Caffeine is a drug you may consume in coffee, tea, soda or energy drinks. The number of beverages you consume, the amount of caffeine in each and the frequency with which you consume these beverages may impact the fluid balance in your body. Because fluid balance is a critical component of your health, understanding the facts about caffeine and fluid balance may help you improve your overall well-being.
Caffeine
Caffeine, a naturally occurring chemical in many plants, stimulates your central nervous system, speeds your metabolism and relaxes your smooth muscles. It also exhibits a mild diuretic effect, leading to an increase in the amount of urine you produce. The diuretic effect of caffeine may be beneficial if you are retaining water -- for example, due to premenstrual syndrome or menopause -- but may be a disadvantage if you neglect to replenish the fluids you lose through increased urination.
Fluid Balance
Your body needs water to keep its physiological processes and chemical reactions functioning properly. You obtain the water you need every day through the fluids you drink as well as through high-moisture foods, such as oranges, cucumbers and tomatoes. You lose water through respiration, evaporation, perspiration and urination. In addition, physical activity, illness and environmental conditions may increase the rate at which your body loses water. Failure to maintain your fluid balance by replacing the water your body loses every day with fresh liquid may result in dehydration. Diuretics, under some circumstances, may upset your fluid balance as well.
Evidence
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recognizes caffeine as a diuretic, as is evidenced in its inclusion in over-the-counter medications to treat water weight gain associated with premenstrual syndrome. However, the December 2003 issue of the "Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietietics" includes a review of studies spanning from 1966 to 2002 that look at the effect of caffeine on fluid balance. Investigator R. Maughn concludes that, while high doses of caffeine may act as a diuretic in those unaccustomed to caffeine consumption, for most people moderate use of caffeine does not adversely affect fluid balance.
Considerations
As with any drug, caffeine affects people differently. Therefore, understanding your body's reaction to caffeine can help you determine if consuming it leads to excessive urine output and the potential to upset your fluid balance or not. Unless you are sweating profusely due to vigorous exercise, fever or extreme heat -- or you lose excessive fluids due to vomiting or diarrhea -- thirst is a good indicator that you need to replenish your body's fluids with water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
References
- Harvard Law School; Reconsidering Caffeine: An Awake and Alert New Look at America's Most Commonly Consumed Drug; April 2004
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Water: Meeting Your Daily Fluid Needs; February 2011
- "Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietietics"; Caffeine Ingestion and Fluid Balance: a Review; R. Maughn, et al.; December 2003
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