Post-evening hydration - Drink water, but not just water

Waking up is hard and you feel as dry as a date?
You down a litre of water in one go… and yet you still have a headache.

 

👉 That's because drinking water alone isn't enough to rehydrate you effectively after a boozy night.
Welcome to the world of smart hydration. Spoiler: we're going to talk electrolytes, osmosis and potassium (but we promise it won't be complicated to understand).

 

 

🧪 Why water isn't enough

Alcohol is a diuretic. It blocks vasopressin (the antidiuretic hormone), which pushes your kidneys to get rid of far more water than you drink.

➡️ The result:

• You lose water
  
  

• You lose essential electrolytes (sodium, potassium)
  
  

• And your body no longer knows how to hold on to the water you give it

 

“Water intake without sodium after dehydration leads to increased diuresis and poor fluid retention.”  Shirreffs SM et al., European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2007

 

 

⚡ Electrolytes: the invisible stars of rehydration

Electrolytes are electrically charged minerals that allow your body to:

• Contract your muscles
  
  

• Transmit nerve signals
  
  

• Maintain your fluid balance

 

And yes, without them, you don't retain water. It's like filling a sieve.

 

“Sodium plays a key role in fluid retention after exercise or alcohol intoxication.” Sawka MN et al., Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2007

 

 

💡 So what should you actually drink?

✅ Water + sodium

• Sparkling water such as Vichy St-Yorre or Rozana
  
  

• Salted homemade broth
  
  

• Lemon water + a pinch of salt

❌ To avoid:

• Still water on its own (in large amounts all at once)
  
  

• Sugary sodas (insulin spike → crash)
  
  

• Coffee (and yes, if you're interested, we actually have another article dedicated to coffee)

🍋 Quick homemade recipe

One glass (500 ml) of a homemade drink:

• Warm water
  
  

• Juice of half a lemon
  
  

• A pinch of salt
  
  

• A spoonful of honey
  
  

• Optional: fresh ginger or mint
  
  

 

 

 

📦 Hydration: what science recommends

 

🧠 In short:

Drinking a lot is good.
Drinking efficiently is better.

 

 

Your body doesn't just want water: it wants water it can actually use. And that comes down to the right minerals… and a touch of intelligence (yours, now that you know).