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Last week, the National Weather Service issued heat warnings across the country and cautioned those under such advisories to avoid caffeine because it can cause dehydration.
The NWS predicted “dangerously hot conditions” for parts of the country and issued heat warnings in 11 states, from Washington to Florida. Both the NWS and the Centers for Disease Control advise people to limit intake of caffeinated drinks—as well as alcoholic and sugary beverages—during heatwaves.
However, in an article analyzing the warnings, Food and Wine spoke to health experts, most of whom said that drinking moderate amounts of coffee is fine. The government advice “reflects an abundance of caution approach to dehydration in high-risk settings (such as extreme temperatures), but it isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation,” said Jason Eastty, owner of Healthspan Longevity. “In moderate amounts (up to 400 milligrams per day), caffeine does not cause net fluid loss in regular consumers.”
This is backed up by research, although moderation is key. A 2003 literature review found that “doses of caffeine equivalent to the amount normally found in standard servings of tea, coffee and carbonated soft drinks appear to have no diuretic action.” Another study from 2014 found something similar, concluding that “coffee, when consumed in moderation… provides similar hydrating qualities to water.”
In Food and Wine, nutritionist Linda Lin recommended those nervous about drinking coffee and getting dehydrated to try matcha, which has less caffeine. “If you’re going to have caffeine, matcha is a gentler choice than coffee,” Lin said. “It has less caffeine overall, and it delivers it more gradually.” As a bonus, it’s also very trendy.
