"Have We Been Wrong All Along?"... Daily Coffee Drinkers Get an "Unexpected Result"

"No Difference in Hydration Measures Compared with Water"

It has been said that drinking coffee depletes the body's water through caffeine's diuretic effect. However, experts say that moderate coffee consumption can help replenish the body's fluids, much like water.

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According to the Korea Food Communication Forum (KOFRUM) on November 14, U.S. lifestyle magazine Martha Stewart reported the findings in an article published on October 3 titled "Does Coffee Count Toward Your Daily Water Intake? Experts Weigh In."

U.S. registered dietitians Alyssa Smolen and Lauren Manaker said coffee can count toward daily fluid intake. Since coffee is mostly water, its hydrating effect outweighs the fact that caffeine may slightly increase urine production. In particular, people who regularly drink coffee may become somewhat accustomed to caffeine's diuretic effect, reducing its impact on urine output. They said there is no need to drink extra water to make up for the amount of coffee consumed.

In 2014, researchers at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom published a study in the international journal PLOS ONE comparing the hydrating effects of coffee and water. The researchers measured the hydration status of 50 healthy men who regularly drank coffee after having them drink either four 200-mL cups of coffee or the same amount of water each day for three days. They found no statistically significant differences between the two groups in key hydration measures, including total body water and 24-hour urine volume. Coffee need not be viewed simply as a drink that causes dehydration; moderate consumption can make it an enjoyable everyday beverage while also contributing to daily fluid intake.

Coffee's benefits are not limited to hydration. In addition to caffeine, coffee contains various bioactive compounds, including chlorogenic acid. Previous observational studies have also found that moderate coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes and some chronic diseases.

Experts say healthy adults can generally enjoy coffee while keeping their daily caffeine intake to 400 mg or less. However, the caffeine content of a cup of coffee varies considerably depending on the type of coffee and brewing method, so it is advisable to check how much you consume. People who are sensitive to caffeine or are pregnant should also adjust their intake.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.