There’s a common belief that coffee can cause dehydration. The origins of this theory aren’t clear, but it has led to several studies to determine if there’s any truth to it. A major study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information looked at the subject in some depth and concluded that coffee isn’t a major cause of dehydration in most adults. For anyone that may be at risk, a few simple precautions can help them avoid dehydration while drinking coffee
The Science behind Coffee and Dehydration
Diuretics can cause dehydration and coffee is a mild diuretic, but the risk of dehydration from drinking coffee is minimal. When we drink coffee we do need to urinate more frequently and that does reduce the amount of fluid in the body.
If we’re losing excessive amounts of fluids our body will become dehydrated. The diuretic effect of coffee can cause increased fluid loss, but it depends on the person. Regular coffee drinkers don’t usually suffer the same ill effects. People that only drink coffee on occasion may experience a more pronounced diuretic effect that can lead to dehydration. Drinking a glass of water shortly after the coffee can help prevent dehydration.
Moderation
Drinking excessive amounts of coffee can increase the diuretic effects of the beverage and it may lead to an increased risk of dehydration. It’s best to drink no more than 1 or 2 cups a day if you want to be sure you won’t experience this. The risk of becoming dehydrated from drinking coffee is actually quite low, but it can cause other issues as well. When you drink too much coffee, you may experience increased anxiety, bloating, heart palpitations and even insomnia. It’s best to keep your daily dose of coffee at moderate levels for overall health.
What about Exercise?
Another common assumption is that drinking a coffee before exercise will cause us to become dehydrated quickly while we’re active. Again, this is because of its diuretic effect that makes us need to urinate more frequently, so the key to avoiding this is moderation. Drinking a small cup of coffee an hour before you head to the gym won’t cause dehydration.
Sometimes we confuse one symptom for another. Because we’ve been told that coffee can cause dehydration we assume it will and we believe it’s the reason we need to urinate more often. The truth may be that we’re actually drinking too much coffee. Any beverage will make us go to the bathroom if we’re drinking too much of it. Reducing the size of our drink will mean fewer trips to the bathroom and it will help our bodies maintain healthy fluid levels
Understanding the Symptoms
Understanding the actual symptoms of dehydration can help us to avoid it. If you notice that your urine is a dark yellow color, that’s one indicator that you may be dehydrated. You may also experience a dry throat, headaches and muscle cramps. If you experience any of these symptoms after having a coffee, drinking a glass of water is always the best way to rehydrate yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions:
There isn’t any strong evidence that coffee is a major cause of bloating. It is a diuretic and it can make you go to the bathroom more frequently. The best way to avoid any dehydration issues while drinking coffee is to drink coffee in moderation.
Yes, it is entirely possible that something else is causing issues you may be having with dehydration and not your morning coffee. Consider other aspects of your daily routine that may be at issue before cutting back on your coffee.