Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: katieHaylor on 05/07/2018 15:44:32
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Fergus asks:
Does how you drink your fluids have any impact on the quality and effectiveness of your daily hydration? Both your choice of drinks and how you consume them?
I drink at least 3 litres of fluids a day; Sipping a couple of cups of coffee during the morning (300ml each). Then chugging 3 or 4 glasses of water during the day (500ml each time). Plus, maybe, sipping 2 or 3 cans of diet soda in the evening (330ml each).
What do you think?
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I don't think it really matters whether you sip or chug your beverages. However, the contents of the beverage are quite important. Caffeine (in your coffee and soda) is a diuretic and will serve to dehydrate you--my understanding is that if you are dehydrated it is better to drink nothing than to have a cup of coffee. Same goes for alcohol (not mentioned in the OP, but still worth mentioning). Also, non-diet soda has so much sugar in it that it counts more as a snack than a drink (your blood plasma should be about 92% water, while Coca-Cola Classic, according to the nutritional information label, is only about 89% water!).
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The answer is in the question. The best way to hydrate is to drink water when you are thirsty. Anything else is just pandering to fashion, unless you are in severe distress and need intravenous fluids - don't try this at home!
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Hi peeps,
I'm the originator of this question, via the NS website. So, first up, thanks to Katie for posting it to the forum. tbh, never occurred to me to use the forum [shrugs]. As you can see I've now joined :)
@chiralSPO I appreciate the response. although, I'm dubious about coffee actually causing a net reduction in your hydration. While acknowledging it is less beneficial than drinking water. I find online information from sources I consider trustworthy, suggest the notion is incorrect & based on old or poorly executed studies. Always open to learning otherwise ofc.
The majority of soft drinks I consume are actually diet (sugar free) & normally non-caffeine. As I've been aware for some time of the excessive sugar levels in "full-fat" versions. But a timely reminder all the same & I did double-check the nutrition info on the drinks in my kitchen to see if they were ninja caffeine sources ;D
peace, out
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I'm dubious about coffee actually causing a net reduction in your hydration.
Indeed, it is good to be skeptical. I am eager to be shown wrong, if that is the case (better to stand corrected than to remain wrong). I would imagine it depends on the strength of the coffee. I would caution against a strong Turkish brew in the desert, without plenty of water to go along with it :)
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PS: welcome!
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I am eager to be shown wrong,
Happy to help
https://www.nhs.uk/news/food-and-diet/a-small-amount-of-coffee-will-not-dehydrate-you/
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There is no doubt from research that caffeine is a diuretic, whether it will cause you to lose a lot of water will depend on dosage etc.
Problem is there are a lot of pressure and interest groups out there and the quoted study was sponsored by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee, it would be interesting to see the sposorship terms, but it was only performed on a small group of hydrated individuals who were habituated to coffee. Might be different result if you are low on hydration and not on a coffee habit.
Interestingly this whole fashion of hydration was created by a similar interest group who wanted to sell bottled water and sports drinks, theyve done a good job at selling,,. but as Alan says the real cue should be are you thirsty which is now used by UK and US special forces as a hydration trigger.
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To add to the coffee discussion, it is highly likely that the diuretic effect of coffee varies from person to person. In some people, caffeine might have no effect while, in other people, it causes a net water loss.
The safest way to hydrate is to drink good old fashioned water in adequate amounts. If desired, one can also get a more objective measurement of hydration at home using urinalysis strips.
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Water is the answer for everything of course ;)
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To add to the coffee discussion, it is highly likely that the diuretic effect of coffee varies from person to person. In some people, caffeine might have no effect while, in other people, it causes a net water loss
I agree; the amount I drink, if caffeine was the diuretic some would have you believe it to be then I should be a shrivelled prune (I'm not!)