Common Mistakes Made Regarding Hydration

Assuming Coffee And Tea Aren't Hydrating

One of the most prevalent myths about hydration is that tea, coffee, and other caffeinated beverages are dehydrating. Some individuals fail to drink anything rather than drinking coffee or tea because of this. But these beverages don't actually cause dehydration. Caffeine is a minor diuretic, so it causes an individual's body to flush out water and sodium through the urine. But experts say this doesn't lead to dehydration when the effect is accompanied by liquid. As individuals take in the fluid from the tea or coffee, this counterbalances the effects of the caffeine. Their body will automatically absorb whatever fluid it needs from that and dispel the rest through the urine. This means tea and coffee provide hydration rather than dehydrating an individual further. With that said, water or electrolyte-rich formulas are a better bet if an individual is already dehydrated. But if coffee and tea are the only choices, they're significantly better than nothing.