04 Jul Myth Busters: Does drinking coffee dehydrates you?

The short answer is no, drinking coffee does not dehydrate you—at least, not in the way many people think.

While caffeine is a mild diuretic (meaning it can increase urine production), the fluid you consume with your coffee more than makes up for that effect. Studies have shown that moderate coffee consumption contributes to your daily hydration just like water or tea. So unless you’re drinking excessive amounts of highly caffeinated coffee and not balancing it with other fluids, your cup of coffee isn’t going to dry you out. In fact, for regular coffee drinkers, the body adapts to the caffeine, and the diuretic effect becomes even less significant. So sip away—responsibly, of course!