underscore the need for a holistic approach to hydration, not just through adequate water intake but also by being mindful of the impact certain foods can have on the body’s hydration balance.