Sep 2, 2026·1 min read·Graded Spanish · word-by-word audio
Read along
Free preview — playback stops here. Full audio comes with Plus.
La hidratación es muy importante para la salud. El cuerpo humano contiene un 60% de agua, y perder solo un 1-2% de esa agua puede reducir el rendimiento físico. Sin embargo, muchas personas terminan el día ligeramente deshidratadas sin saberlo, porque la sed no siempre es un indicador fiable. Además, no todos los líquidos hidratan igual. El índice de hidratación de las bebidas, conocido como BHI, mide la capacidad de un líquido para permanecer en el cuerpo.
Otras bebidas, como el café, el té, los refrescos de cola y la cerveza, hidratan igual que el agua. Aunque la cafeína tiene un efecto diurético, este no es suficiente para reducir la hidratación que aporta el café. La cerveza, sin embargo, tiene un BHI inferior al agua, porque el alcohol aumenta la producción de orina y el cuerpo elimina más agua de la que ingiere.
Para mejorar la hidratación, se puede añadir una pizca de sal al agua o consumir alimentos salados. La leche es una buena opción después del ejercicio o para personas mayores que necesitan recuperar líquidos rápidamente. En días de calor, el agua sigue siendo la mejor opción para la hidratación diaria, pero en situaciones de deshidratación severa, las bebidas con electrolitos son más eficaces.
Go Plus
You've reached the end of the free preview.
Plus unlocks everything on SpanishReadingDaily:
Every article in full — no daily limit
Word-by-word audio read-along
Smart review that brings saved words back until you own them
Free full article every day — see today's. No card needed.
Have a Plus activation code?
Watch out, English speaker
Spanish impersonal 'se' (se + third-person verb) has no direct English equivalent. English speakers often try to translate it with 'you' or 'they,' but it's better rendered with passive voice or 'one/people.' Example: 'Se puede añadir sal' = 'Salt can be added,' not 'You can add salt.'
Spanish 'aunque' can take either indicative or subjunctive, unlike English 'although' which only takes a factual clause. When 'aunque' is followed by indicative, it means 'although' (a real fact); with subjunctive, it means 'even if' (a hypothetical). English speakers often use the subjunctive incorrectly after 'aunque' when stating facts. Example: 'Aunque la cafeína tiene...' (fact) vs. 'Aunque la cafeína tenga...' (hypothetical).
Spanish 'aunque' + indicative is a common trap because English 'although' always takes a factual clause, so learners may overuse the subjunctive. Remember: if the clause is a known fact, use indicative; if it's a hypothetical or unknown, use subjunctive.
Key vocabulary
hidrataciónf.
hydration
“La hidratación es esencial para los deportistas.”— Hydration is essential for athletes.
Pattern la hidratación de la piel skin hydration
Compare rehidratación (rehydration)
Plural: hidrataciones
💡 From Greek hydor (water); related words include hidráulico (hydraulic).
deshidratadoadj.
dehydrated
“Después de correr, me sentía deshidratado.”— After running, I felt dehydrated.
Pattern estar deshidratado to be dehydrated
Compare seco (dry)
Feminine: deshidratada; plural: deshidratados
💡 The prefix des- means 'negation', and hidratado means 'hydrated'.
índicem.
index, indicator
“El índice de precios subió este año.”— The price index rose this year.
Pattern índice de masa corporal body mass index
Compare indicador (indicator)
Plural: índices
💡 Note the stress on the first syllable; do not write it as indice.
orinaf.
urine
“El médico analizó su orina.”— The doctor analyzed his urine.
Pattern bebidas con electrolitos electrolyte drinks
Compare mineral (mineral, in some contexts)
Plural: electrolitos
💡 From electro- (electric) + lito (dissolvable), referring to a substance that conducts electricity when dissolved in water.
proteínaf.
protein
“La leche es rica en proteínas.”— Milk is rich in proteins.
Pattern proteína de origen vegetal plant protein
Compare nutriente (nutrient, in some contexts)
Plural: proteínas
💡 Note the stress on í; often associated with foods like carne.
diuréticoadj./m.
diuretic (adj./noun)
“El café tiene un efecto diurético.”— Coffee has a diuretic effect.
Pattern efecto diurético diuretic effect
Feminine: diurética; plural: diuréticos
💡 From Greek di- (through) + ouron (urine).
retenerv.
to retain, to hold
“El cuerpo retiene agua cuando hace calor.”— The body retains water when it's hot.
Pattern retener agua to retain water
Compare conservar (to keep)
Conjugation: retengo, retienes, retiene (e→ie)
💡 Root tener (to hold), with the prefix re- meaning 'to hold again'.
vaciadom.
emptying, clearing
“El vaciado del estómago es más lento con proteínas.”— Stomach emptying is slower with proteins.
Pattern vaciado del estómago stomach emptying
Compare vaciamiento (emptying)
Plural: vaciados
💡 From the verb vaciar (to empty).
pizcaf.
pinch, small amount
“Añade una pizca de sal al agua.”— Add a pinch of salt to the water.
Pattern una pizca de sal a pinch of salt
Compare poquito (a little bit)
Plural: pizcas
💡 Common in cooking, meaning 'a small amount'.
Grammar spotlight
Impersonal sentences (se + third-person verb)
A2
Use se + the third-person singular or plural verb to express a general 'one' or 'you' without specifying who performs the action. The verb agrees in number with the noun that follows.
“Se puede añadir una pizca de sal al agua.”— You can add a pinch of salt to the water.
⚠️ Don't forget to place se before the verb, and make sure the verb agrees with the following noun.
Aunque means 'although' or 'even though' and can be followed by the indicative (for facts) or the subjunctive (for hypotheses). In this text, aunque is followed by the indicative to state a fact.
“Aunque la cafeína tiene un efecto diurético, este no es suficiente.”— Although caffeine has a diuretic effect, it is not enough.
⚠️ Use the indicative after aunque for known facts; use the subjunctive for hypothetical or unreal situations.
Sentence patterns to steal
No todos los líquidos hidratan igual.
Not all liquids hydrate equally.
No todos + noun + verb + adverbThe noun can be replaced with 'alimentos' (foods), etc., and the verb with 'gustan' (are pleasing), etc.
La hidratación es muy importante para la salud.
Hydration is very important for health.
Ser + importante para + nounThe adjective can be replaced with 'esencial' (essential), etc., and the noun with 'el bienestar' (well-being), etc.
Esto se debe a que los electrolitos y las proteínas de la leche ralentizan el vaciado del estómago.
This is because the electrolytes and proteins in milk slow stomach emptying.
Esto se debe a que + clauseThe clause can be replaced with other reasons, such as 'el agua es esencial' (water is essential).
La leche es una buena opción después del ejercicio o para personas mayores que necesitan recuperar líquidos rápidamente.
Milk is a good option after exercise or for older people who need to replenish fluids quickly.
Ser una buena opción para + noun/infinitiveThe noun can be replaced with 'los niños' (children), etc., and the infinitive with 'viajar' (travel), etc.
En días de calor, el agua sigue siendo la mejor opción para la hidratación diaria.
On hot days, water remains the best option for daily hydration.
Seguir + gerund + nounThe gerund can be replaced with 'siendo' (being), 'estando' (being), etc.
Hydration Habits in Spain
In Spain, people traditionally drink water or wine with meals, but as health awareness has grown in recent years, more people are choosing bottled water or low-sodium drinks. Spanish summers are hot, and outdoor workers often drink a barley water called 'agua de cebada' to stay hydrated.