Is Your Cup of Joe Making You Dehydrated?

by Sally Phillips

With about 83% of adults in the United States consuming coffee, it comes as no surprise that we’re the biggest coffee consumers in the world. Whether you like your coffee with foam, or just prefer it black, you might have wondered from time to time if your favorite beverage has been making you dehydrated.

Your coffee and dehydration: the truth

Waking up in the morning and having a cup or two of your favorite roast can almost be therapeutic. However, waking up in the morning and finding you have dry skin, dry mouth, and sunken in eyes is anything but pleasant. While most people might point the blame to their morning cup of Folgers or their midday iced latte, they shouldn’t. Depending on your lifestyle, the cause of your dehydration could be a number of things.

When it comes to coffee and dehydration, you’re most likely mistaken. Drinking your favorite roast in moderate amounts won’t actually cause dehydration, even if you’re making extra trips to the bathroom. While coffee is considered a diuretic (meaning it’ll cause more frequent urination), coffee actually counts towards your daily intake of fluids, and can actually help to keep you hydrated. This means that your dry skin and dry mouth are likely due to another cause. Factors such as the weather, sweating, and high altitudes can all be causes of dehydration. If you workout or have an active lifestyle, simply not drinking enough water or retaining electrolytes can also be a cause of dehydration as well.

Staying hydrated

Since about 65% of our bodies is water, it’s important to stay hydrated. Alternating water between cups of coffee is a great way to keep your body hydrated, while lotions and creams can do wonders to remedy dry skin. One of the greatest things you can do to ensure that you’re staying properly hydrated is to use a humidifier. Using a humidifier can not only keep your skin hydrated but can improve and beautify your skin with regular use–meaning dry skin can be a problem of the past. Other ways to stay hydrated include snacking on water-enriched fruits, such as watermelon, or adding a hydrating face mask into your daily routine. No matter what method you choose to stay hydrated, throwing a bottle of water into your purse or backpack is always a great idea to encourage yourself to drink more and keep your fluid intake up.

While it might seem like your daily dose of coffee is a contributing factor to dehydration, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Consuming a moderate amount of coffee can not only keep you caffeinated, but can actually help you to keep hydrated..