Does anyone know why caffeine dehydrates you?

United States
August 3, 2007 12:49pm CST
I don't understand how coffee because it's caffeinated can make you dehydrated when the majority of it is comprised of water. When asked if I drink water I tend to think I do but coffee, tea, ect doesn't really count. Why?
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2 responses
Amber
@AmbiePam (85476)
• United States
3 Aug 07
Caffeine is a diuretic, and when you drink it in things like soda or coffee, you ingest it and that make you more likely to use the restroom, thereby often making you dehydrated if you drink a lot of it, and very little water.
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fn187zbabe
@fn187zbabe (174)
• United States
3 Aug 07
Thank you that makes alot of sense. I am always using the restroom. On the other hand if I just drink plain water wouldn't I also be using the rest room alot? This is confusing to me.
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Amber
@AmbiePam (85476)
• United States
3 Aug 07
But the water is active throughout your body, and not all of it is being flushed out. The caffeine flushes everything out, even the good things. Whenever you drink a lot of anything, it will increase bathroom use. But never as much as caffeinated beverages will. : )
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firegoddess
@firegoddess (17)
• United States
4 Aug 07
Water is something that comes from your faucet at home. You buy things such as sodas , teas and coffee at the grocery store. Well when you buy things that contain caffeine like the things listed above or bottled water even Propel Fitness Water they contain chemicals that companys put into them to make you more thirsty than when you started so that way you will drink more.
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