Coffee has had somewhat of a bad reputation in terms of its long terms effects on the body. However, this hasn't stopped millions of people all over the world from enjoying a nice cup of hot coffee every morning. The good news is that new research into the subject matter has uncovered a few surprising health facts about one of the most well-loved beverages in the world.
According to a recent study, coffee taken in moderate amounts does not cause dehydration in contrast to previously held beliefs. The consumption of coffee may actually help in adding to the total amount of fluids consumed by the human body on a daily basis.
Dehydration is bad for the body. Many health professionals recommended that people should take in at least two liters of water on a daily basis. Any less than that and people may experience dehydration. However, many scientists argue about the amount of fluid that water-based beverages such as tea and coffee contribute to the body.
The recent study, conducted by researchers at the University of Birmingham School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, UK, and published in PLOS ONE, was conducted to determine just how much water one gets from drinking coffee. The study was conducted across 50 healthy individuals who habitually drink about 6 cups of regular coffee every day. The research consisted of two parts. For the first part of the test, the participants were required to ingest 200 ml of coffee daily for a period of three days. After a short interval of 10 days, the participants were then required to switch to water.
In addition to alternating coffee and water, the participants were also instructed to refrain from taking part in physical activities that did not involve walking. The amount and quality of food and fluids they were given was also controlled and rationed at specific times of the day to further set the controls for the study. Each participant was also required to measure their body weight as well as do blood and urine tests to measure and detect dehydration.
After the results were tallied and analyzed, the study indicated that there was no significant change to the body weight of the participants. Changes, if any, in the amount of body fluid, were also well within tolerance levels.
The study was only conducted on men and not women due to the possible effects of female hormones on the test results. However, it is a clear indicator that the regular intake of coffee is not detrimental to the amount of water in the human body.
