The caffeine contained in coffee and tea has light diuretic properties. Concretely, it encourages our kidneys to eliminate more sodium and water by the urine.
This action could logically suggest that regular consumption of coffee or tea would lead to dehydration, but reality is not so simple.
But as Dr. Daniel Vigil, from the University of California Los Angeles, explains, “most research suggests that the liquid contained in caffein drinks compensates for the diuretic effect of caffeine. »»
A question of balance
Same story on the side of the Cleveland Clinic in the United States where Beth Czerwony, a nutritionist dietician, specifies that the risk of dehydration remains weak, except in the event of chronic overconsumption of caffeine without sufficient water contribution elsewhere.
“Coffee being made up of more than 95% water, its diuretic effects are generally too low to cause dehydration alone,” she says.
When a vigilance is essential
The problem does not come from coffee or tea in themselves, but rather from a “caffeine overload”, as Czerwony explains. If you chain throughout the day cafes, teas, energy drinks and sodas, it becomes essential to add flat or flavored water to maintain a good water balance.
People who are not used to caffeine or those who consume more than one coffee maker per day also have a higher risk of dehydration, especially if they neglect their water supply.
Recognize alarm signals
Dehydration is manifested by several symptoms: headache, dizziness, confusion, fatigue, dry mouth, high heart rhythm, low blood pressure, hot flashes or chills, muscle cramps and dark urine.
The winning strategy
During a heat wave as in normal times, the main thing remains to listen to your body and know your limits. And to enjoy the pleasures of coffee and tea without compromising your hydration, simply alternate your caffeine consumption with water.
