FOOD NEWS
These Drinks Are Making You Dehydrated And You Didn't Even Know It
By Wendy Gould
The main reason soda can cause dehydration appears to be the sugar, as the average cola contains 39 grams of sugar per 12-ounce can. Many sodas also contain caffeine, which can worsen the effects when consumed in large amounts — especially if you live in an area that's hot and dry.
Soda
In high amounts, caffeine found in coffee can dehydrate you, and a 2017 study found that drinking coffee with 6 milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of body weight caused significant diuretic effects. 540 milligrams of caffeine per day is enough to start drying out the average adult male’s system.
Coffee
The high levels of caffeine found in energy drinks cause an increase in urine production, meaning more water is pulled out of your system. In addition, many energy drinks have tons of sugar, further worsening dehydration by causing your body to urinate even more and shift water out of cells.
Energy Drinks
Alcohol is a diuretic, causing the body to remove fluids via the bladder and kidneys, and it also suppresses the production of vasopressin, a hormone that helps the body retain fluids. Drinking on an empty stomach can hasten the effects of alcohol-induced dehydration.
Beer
Wine, liquor, and spirits are worth discussing separately from beer, as while the typical U.S. beer is about 5% alcohol by volume, wine is about 12% and distilled spirits are around 40%. The higher percentage of alcohol makes these harder drinks more dehydrating, as it produces the same effect with less fluid intake to help offset these factors.
Wine And Liquor