Beer: dehydrating or not?

FTGFOP

Beer. It's the only evidence of a benign universe, but is it dehydrating? As I understand it, alcohol is a diuretic. But beer is a weak alcohol solution that's still mostly water and so has a nett hydrating effect.

But then you have six, of an evening, and go to bed, no salty fast food, nothing. You wake up dehydrated and thirsty. Why?

FTGFOP

--Kaiser--

Pretty much any alcoholic drink has a net dehydrating effect. Best to drink a glass of water occasionally when drinking.

menoscemo

FTGFOP wrote: »

Beer. It's the only evidence of a benign universe, but is it dehydrating? As I understand it, alcohol is a diuretic. But beer is a weak alcohol solution that's still mostly water and so has a nett hydrating effect.

But then you have six, of an evening, and go to bed, no salty fast food, nothing. You wake up dehydrated and thirsty. Why?

One glass of beer might have a net hydrating effect but when you have 6 the diuretic effects of the alcohol in the beer will outweigh this.

FTGFOP

But why?

Why does it go from being hydrating to dehydrating all of a sudden when the ratio of alcohol to water in the beer will remain constant?

menoscemo

FTGFOP wrote: »

But why?

Why does it go from being hydrating to dehydrating all of a sudden when the ratio of alcohol to water in the beer will remain constant?

So you're asking why do you get drunk?

RobAMerc

I know I tend to use the loo an awful lot more when I am drinking. I know it may be because of the large quantity of fluids I am consuming, but I must surely also be expelling nutrients / electrolytes etc no ?

metamorphosis

FTGFOP wrote: »

But why?

Why does it go from being hydrating to dehydrating all of a sudden when the ratio of alcohol to water in the beer will remain constant?

Because alcohol is toxic to your body.

What does your body wish to do with toxins if it can? Excrete them.

How does your body deal with the toxic effects of alcohol? Urinate.

So, you are drinking lots of alcohol - ergo, you urinate a lot over the next few hours and if you are not drinking enough water between drinks or before you sleep = dehydrate.

Like said, the 1st drink will have an overall hydrating effect but the more you drink, the above will apply.

FTGFOP

menoscemo wrote: »

So you're asking why do you get drunk?

I don't think so.

Thanks for the replies everyone.