Does Ensure Count as Hydration for Your Body?

November 12, 2025 •

4 min read

While standard recommendations suggest drinking plain water for hydration, a 2021 study in the journal Nutrients showed that protein added to electrolyte drinks can increase fluid retention better than plain water. This means a nutritional shake like Ensure, which has a high water content, can definitely contribute to your body's total fluid intake, although it is not a direct substitute for water for optimal hydration.

Quick Summary

Ensure, a nutritional supplement, contributes to total fluid intake due to its high water content. However, it serves a different purpose than pure water and should not be used as a primary replacement for daily water consumption. It offers valuable electrolytes and nutrients, but its high calorie and sugar content in many formulas mean it should be used judiciously, often as a supplement for those with specific dietary needs or health conditions.

Key Points

Water Content: Ensure is made primarily of water, so it does contribute directly to your total daily fluid intake.
Not a Replacement: Due to its high calorie, sugar, and protein content, Ensure is not an ideal replacement for plain water for daily hydration needs.
Nutritional Supplement: Ensure is designed as a nutritional supplement, providing calories, protein, and vitamins for those with increased needs, such as during recovery from illness.
Contains Electrolytes: Ensure includes key electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which help the body absorb and use fluids effectively, similar to dedicated electrolyte drinks.
Calorie Consideration: Relying on Ensure for hydration can lead to excess calorie intake and potential weight gain for individuals who are not nutritionally compromised.
Specialized Options: For specific rehydration needs, the brand offers products like Ensure Rapid Hydration, which are formulated with a balanced blend of electrolytes.
Consult a Professional: Always talk to a doctor or dietitian before using Ensure extensively for hydration to ensure it aligns with your specific health requirements.

Understanding the Basics of Hydration

Hydration is the process of replacing body fluids that are lost through breathing, sweat, and urination. The primary component of hydration is water. When we think of staying hydrated, we usually think of drinking plain water, and for good reason: it’s the most efficient way to replenish fluids without adding calories or other compounds. Water is essential for countless bodily functions, including nutrient transport, waste removal, and temperature regulation. Electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, and chloride, also play a critical role by maintaining fluid balance in and around our cells.

The Composition of Ensure and its Hydration Potential

Ensure is a well-known brand of nutritional supplements, and its ready-to-drink shakes are primarily composed of water. For example, the first ingredient listed in many Ensure products is water, meaning it makes up a significant portion of the total volume. A typical 8-ounce serving of Ensure contains a substantial amount of water, which directly contributes to your daily fluid intake. It also contains important electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which help the body absorb and retain that fluid more effectively.

In addition, Ensure offers specialized products designed specifically for rehydration. Ensure Rapid Hydration, for instance, is an electrolyte powder formulated to help replenish lost electrolytes and fluids quickly. This shows that the Ensure brand recognizes and addresses the specific needs of hydration, in addition to general nutrition.

Is Ensure an Ideal Substitute for Water?

While Ensure can contribute to hydration, it is not a direct replacement for drinking plain water. This is because standard Ensure shakes are loaded with other macronutrients like carbohydrates, fats, and protein, as well as calories. Drinking Ensure solely for hydration purposes can lead to an excess calorie intake, which can be counterproductive, especially for those who are not nutritionally deficient or trying to gain weight.

The high solute load, or concentration of dissolved substances like protein and sugar, also means the kidneys have to work harder to process it compared to plain water. For this reason, individuals who are solely reliant on Ensure, such as those with certain medical conditions, are often advised by healthcare providers to still consume additional water to meet their full hydration needs.

Benefits vs. Drawbacks: Ensure vs. Plain Water for Hydration


Feature	Ensure Nutritional Shakes	Plain Water
Primary Function	Complete, balanced nutritional support and supplemental hydration.	Primary source of hydration for general health.
Calorie Content	High (220-350+ calories per serving).	Zero calories.
Nutrient Density	Rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals.	Contains no macronutrients, but can have trace minerals.
Electrolytes	Contains essential electrolytes like sodium and potassium.	Naturally contains trace electrolytes; some enhanced waters add them.
Sugar Content	High in many varieties (10-22+g per serving).	Contains no sugar.
Best for	Individuals needing nutritional supplementation, extra calories, or recovering from illness/surgery.	General hydration for all individuals, particularly for those with no specific nutritional deficiencies.
Drawbacks	High calorie and sugar content can lead to weight gain; potential for side effects like gas or constipation.	Doesn't provide calories, protein, or other macro/micronutrients.

Proper Use of Ensure for Nutrition and Fluid Balance

It's important to view Ensure as a nutritional supplement first and a source of fluids second. The ideal approach depends on your specific health goals. If you are generally healthy and simply looking to stay hydrated, plain water is the superior choice. If you are recovering from an illness, have a poor appetite, or are otherwise advised by a doctor to use a nutritional supplement, Ensure can be a valuable tool. In these cases, it not only helps with hydration but also provides much-needed protein, calories, and other nutrients.

For most people, a balanced approach is best: meet your daily hydration goals primarily with water, and use a supplement like Ensure only when a nutritional boost is needed. For those specifically needing electrolyte replacement, a product like Ensure Rapid Hydration may be appropriate, but always consult with a healthcare professional to determine the best strategy for your needs.

Conclusion: A Supplement, Not a Stand-in

In conclusion, does Ensure count as hydration? Yes, in that its high water content contributes to your overall fluid intake. However, it's crucial to understand that it is a nutritional supplement and not a replacement for water. For general health and hydration, plain water remains the most effective and healthiest choice due to its lack of calories and sugars. Ensure's role is to provide supplemental nutrition, protein, and calories, especially for those with increased needs due to health conditions or appetite loss. Always remember to assess your personal needs or consult a doctor before incorporating Ensure into your daily routine, and prioritize water as your primary source of hydration.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Ensure is not as purely hydrating as water. While its water content contributes to your fluid intake, the presence of carbohydrates, protein, and other solutes makes it metabolically different from plain water. For general hydration, water is superior because it contains zero calories and is absorbed quickly without additional processing.

For moderate, general exercise, plain water is sufficient. For intense, prolonged exercise lasting more than an hour, a drink with both electrolytes and carbohydrates, like some sports drinks, might be more beneficial. Ensure can aid recovery by providing protein, but its high calorie content means it's often better used after intense workouts or as a supplement for muscle repair, not necessarily as a primary rehydration source during or immediately after a sweat session.

For simple dehydration, oral rehydration solutions or water are typically recommended. However, healthcare professionals may recommend Ensure for individuals who are dehydrated and also require supplemental nutrition due to illness, poor appetite, or nutritional deficiencies. In these cases, it serves a dual purpose of providing both fluids and essential nutrients.

Drinking Ensure in moderation for hydration is not inherently bad, but it is not the most efficient method. Consuming it solely for fluids can lead to excess calorie and sugar intake, which may be detrimental over time. For general hydration, it's best to stick to water. For nutritional support, it can be a valuable part of a balanced approach.

The primary purpose of Ensure is to serve as a nutritional supplement or meal replacement for individuals who cannot meet their dietary needs through regular food intake. It is formulated to provide a balanced mix of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals.

While Ensure products are sometimes recommended for children with specific nutritional needs, it's essential to consult a pediatrician first. Children's hydration and nutritional requirements are different from adults, and overconsumption of a high-calorie, high-sugar drink like Ensure could have negative health effects.

For simple hydration, water is the best choice. Other good options include electrolyte-infused water, coconut water, or even diluted fruit juices. These alternatives can help replenish fluids and minerals without the high calorie and sugar load of nutritional shakes like Ensure.