Caffeine & Dehydration - Does Caffeine Intake Really Dehydrate You?

In a study recently presented at the Experimental Biology 2000 conference and published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, scientists attempted to determine if caffeinated drinks really have diuretic effects. It has been well established that caffeine along with alcohol is a diuretic agent. That is, drink them and you will have to pay a visit to the John. However, does that mean that athletes really need to avoid caffeine out of the fear of becoming dehydrated?

The researchers examined various combinations of caffeinated and non-caffeinated drinks as markers of hydration in healthy males. In short, the study demonstrated that it might be a myth that caffeine-containing beverages are as dehydrating as once thought. There were no clinically significant differences between the caffeinated and non-caffeinated groups for markers of hydration and health. Thus, if you happen to drink one or two cups of coffee per day, don't worry about becoming a raisin.