With temperatures rising in many parts of the world, advice to drink water to avoid dehydration is taking center stage. But one specialist doctor offers a completely different piece of advice.
Dr. Natasha Fernando, medical director at Meditechex, says that "milk may be more hydrating than water," especially during extreme heat waves.
This is due to milk's unique composition. It contains sugar, protein, and fat, which slow the rate at which fluids leave the stomach, helping the body retain water for longer compared to regular water, which passes through the digestive system more quickly. Additionally, milk contains sodium, a mineral that helps the body retain water longer, thus promoting hydration and preventing dehydration.
The good news is that this benefit isn't limited to cow's milk. Those with lactose intolerance or who follow a vegan diet can benefit from plant-based alternatives, especially soy milk, which contains electrolytes that also help rehydrate the body.
But milk is not the only option. Dr. Fernando recommends watermelon, coconut water, cucumber or cucumber juice, and fresh fruit juices diluted with water, as they all help keep the body cool and hydrated.
You may have heard the old advice that drinking hot tea on a hot day helps to cool you down, and there's some scientific truth to that. The hot beverage stimulates the body to sweat, and when the sweat evaporates from the skin's surface, it effectively cools the body.
A neuroscientist from Cambridge University explained that the effect of a hot drink on the body's cooling mechanisms outweighs its actual effect in heating it, which also explains why chili peppers are so popular in hot countries, because they stimulate sweating and lower body temperature.
But there's an important caveat: for this mechanism to work properly, sweat must be able to evaporate from the skin. If it's very humid, or you're wearing heavy clothing that prevents evaporation, the hot drink will make you feel warmer instead of cooler. In this case, cold milk remains a better option.
