Quote:
Originally Posted by Skybird
Actually it is true that beer fights dehydration faster than water, because particle density in beer is "isotonic", and isotonic liquids can be assimiliated faster by the organism, than normal water. However, the effect is the greatest with what in German is called "Weißbier" and "Weizenbier".
For after sports, or long long bike-tours, I use a mix of beer and lemonade, 50-50. In German, it is a long-known drink, most popular in Southern Germany and Bavaria, where it is called "Radler". And there you already have it in the name: Radler translates (in a linear fashion) into "biker" (=> bicycle-rider).
An also isotonic alternative is alcohol-free beer, I have read just days ago. But not all taste acceptable.
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While Beer and your Radler (sounds interesting, gotta be a weird flavor though), is isotonic, the alcohol is still a diuretic. It may be absorbed faster, but it get's excreted even faster.
A diuretic basically increases kidney function, increasing urine output. Side effects of diuretics are Dehydration and Hypotension.
So the fluid gets absorbed quicker, and you do feel better quicker, and part of that is from the alcohol have some sedative effects, but shortly after you are in a worse state when you start losing even more fluid.
Alcohol is one of the worst things to consume when your body is in crisis, as it masks a lot of the symptoms of the underlying cause.
If you truly wanted an isotonic solution, drink saline. .9% salt water.
Or you could drink Gatorade or another sports drink which has been designed to be isotonic and rehydrate and replenish nutrients as quick as possible.