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Coffee Tips

Does Coffee or Tea Count as Water?

It is a common saying that drinking water is the only way to remain hydrated, and most importantly, beverages with caffeine do not serve the same purpose as water.

coffee tea and water.

Despite people not entirely sticking to this saying and taking a lot of caffeine, we do not have so many emergency health cases of dehydration.

In recent times, tea and coffee enthusiasts might not have so much to worry about anymore because research provides more information.

A fact about tea and coffee is that they both have a common diuretic substance known as caffeine. Drinking tea or coffee also has fluid going into the system, and some of the fluid consists of water.

As much as one might think the diuretic substance might be harmful, the main focus is on the fact that you have liquid moving in and out of your body system. The only challenge is what percentage of fluid is going out specifically. The truth is that no matter the amount of fluid going out, caffeinated beverages can still help you achieve the quantity of fluids your body require per time.

“The diuretic effect of beverages is very minimal” is one fact established by the Medicine Institute. This proves that most of the fluid entering the body is absorbed, which helps the body meet the quota of fluid required by the body. Another recent study was able to establish that drinking caffeinated beverages can give the same hydrating effect gotten from water.

Beyond the benefit of hydration, tea and coffee also offer more benefits. Such benefits include giving the body antioxidants and magnesium. Antioxidants help to avoid inflammation, while magnesium helps to control the body’s blood sugar.

The average amount of caffeine the body can withstand without causing any harm to your body is about four cups in a day. These four cups amount to an equivalent of 400mg of caffeine. We understand that to every rule, there are exceptions. Exceptions exist for people with a low tolerance for caffeine or those with an underlying health condition that could be aggravated by caffeine, such as insomnia and anxiety. For these exceptions, their caffeine is best consumed as decaf or in lower quantity.

Consuming tea has the benefit of making you feel alert while making sure you are relaxed. Various tea types have unique functions, like green tea, which helps the brain remain alert and black tea, which is helpful in lowering blood pressure.

 

The bigger picture is for you to achieve your daily quota of hydration in the body. This quota does not necessarily need to be achieved only by drinking water. A lot of fruits, foods and drinks all contribute to keeping you hydrated daily. After a session of workout, drinking a glass o fresh juice or milk would supply your body with nutrients and give you the necessary fluid required to remain hydrated. Hydration goes beyond just water. Eating a slice of watermelon, for instance, contributes to keeping your body hydrated. This all points out that everything we eat or drink helps us to stay hydrated.

The fluid level in the body is not definite throughout the day. There exist a frequent rise and fall in the fluid level. The important factor to pay attention to is your body and know when it thirsts, then respond with a drink. Like it was pointed out earlier, with every rule exist exceptions.

Quenching thirst varies for individuals. While some can quench their thirst with a cup of coffee, some would compulsorily require a glass of water to quench their thirst. This boils down to understanding the best fit for you. It is not a case of one rule that fits all, but the bottom line is that tea, coffee, or other caffeinated beverages also contribute to keeping you hydrated.

 

Related Articles

Does Coffee Make You Retain Water?

 

References

blog.fitbit.com/really-need-drink-8-glasses-water-day

ajcn.nutrition.org/content/early/2015/12/23/ajcn.115.114769.full.pdf+html

blog.fitbit.com/3-refreshing-salads-help-you-stay-hydrated

blog.fitbit.com/beer-at-the-finish-line-do-or-dont

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26024546

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24828424

apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/APJCN/17%20Suppl%201/167.pdf

ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/4277?manu=&fgcd=&ds=

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4679527/pdf/nihms-725384.pdf

www.nap.edu/catalog/10925/dietary-reference-intakes-for-water-potassium-sodium-chloride-and-sulfate