After those long hours of working, you might find yourself reaching for a refreshing cup of coffee. Or the first thing in the morning that you reach out for is coffee. Either way, caffeine intake is a must for a lot of us.
In this daily habitual intake of caffeine, have you ever questioned yourself, is Coffee A Diuretic? If yes then I have news for you. Yes, coffee is a diuretic, which means that it makes you urinate more than you usually do.
Is Coffee A Diuretic?
At first, you should know how does it all works before we jump into more details!
How Does It Happen?
Scientists never got the exact answer. But they gave us a general idea. A diuretic material triggers your bodily system to get rid of more sodium and water. In this case, caffeine is to blame.
When you drink caffeine, it directly acts in this situation, making your kidneys absorb less amount of sodium. For that reason, more sodium is left for your body to get rid of it. Thus, your body gets rid of it by urinating, and along the way, sodium clings on to the water.
In this process, you may have to take more bathroom trips than usual. But for someone who’s not a regular coffee drinker, suffers from these symptoms more. Also, it varies from person to person. If you drink decaf, these bathroom trips might not be as frequent as others.
Can It Really Dehydrate Me?
Good news for the coffee lovers. No, it cannot dehydrate you, but you know there is always bad news following a good one. Drinking way too much coffee might result in something much more devastating.
How so? Drinking too much coffee can make you sleepless, irritated, it can make your heart rate go up, and much more.
To be honest, if you drink a standard serving portion of coffee a day, you will be fine and you won’t experience any diuretic symptoms. The problem begins when you take more than 4 cups a day — your body losses more sodium water than usual. Thus, you go for a pee.
A healthy man should drink 2.6 liters, and women should go for 2.1 liters of water a day. As long as those criteria are met, you should be alright. But remember moderation is the key here.
How to Know If You’re Dehydrated?
Wouldn’t you like to know how to get home diagnosed! Yes, there is a do-it-yourself way. But caution! It is not a perfect reflection of your health or hydration level. There might be an exception in your case. So, please consult with your doctor before coming to any conclusion.
One of the simplest ways of knowing if you’re dehydrated is by checking your pee. Next time you urinate before flushing take a good look. The color will tell you everything. If it’s clear or slightly yellow. Congrats! You’re are hydrated as a blossoming tree.
If the color is dark yellow or hay-ish you should drink a good amount of water.
Caffein Is Actually Not as Bad as You Think
Drinking coffee in moderation, which is about 3-4 cups a day is actually good for you. Buy it or not, caffeine can lower the risks of lung cancer, type-2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and so much more.
It is so effective in the case of diabetes prevention that you get about 40% fewer chances of getting type-2 diabetes if you’re a regular coffee drinker than those who do not.
There are antioxidant properties in coffee. Now, I should write a different article to tell you all the reasons why you should have antioxidant-rich food. But for now, know that it benefits your skin, your hair, and your gut a lot, which results in a sound body and mind.
The Way Coffee Is Prepared, Does It Matter?
Yes! It does not only affect the taste but also plays a role in health benefits. For instance, if you roast your coffee, it decreases the number of chlorogenic acids, but the antioxidant properties get a boost.
Espresso has the most concentration of many complex compounds than drip coffee. The preparation also influences cholesterol levels. In boiled coffee, the cafestol levels are upon the sky. Resulting in this type having more LDL, meaning the bad type of cholesterol. This reduces the good king of cholesterol which is HDL. So, it does matter!
Caffeine Amount, Is It All the Same?
Most definitely not. Just like any other aspect of life, your cup of coffee does not contain the same amount of caffeine.
Espresso has it strong, about 70mg caffeine in per ounce. Whereas a mere 16-17 gm of caffeine can be found in per ounce portion of drip coffee. And about 8 mg of caffeine is in decaf, which is brewed to your taste. So, you see, it is different in every case.
You can choose your coffee decaf, espresso, or any other to be in charge of how many times you need a pee break.
Caffein or coffee is in no way shape or form is the villain of your life. If anything, it helps your body in so many ways. You should thank it. Also, it tastes so good.
Just imagine walking into a local Starbucks and getting hit with that amazing coffee aroma on your face.
Is there anything more heavenly in life? I surely don’t think so!
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Verdict
When you are in doubt and have this question repeatedly in mind, Is Coffee A Diuretic? Remember what I said. Coffee surely is a diuretic, but it will not make you dehydrated to the point where you feel like you’re in a desert. Or, dehydrated at all!
Drink coffee at your heart’s content but tell it to do this in moderation because anything done out of moderation is not going to have a sweet outcome later in life.
