Does Alcohol dehydrate you?

Tummy · 4 Sep 2010 at 18:03

Having a "debate" with a friend.

He says it doesn't.

I say it does.

Who's correct?

Biohazard · 4 Sep 2010 at 18:04

TheCenturion · 4 Sep 2010 at 18:04

Yes, I suppose technically it does.
Edit: beaten

Wicksta · 4 Sep 2010 at 18:04

http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&sour...does+alcohol+deh&gs_rfai=&fp=22546701030962e3

Cosimo · 4 Sep 2010 at 18:05

You are:

Dehydration: Alcohol is a diuretic. This means it encourages the body to lose more water than it takes on by halting the production of the body's anti-diuretic hormone. This means you feel the need to pee excessively, thus speeding up the loss of fluid from the body that leads to dehydration.

Alcohol also attacks our stores of vitamins and minerals, which need to be in the correct balance for the body to function normally. Dehydration caused by drinking can affect the balance by draining potassium from the body, resulting in thirst, muscle cramps, dizziness and faintness

Source

Tummy · 4 Sep 2010 at 18:06

Anyone care to offer an explanation ?

My response is "Alcohol is a diuretic which means it makes your body lose more water then it takes on, added to having to wee more when drinking you lose water a lot faster then normal"

Tummy · 4 Sep 2010 at 18:06

Yay I win.

Stromatolites · 4 Sep 2010 at 18:06

It does dehydrate you over time, however it is one of the best hydraters for a short spirt if needed. Well Beer is.

Amp34 · 4 Sep 2010 at 18:06

Which is why you get a hangover...

Tummy · 4 Sep 2010 at 18:07

Short?

Burnsy2023 · 4 Sep 2010 at 18:08

Although alcohol is a diuretic, most alcoholic drinks will still give you a net increase in water.

Tummy · 4 Sep 2010 at 18:09

How so Burnsy?

Stromatolites · 4 Sep 2010 at 18:09

Well alcohol will dehydrate you if you drink it in the night and then wake up in the morning hungover thus the hangover.
But if you are dehydrated due to heat or lack of fluid, it can be a very quick fix to dehydration that way. But water would be needed after a while.

Stromatolites · 4 Sep 2010 at 18:10

Burnsy2023 said:
Although alcohol is a diuretic, most alcoholic drinks will still give you a net increase in water.

Tummy said:
How so Burnsy?

Because its mainly made of water.

Tummy · 4 Sep 2010 at 18:10

Ah get it.

Thanks

Burnsy2023 · 4 Sep 2010 at 18:12

Stromatolites said:
Because its mainly made of water.

Indeed.

Meridian · 4 Sep 2010 at 19:21

Burnsy2023 said:
Although alcohol is a diuretic, most alcoholic drinks will still give you a net increase in water.

Figure I heard for beer was: one pint in results in a pint and a half out.

M

xJcBx · 4 Sep 2010 at 19:22

I like to think it doesn't, but the truth is, it does.

JBuk · 4 Sep 2010 at 19:24

Burnsy2023 said:
Although alcohol is a diuretic, most alcoholic drinks will still give you a net increase in water.

Does it really though?

I always feel quite dehydrated the morning after one too many

Xordium · 4 Sep 2010 at 20:29

Burnsy2023 said:
Although alcohol is a diuretic, most alcoholic drinks will still give you a net increase in water.

You will get an immediate increase in the circulating volume provided to the body due to the water content but over time the impairment of ADH function results in a loss. Water overloaded patients given diuretics through IV are given an immediate overall increase but once the drug works there is an overall loss - same principal. So the balance is if you had a splash of vodka in a large orange juice then Burnsy is correct if you had a splash of orange juice in a large vodka then you would dehydrate yourself to a point when the kidney would say hey up and stop you losing anymore water as water control is not just mediated by ADH. The trick is finding that happy medium where you have sufficient alcohol levels in sufficient water so you get the good effects with non of the bad!