For many of us, coffee is the first drink of the day. But does that morning cup count toward your daily hydration goals?
The short answer: YES.
This comes to us from Olivia McIntosh via Martha Stewart
Despite the belief that coffee dehydrates you, experts say moderate coffee consumption can contribute to your daily water intake. This is because coffee is mostly water, and its mild diuretic effect typically doesn’t cancel out the fluid that it provides. Here’s what to know about coffee’s role in hydration and how much could be too much, according to registered dietitians.
Coffee’s Effect on Hydration
Coffee has a reputation for dehydrating, but that is largely overstated for most coffee drinkers. While caffeine has a mild diuretic effect—meaning it can make you urinate more frequently—the water in a cup of coffee generally makes up for that fluid loss, Alyssa Smolen, a registered dietitian nutritionist, and Lauren Manaker, a registered dietitian, explain. “The diuretic effect tends to be modest and often lessens in people who drink coffee regularly. Problems are more likely to show up when someone goes well beyond that amount, especially if they aren’t drinking other fluids,” McIntosh adds.
Coffee is mostly water, so the fluid it provides does contribute to your daily intake, experts say. However, that doesn’t mean coffee should replace your water intake altogether. Plain water remains the best source of hydration, particularly because coffee also contains caffeine and is often mixed with sugar, cream, or flavored syrups. It’s best to think of coffee as one contributor to your daily fluids, rather than the main or only source.
Signs You’ve Had Too Much Coffee.
For most healthy adults, up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day—about three to four 8-ounce cups of brewed coffee—is generally considered safe. If you regularly drink that much coffee each day, it’s unlikely to meaningfully affect hydration if you consume other fluids throughout the day.
Still, your body may signal when you have had too much coffee and not enough other fluids. Trouble sleeping, anxiety, jitters, or frequent trips to the bathroom can all be signs that it’s time to scale back on coffee intake, Smolen says. Problems are more likely when someone drinks large amounts of coffee while not drinking enough water or other fluids.
Who Should Be More Cautious With Coffee as Hydration
Some people may need to take a more careful approach to caffeine. Pregnant people should generally limit caffeine to 200 milligrams per day and prioritize water for hydration. Those who are particularly sensitive to caffeine, as well as people managing certain heart, blood pressure, bladder, kidney, or fluid-restriction concerns, may also want to avoid relying heavily on coffee.
If someone is taking medication or has been told to monitor their fluid intake, they should check with their health care provider, Smolen says. For those without specific health concerns or conditions, coffee can fit into a balanced hydration routine.
