First of all, coffee is known as an invigorating drink, distinguished from others by its exquisite taste and characteristic smell. There is information that this drink has a diuretic effect on the human body. It is believed that coffee can be used as a diuretic only in certain cases, since this effect on the body differs in different varieties of this plant and its processed products. In addition, such an effect on the activity of the urinary system also depends on the amount of drink consumed.
The mechanism of the diuretic effect of coffee
The amount of drink consumed and the diuretic effect are closely related, and the relationship is inversely proportional. The more cups of coffee you drink per day, the less diuretic the effect will be.
- 2 cups of coffee a day has a fairly strong diuretic effect. Blood circulation in the kidneys and in the body as a whole increases, intercellular metabolism and the rate of blood filtration accelerate. Due to this, the amount of urine increases, and it is quickly eliminated from the body by the kidneys.
- More than 3 cups a day will have the opposite effect. In coffee drinkers, the body becomes less sensitive to caffeine, and therefore even the first morning cups do not have such a strong effect on diuresis. Vascular walls no longer react to caffeine in the same way, and its excess leads to the opposite effect: fluid in the body begins to accumulate, and swelling may appear.
It is recommended to drink no more than 2-3 cups of coffee per day. This way the water will be removed and the body will be cleansed.
Coffee does not cause dehydration
For a long time it was believed that coffee was a diuretic (diuretic) and many were forced to give up this generally healthy drink for fear of dehydration.
However, as theconversation.com writes, all this is in vain.
By definition, a diuretic is anything that causes the body to produce more urine. Therefore, water or any drink in large quantities is also a diuretic. In addition, a large amount of urine produced does not automatically mean dehydration - the body simply gets rid of excess fluid.
Constantly pouring fluid into the body is just the opposite - it allows you to get enough fluid and avoid dehydration, although it will increase urine output. Therefore, you need to compare the volume of liquid received and the urine excreted afterwards to understand how much the drink causes dehydration.
The body develops a tolerance to the diuretic properties of coffee within 4-5 days.
Yes, caffeine is a weak diuretic, but the body develops tolerance to this effect of caffeine after 4-5 days of regular coffee consumption. And some knowledgeable people here may even exclaim - yes, this has been known for almost 100 years!
There is an "ancient" study from 1928: 3 people did not drink caffeine for 2 months, then they were given a small amount of caffeine (the equivalent of half a cup of coffee) and this was reflected in a "noticeable" diuretic effect in all three.
However, regular intake of caffeine (4 to 5 days) created tolerance in the body to the diuretic effect. And to notice the diuretic effect, it was necessary to take more than 1 milligram of caffeine per 1 kg of body weight per day (more than 1 cup of coffee). This allows us to conclude that regular consumption of caffeine-containing drinks does not cause a diuretic effect.
Confirmation: Caffeine does not cause dehydration when taken regularly
Yes, of course, one old study on 3 people cannot convince an experienced health specialist, so here is another, more recent one (conducted in 2005).
59 people were observed for 11 days to find out how caffeine affects the body's fluid loss.
First, each subject regularly took 3 mg of caffeine per 1 kg of body weight per day (about 2-3 cups of coffee). After 5 days, some of the group stopped taking caffeine completely, some at the 1 cup level, and some at the 2 cups per day level.
During the experiment, many tests and analyzes were performed on body hydration and none of the hydration analysis methods showed that regular caffeine intake caused a decrease in hydration.
By the way, modern methods for determining body hydration have made it possible to collect the so-called “hydration index of drinks” - the dependence of fluid intake and its removal from the body for different drinks in comparison with water.
As you can see from the table, caffeinated drinks (tea, coffee and cola) show similar levels of hydration as regular water or even sports drinks.
If you force people to avoid their favorite drinks under false pretexts (they contain caffeine and you will experience dehydration), this does not mean that they will drink “unloved” drinks in the same volume, which means that this technique is more likely to lead to dehydration.
Poor hydration leads to poor health
There is research that links poor hydration to poor health. Dehydration affects mood, brain function, and heart function, and is an indicator of deterioration in older patients.
Either way, it's much better to drink what you like, caffeinated or decaffeinated, than to avoid your favorite drinks. Plus, you don't have to worry about caffeine.
By the way, caffeine has many positive aspects - it is one of 4 additives whose effects are scientifically responsible.
PS Yes, we have an article “Why coffee works as a laxative and diuretic”
This article was published on the Zozhnik website, 04/18/2017
Sources:
- TOLERANCE AND CROSS-TOLERANCE IN THE HUMAN SUBJECT TO THE DIURETIC EFFECT OF CAFFEINE, THEOBROMINE AND THEOPHYLLINE
- Fluid, electrolyte, and renal indicators of hydration during 11 days of controlled caffeine consumption.
- The Beverage Hydration Index – Is Water the Best?
- Hydration, morbidity, and mortality in vulnerable populations.
- Hydration and outcome in older patients admitted to hospital (The HOOP prospective cohort study).
- 4 Fitness Supplements Backed by Science
- Why coffee works as a laxative and diuretic
Research and experiments with coffee: diuretic or not?
There have been no serious long-term studies in this area, so it is impossible to compare the effects of caffeine on diuresis over long-term use, but two interesting experiments have been conducted.
- Coffee lovers were asked to first give up their favorite drink for one day, control the amount of urine, and drink a large cup of coffee in the evening. In this case there was more urine.
- In the second experiment, scientists asked volunteers to drink different volumes of this drink: cups of 45, 90, 180 and 360 ml were offered. When consuming small volumes, up to 180 grams inclusive, the amount of urine remained almost unchanged. When consuming 360 ml, the volume of urine excreted was noticeably greater.
Of course, the research is flawed. The amount of urine was measured compared to the usual consumption of water or other drinks. But coffee also contains water. And it is natural that more fluid enters the body, which means more will be excreted. Perhaps it would be worth checking what would happen if some people drank 360 ml of coffee, and another - the same amount of water. Scientists still have a lot of research ahead, perhaps someday we will definitely know the pattern.
There are people who are hypersensitive to caffeine. For such people, even after drinking a small cup of coffee, within 10-15 minutes there is a strong diuretic effect, the urge to urinate, although not much urine is released. This is a personal characteristic of a person.
When coffee retains water in the body
When consumed regularly in small quantities, coffee does not cause a diuretic effect. If the dose of coffee is large, or consumed after a long break, more fluid will actually be released.
Much depends on what kind of coffee you drink. The problem is often not with caffeine itself, since it is found in tea, chocolate, and cola, but in additives.
- Milk can cause a water retention effect in the body;
- Sugar and sweet syrups also reduce the amount of urine produced;
- The higher the dose of caffeine, the more pronounced the diuretic effect.
- Natural coffee retains liquid more than instant coffee.
Focus on your feelings
Everyone is different, and the same drink can have different effects. And by the way, keep in mind that sometimes the diuretic effect is enhanced simply because you added coffee to your usual amount of water. If you drink 2 liters of water, there will be less urine than if you drink 2 liters of water + 400 ml of coffee, this is logical.
Many people are concerned about the issue of edema from coffee during pregnancy: in this case, the total amount of liquid consumed is affected, and not the fact that coffee is included in this volume.
Which coffee is a diuretic?
Not all types of coffee are created equal, and not all have the same diuretic effect. Let's consider other options compared to natural black.
- Decaffeinated coffee still contains caffeine, albeit in minimal concentration. And in addition - acids, antioxidants, etc., which also affect the urinary system. This means that decaffeinated coffee will also have a diuretic effect. The only people who will benefit from it are people with hypersensitivity to caffeine, for whom a cup of coffee causes a diuretic effect within the next 15 minutes. People should try decaffeinated drinks to see how their body reacts.
- Instant coffee . It causes exactly the same effect as the natural one, only it adds almost no beneficial substances, and in the long term it can worsen kidney function. It contains a lot of chemical additives and artificial compounds, and if you consume a lot of it, the kidneys begin to filter urine worse.
- Coffee with milk . It causes a slightly lesser effect, since caffeine binds to milk and is processed (and therefore eliminated) more slowly. But you need to keep in mind that this applies to the same servings of espresso or Americano with milk, and not huge cups of latte or cappuccino. After drinking 350-400 ml, as is often served in a cafe, or poured into a large mug, you will quickly notice the urge to urinate, simply because a lot of liquid has entered the body.
Effect of different types of coffee
Coffee lovers should be aware that drinking too many cups of the drink can do more harm to the body than good.
Along with black and green teas, coffee is considered one of the most popular drinks. Coffee lovers consume it in large quantities every day. Therefore, it is important to understand the specific effects on the body so as not to cause harm. Small doses of caffeine stimulate metabolic processes and water is excreted faster, while excessively large doses deplete the body’s energy and slow down metabolism. Depending on the processing methods of coffee beans, different types of coffee are obtained: natural, instant and decaffeinated, and the diuretic properties of each type differ.
The benefits of natural
Of all types of coffee, natural coffee contains the greatest amount of nutrients. A large amount of fatty acids interferes with the emergence and growth of cancer cells. Natural ground grains are rich in vitamins, magnesium and potassium, which, when consumed in moderation, determines their beneficial effect on the heart and blood vessels of healthy people. The diuretic properties of natural coffee are determined by the amount of caffeine in a particular variety.
Differences between soluble
The instant powder contains approximately the same amount of caffeine as the natural one, so its diuretic properties are the same. At the same time, instant has significantly fewer calories. But complex chemical processes are used in production, and some of the chemicals end up in the finished product. This can damage the kidneys and liver, so it is healthier to eat ground and non-chemically processed grains.
Caffeine-free diuretic
You can remove caffeine from green coffee beans, thereby improving its diuretic properties.
There are many ways to reduce the amount of caffeine in coffee. For example, take green grains and pour water heated to 80-90 degrees (but not boiling water). This softens the beans and allows the caffeine to be extracted from them. After infusion, drain the water and add solvent to reduce the caffeine content in the steamed beans. Then the solvent is poured out and the kernels are poured with hot water again to remove any remaining chemicals and to close the grains themselves. Then they are dried, roasted and decaffeinated coffee is obtained. A drink prepared from it removes water, thereby lowering blood pressure.
Coffee with milk
Coffee with milk does not have such a strong taste as natural or instant coffee. Even children can use it if they add a large amount of milk. There are different brewing methods. You can simply add milk to the finished drink. Sometimes coffee powder is poured with boiling milk. You can also pour cold milk instead of water into the coffee maker and bring to a boil. Even children can be given this diuretic.
Can coffee be used as a diuretic?
Sometimes people who want to lose weight believe that they need to get rid of excess fluid in the body. And they choose coffee for this. But you need to understand that in addition to caffeine, beans contain a large amount of natural acids, minerals, active substances, and in such concentrations they are definitely not beneficial for the body, and can even cause fluid stagnation.
Doctors definitely do not recommend using coffee as a diuretic on an ongoing basis.
In one-time cases, this is acceptable, for example, when before an examination you need to fill the bladder faster, but drinking 5-7 cups every day to cause increased urine output is not recommended. Use herbs or medications recommended by a specialist.
A stronger diuretic effect is observed in those who do not drink coffee daily. For coffee lovers it is much weaker.
Conclusions:
- Coffee can be a diuretic. Sometimes it causes increased urination within 10-15 minutes after consumption.
- The less often a person drinks coffee, the more pronounced the diuretic effect. It decreases among coffee drinkers.
- Different types of coffee (decaf, milk, instant) have similar effects, and there is no point in choosing a lesser diuretic.
- The diuretic effect is clearly visible when drinking large volumes of the drink - more than 360 ml; it is rarely noticeable from a cup of espresso, although it also depends on the strength of the coffee.
- Coffee should not be used as a diuretic on an ongoing basis to remove fluid from the body.
Diuretic effect
Coffee acts as a diuretic only when consumed in moderation. Drinking in small quantities, it speeds up metabolism and removes excess fluid from the body. If you drink a lot of coffee, the opposite effect occurs. The body begins to lose its energy reserves.
The caffeine-free drink also has a diuretic effect. It contains acids and antioxidants that remove fluid from the body. This is the most useful way to reduce swelling. When drinking a caffeine-free drink, blood pressure decreases and excess fluid is removed. It can be consumed even before bed.
Coffee cannot be called a diuretic. Some people have increased sensitivity to caffeine. They begin to feel the diuretic properties of the drink immediately after drinking a cup. For others, the body practically does not react to caffeine, so they may not feel the diuretic properties.
