COFFEE × HYDRATION
COFFEE × HYDRATION
Coffee × Hydration
In conclusion, coffee helps you stay hydrated.
When the weather gets hot, you often hear people say that "coffee is not good for hydration," but in reality, most of these claims are not based on any evidence.
On the other hand, there are several papers and studies that suggest that coffee helps with hydration.
We will briefly explain only the main points based on evidence.
Can caffeine's diuretic effect cause dehydration?
It is said that coffee is not suitable for hydration because it contains caffeine, which has a diuretic effect and causes dehydration. This is a commonly cited reason why coffee is not suitable for hydration, but research has shown that there was no significant difference between drinking water alone and drinking beverages containing caffeine (follow-up study divided into four groups).
It has already been scientifically proven that although caffeine has a weak diuretic effect, it is not strong enough to cause dehydration.
That said, coffee contains a lot more chemical components than other beverages, and contains components other than caffeine that promote diuretic effects. Sensitivity to these components varies from person to person, so it is true that for many people, drinking coffee makes them need to go to the bathroom more often.
However, unless you consume an abnormally large amount all at once, it is unlikely that you will become dehydrated due to the components in coffee.
If drinking coffee can cause dehydration, then we roasters and baristas, who consume more coffee than anyone else, would be suffering from dehydration every day.
It goes without saying what the reality is.
Is Coffee Good for Hydration?
One study showed that neither coffee intake nor water intake (control) caused any change in body hydration (intervention study in coffee drinkers).
In other words, when comparing water and coffee for the purpose of hydration, it was concluded that there was almost no difference between them.
First of all, coffee is 98-99% water. If you are dehydrated, it is better to drink it than not to drink it, and there is no problem with drinking coffee in the middle of summer.
Iced coffee on a hot day is a special treat. Just because it's so delicious doesn't mean you can't drink too much, so enjoy it in moderation as you always have.
-Caffeine has many effects on the body other than its diuretic effect. Although it has a positive effect in moderate amounts, drinking too much of it can lead to overdose and have a negative effect on the body, so you should be careful not to drink too much of any beverage that contains caffeine, not just coffee.
- In everyday life, coffee and tea are sufficient for hydration, but when you are losing a lot of fluids, such as during sports or exercise, you should drink appropriate beverages that contain electrolytes, such as sports drinks, to quickly ingest large amounts of sodium and potassium, which the body needs, along with fluids.
Reference materials (partial excerpt):
https://ilsijapan-org.prm-ssl.jp/ILSIJapan/BOOK/Newsletter/Water-1-NL_1006.pdf
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/kagakutoseibutsu/59/4/59_590401/_pdf
https://www.nestle.co.jp/sites/g/files/pydnoa331/files/asset-library/documents/nhw/interview7.pdf