Ditch the Coffee Dehydration Myth and Enjoy Java Again
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted March 27, 2025
I can’t imagine starting my day without a delicious steaming cup of hot coffee.
If you’re also a coffee fan, I bet you’ve been treated to well-meaning warnings by the non-Java drinkers…
“Coffee is so dehydrating!”
“It’s basically stealing water from your body!”
“You need to drink extra water to make up for it!”
Even some doctors still push this outdated notion, especially to their older patients.
Well, I’ve got news. This “common knowledge” might not be so accurate after all…
Now, to be clear, caffeine is technically a mild diuretic. This means it can make you pee more. And seniors do need to be extra careful about staying hydrated.
But here’s what they’re not telling you…
Your morning brew isn’t automatically actually leaving you high and dry. In fact, that cup of coffee COUNTS toward your daily fluid intake!
However, before you sprint to pour yourself another cup, there’s something else you should know.
Coffee affects everyone differently. Some folks might be running to the bathroom 15 minutes after their first sip, while others barely notice any difference at all.
Here’s what’s REALLY happening:
- If you’re new to coffee, you might notice more bathroom trips. Your body isn’t used to the caffeine yet, so your bladder is like a rookie at spring training—a bit overeager.
- Regular coffee drinker? Your body’s basically yawning at the caffeine by now. You’ve developed what scientists call a tolerance.
- Coffee’s effects can last anywhere from one to nine hours, depending on your personal metabolism.
But here’s the kicker—even with extra bathroom time, studies show that moderate coffee consumption doesn’t lead to dehydration. Your body is smarter than that.
Think about it. Humans have been drinking coffee for centuries. If it were seriously dehydrating us, we’d have figured that out by now.
Of course, if you’re pushing 80 and knocking back espressos like they’re going out of style, you should keep an eye on your hydration. But that has more to do with your age than drinking coffee.
Unless you’re particularly sensitive to caffeine or drinking enough coffee to make your eyes buzz, you can stop worrying about your morning joe turning you into a human raisin.
P.S. Coffee mug hack could head off cancer.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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