Frequent Urination and Drinking Coffee - What's the Connection?
Do you find that after your morning cup of coffee you need to made a couple of trips to the bathroom; but then it seems you can go hours in the afternoon before having to make another pit stop?
Frequency of Urination
Caffeinated beverages have long gotten a bad rap when it comes to their perceived dehydrating effects. Past studies on this idea only looked at the two or three hours immediately following coffee consumption and yes, they did find that urine frequency increased during that time; as you can attest to yourself. What they failed to take into consideration is the remainder of the day. More accurate studies took a look an entire day of urine production and they have found that the urination pattern shifted to earlier in the day but the overall amount of urine produced remained the same.
Responsible for Dehydration or Simply a Diuretic
With the notion of caffeine being a diuretic, somehow the concept of coffee actually being a fluid source was lost. A cup of coffee, or any decaffeinated beverage, still remains a fluid source - especially in some populations where dehydration can be a problem; such as with the elderly where it is often relied upon.
While it is true that caffeine is a mild diuretic, it does not automatically make it a dehydrating agent. If that theory was true, would then not water be considered a dehydrating agent? There is no evidence supporting the fact that coffee and caffeine cause any imbalance of fluids or electrolytes.
All in Moderation
It probably goes without saying, but worth mentioning; drinking large amounts of coffee can indeed cause all sorts of health issues including potential dehydration. But assuming we are talking about one to three 8-oz cups, the overall dehydrating effect is similar to that of water.
Frequency of Urination
Caffeinated beverages have long gotten a bad rap when it comes to their perceived dehydrating effects. Past studies on this idea only looked at the two or three hours immediately following coffee consumption and yes, they did find that urine frequency increased during that time; as you can attest to yourself. What they failed to take into consideration is the remainder of the day. More accurate studies took a look an entire day of urine production and they have found that the urination pattern shifted to earlier in the day but the overall amount of urine produced remained the same.
Responsible for Dehydration or Simply a Diuretic
With the notion of caffeine being a diuretic, somehow the concept of coffee actually being a fluid source was lost. A cup of coffee, or any decaffeinated beverage, still remains a fluid source - especially in some populations where dehydration can be a problem; such as with the elderly where it is often relied upon.
While it is true that caffeine is a mild diuretic, it does not automatically make it a dehydrating agent. If that theory was true, would then not water be considered a dehydrating agent? There is no evidence supporting the fact that coffee and caffeine cause any imbalance of fluids or electrolytes.
All in Moderation
It probably goes without saying, but worth mentioning; drinking large amounts of coffee can indeed cause all sorts of health issues including potential dehydration. But assuming we are talking about one to three 8-oz cups, the overall dehydrating effect is similar to that of water.
