Contrary to the common belief that coffee dehydrates the body, experts say the beverage can help maintain hydration much like water. Because the fluid coffee supplies outweighs the diuretic effect of its caffeine, moderate consumption actually contributes to the body's water balance, they said.
The Korea Food Communication Forum said Thursday that Martha Stewart, a prominent American lifestyle media outlet covering cooking, food, health and home living, reported this in an Oct. 3 article titled "Does Coffee Count Toward Your Daily Water Intake? Here's What Experts Say."
In the article, registered dietitians Alyssa Smolen and Lauren Manaker said coffee can count toward daily fluid intake. Since coffee is mostly water, its overall hydrating effect outweighs the modest increase in urination that caffeine may cause. For habitual coffee drinkers in particular, the body adapts to caffeine's diuretic effect over time, reducing its impact. This means people do not need to drink extra water to compensate for every cup of coffee they consume.
These findings align with scientific research. A team at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom compared the hydrating effects of coffee and water in 50 healthy male regular coffee drinkers. Participants were given either four 200-milliliter cups of coffee or the same amount of water daily for three days, after which their hydration levels were measured.
No statistically significant differences were found between the coffee and water groups in key hydration markers, including total body water and 24-hour urine output. The researchers concluded that moderate coffee consumption can provide hydration comparable to water. The findings were published in the international journal PLOS ONE in 2014.
The benefits of coffee extend beyond hydration. In addition to caffeine, coffee contains a range of bioactive compounds, including chlorogenic acid. Observational studies have reported associations between moderate coffee consumption and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and some chronic diseases, though such findings do not directly prove that coffee prevents illness.
Experts say healthy adults can generally enjoy coffee within a daily caffeine limit of 400 milligrams, though they recommend checking intake levels since caffeine content varies widely depending on the type and brewing method. Coffee cannot fully replace water, and those sensitive to caffeine or who are pregnant should limit their consumption. The experts' assessment shows there is no need to view coffee simply as a drink that causes dehydration. Consumed in moderation, coffee is both a beverage people enjoy as part of daily life and one that contributes to their daily fluid intake.
kty@heraldcorp.com
