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Water, Alcohol, & Caffeine
Do Your Drinking Habits Support
Health?
Over the years, there have been many
health recommendations and warnings about drinking water, alcohol,
and caffeine. Some of the things you may have heard are not based on
science, but are actually myths.
Read on to learn…
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Do you really have to drink 8 cups
of water a day to avoid dehydration?
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Can “moderate” alcohol intake be
healthy? And, if so, what is considered “moderate?”
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Does caffeine really “rob” your body
of water? And, how much coffee is safe to drink?
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How many calories are hiding in your
favorite alcohol and coffee drinks?
Water
Water is the body’s most indispensable nutrient. In fact, you can
survive for weeks without food, but you can live only a few days
without water. Water makes up between 50 and 75% of your body’s
weight. Leaner people have proportionately more water because muscle
tissue is nearly 75% water by weight while fat tissue is only about
10% water by weight.
Why is water so important?
Water serves numerous functions in the body. For example, it carries
nutrients throughout the body, cleans the body of waste products,
participates in many chemical reactions in the body, helps maintain
the body’s temperature, and serves as a lubricant and shock absorber
inside the eyes, spinal cord, joints, and amniotic sac surrounding a
fetus. Clearly, water is essential to health.
How much water do you REALLY need?
In February 2004, the National Academy of Sciences, Institute of
Medicine issued new recommendations for water. The report basically
said that the vast majority of healthy people can adequately meet
their daily hydration needs by simply drinking when they are
thirsty. This may seem like common sense, but over the years several
people have challenged this idea by claiming that we are all walking
around slightly dehydrated. Apparently, this is not true!
While the report did not specify exact requirements for water, it
did set the following general recommendations for women and men:
NOTE: This includes water from ALL beverages and foods, not just
pure drinking water. In fact, about 80 percent of people's total
water intake comes from drinking water and other beverages –
including caffeinated beverages—and the other 20 percent is derived
from food.
Is thirst always a good indicator of your hydration needs?
For some people, thirst may not always be a good indicator of
hydration needs. Water needs increase in hot climates and with heavy
physical activity. So, athletes who train several hours a day in the
heat should NOT rely on their thirst, but should instead stick to a
strict drinking schedule. Dehydration of as little as 1-2% of one’s
body weight has been shown to impair muscle endurance. At 3-4%
dehydration, muscle strength and endurance significantly drop and
performance is impaired. Click here for more info on
what and how
much to drink before, during, and after intense exercise.
In addition to athletes, children and the elderly may not be able to
rely solely on thirst to guide their drinking habits. These
populations have a less acute sense of thirst and may have reduced
kidney function. In addition, many older adults take diuretic
medications, which significantly increase fluid loss and thus
increase fluid needs.
Do I have to drink plain water, or do other beverages count?
Contrary to what a lot of people have said over the years, plain
drinking water is not needed as long as enough water is obtained
from various foods and beverages.
What about caffeine and alcohol?
Despite claims that caffeine dehydrates you, caffeinated beverages
(as well as alcoholic beverages) CAN actually contribute to your
daily water needs. While it’s true that caffeine is a diuretic, its
effects are temporary and do not significantly increase your 24-hour
urine output. So, consuming caffeine doesn’t increase your risk of
heat injury. In fact, there appears to be an adaptation response in
habitual consumers of coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages.
In other words, the more regularly you drink it, the more your body
is able to hold onto the water it provides. So, the popular notion
that for every cup of coffee you consume you need to drink a cup of
water to replace lost fluid is false.
But WAIT, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to drink more plain
water!
While you don’t have to rely on plain water to meet your hydration
needs, it’s still a good idea to make plain water your beverage of
choice. Sodas, fruit drinks, and many gourmet coffee and tea drinks
have a lot of added sugar (which contributes a lot of “empty
calories!”). Even 100% fruit juice, though loaded with
disease-fighting nutrients, is high in calories and doesn’t fill you
up the way that eating a whole piece of fruit would. Diet sodas and
other artificially sweetened beverages are a calorie-free option,
but they should be enjoyed only in moderation. Click here for more
info about the safety of
sugar substitutes in diet drinks.
Bottom Line
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Most of the time, make plain water your beverage of choice. Carry
a water bottle with you to school and/or work so that you can drink
when you feel thirsty.
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To avoid unwanted weight gain…
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Limit juice to no more than one 8 oz. cup a day (and make sure
it’s 100% fruit juice). Instead of fruit juice, enjoy more whole
pieces of fruit (since they are less concentrated in calories and
much more filling).
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Try “diet” versions of your favorite sodas. But, be sensible, and
don’t overdue it with artificial sweeteners. One to two cans of diet
soda a day is sensible; one to two liters a day is NOT!
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Enjoy high calorie gourmet coffee/tea drinks and alcoholic
beverages as “special treats.” If you choose to drink one of these
“special treats” a day, make sure it’s IN PLACE OF other “empty
calorie” treats.
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At coffee shops, ask for fat free milk (instead of whole milk),
and skip the whip cream. You’ll save 100-200 calories.\
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Be sensible with alcohol and caffeine. Both are safe in
moderation. But, make sure you read on to learn what exactly is
considered “moderate.”
Alcohol
Click on the link above to learn…
Caffeine
Click on the link above to learn…
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The pros and cons of consuming caffeine.
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The amount of caffeine that is considered safe.
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The caffeine content of your favorite drinks.
Sheri Barke, MPH, RD
COC, Student Health & Wellness Center
Rev. 2005 |
