Is coffee a diuretic or not – does everyone experience this effect and why?

As you know, coffee is an invigorating drink with a refined taste and characteristic aroma. Is the diuretic effect of caffeine real? This is a question that interests many people. It turns out that it is impossible to give a definite answer to this, since it depends on the variety, concentration, and naturalness of the invigorating drink. Does coffee have a diuretic effect and what effect does it have on the human body?

Action of caffeine as a diuretic

Caffeine has a strong diuretic effect due to its vasoconstrictor properties. They only enhance filtration in the glomeruli of the kidneys, due to which the liquid is excreted faster (accordingly, the excretion of urine is stimulated).

When consumed in moderation, caffeine does not retain water in the body. Coffee is a kind of colloid. Thanks to its effect, water is drawn into the vascular bed, which only enhances the removal of its excess.

Many people fear that when drinking coffee, the body will begin to suffer from dehydration. Such concerns cannot be considered justified, because in moderate quantities, caffeine only increases the urge to urinate, but the amount of urine produced remains the same. The disadvantage is that after drinking the drink, the urge to urinate is urgent.

One cup of coffee contains more water, so the diuretic effect is compensated by drinking the required amount of water. Normally, you need to drink up to two liters of fluid per day to compensate for losses.

They remove fluid from the body and other elements that coffee contains. Thus, various biological stimulants, minerals, and bioflavonoids play a supporting role in this process.

What quantity is considered optimal?

For some, a small cup of aromatic drink is enough for the diuretic effect of caffeine to work. Others need a larger dose. Scientists set out to find out the best option. Participants in the experiment were asked to drink 45, 90, 180, 360 mg of coffee.

Those who drank a small amount of the drink did not notice any changes in the amount of urine excreted. The amount of urine increased significantly in those who drank 360 mg of coffee. But there is also an error in this study.

Single doses and constant consumption of the drink can give completely opposite results. But long-term research in this area has not yet been carried out.

Other coffee drinks with diuretic effects

Today, there are several coffee drinks that have a diuretic effect:

• cafein free;
• coffee with added milk;
• soluble.

The decaffeinated drink is as strong a diuretic as regular coffee. It promotes effective fluid removal and also lowers blood pressure. Therefore, people who suffer from hypotension should be wary of this type of drink. It is considered a good alternative to natural coffee. It can also be consumed at any time of the day, even in the evening, before bed, since, unlike regular coffee, it does not excite the nervous system and thus does not provoke sleep disturbances.

Coffee is still a diuretic drink, and remains so even after milk is added to it. But this effect is slightly reduced. On the other hand, milk prevents the leaching of calcium. According to doctors, pouring boiling milk over coffee or simply adding it in small quantities to a cup significantly reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

The decrease in diuretic effect is explained by the fact that milk fat does not allow caffeine to be absorbed into the blood.

The instant drink is also known for its positive effect on the body. First of all, due to the fact that it contains vitamins, beneficial acids and organic compounds. Thanks to them, excess fluid is quickly removed from the body. The only drawback of coffee is that with prolonged processing, the beneficial substances found in the instant drink may lose their positive properties.

Coffee should also not be consumed by people who have previously been diagnosed with kidney and gastrointestinal diseases. Contraindications are due to the fact that manufacturers are trying to make instant coffee as “convenient” as possible for quick preparation and preserve taste characteristics, therefore during processing the nutritional value is reduced to the same extent as its benefits.

It is not recommended to drink coffee for people:

• those suffering from hypertension;
• atherosclerosis;
• with sleep problems;
• with heart disease.

Drinking an unfiltered drink can also cause an increase in cholesterol levels in the body. According to scientific research, regular consumption of coffee causes not only psychological, but also physical addiction. Therefore, over time, a person may begin to consume the drink in excessive quantities.

Other contraindications include drinking coffee on an empty stomach or immediately after a meal, especially if a lot of food was eaten during breakfast/lunch. It is not recommended for children and elderly people to drink coffee.

Moisture retention

Water and other liquids have a diuretic effect. If a person drinks a tonic drink frequently, the effect obtained directly depends on the dose. With small amounts, the body will work as usual, and urine will be excreted in a normal volume.

Allowable amount of coffee per day:

• 3 or 4 cups, they do not cause a lot of urine;
• 400 mg of caffeine cannot have a bad effect on the human body.

Many people use the drink with various additives. What role does this play in producing the diuretic effect?

Why does coffee retain water?

1. Milk is most often used; it can help retain moisture in the body.
2. When sugar or sweet syrups are added, urine output decreases.
3. It contains a large amount of caffeine, which provokes the removal of fluid from the body.
4. Using ground grains will have less of a diuretic effect.

Therefore, a person needs to decide what effect should be achieved. This is the individual approach to the method and type of drink consumed.

Hypertensive patients and patients with heart disease should consume coffee with caution. The caffeine in its composition can cause an increase in blood pressure. Swelling may occur.

Daily coffee intake for a person

According to doctors, the optimal dose of coffee for a person is 1–2 cups per day. If we talk about natural ground drink, it is better not to drink it at night, otherwise you may have problems sleeping.

Much also depends on the size of the cup itself. When coffee is consumed in its pure form (if cream, milk and other products are not added to it), the optimal capacity for this drink is no more than 100 milliliters.

To provide a positive diuretic effect, the dosage is 350 ml. At the same time, the choice of the optimal amount of coffee depends on the individual characteristics of the body.

The nuances of drinking coffee as a diuretic

In the absence of contraindications, coffee can be used as a diuretic. The main thing is not to abuse this drink, follow a number of recommendations so as not to harm the body.

Recommendations

Coffee is a diuretic, but only when consumed in moderation. To get rid of excess liquid, it is recommended to drink the drink in the morning. To brew coffee beans, you can use a cezve, French press, coffee machine or coffee maker.

To enhance the effect of espresso, it is recommended to add the following components:

• cinnamon;
• lemon;
• cocoa;
• ginger;
• cardamom.

It's worth remembering that Espresso cannot be used as a diuretic on an ongoing basis. It can cause serious harm. Therefore, if you have problems removing fluid from the body, you should consult your doctor.

Who shouldn't drink

Not everyone will benefit from the diuretic effect. Drinking drinks containing caffeine is contraindicated in the following cases:

• kidney diseases;
• pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
• childhood;
• pregnancy;
• atherosclerosis;
• sleep disorders;
• high blood pressure;
• tendency to allergic reactions;
• problems in the gastrointestinal tract;
• elderly age;
• nervous disorders.

In addition, it is contraindicated to drink coffee on an empty stomach and immediately after eating. It is recommended to wait at least half an hour after eating to prevent negative effects on the gastrointestinal tract.

A cup of espresso or Americano can cause frequent urination. This effect is due to the presence of caffeine in the composition. True, such changes are not always observed. If a person drinks such drinks regularly and in large quantities, the body begins to get used to the effects of a natural stimulant and stops responding to it. In this case, fluid begins to accumulate in the body, rather than being removed from it. Therefore, the opposite effect is observed - swelling appears.

Excellent article 0 Natalia

ALSO READ ALSO:

How to raise the temperature with coffee

The effect of coffee on the male body

Is it possible to drink coffee before training?

Since coffee charges you with energy and gives you strength, many people think that after a cup of drink their endurance during training will increase. But this is not true:

• at “high speeds” the body quickly becomes exhausted
• coffee and physical activity combined create too much stress on the cardiovascular system; tachycardia and increased blood pressure will interfere with training
• During training after coffee, the body will lose too much fluid

IMPORTANT: You need to drink coffee 3 hours before or 2 hours after training.

Mechanism of action

Coffee has a diuretic effect only if a person drinks no more than two servings of the drink per day. In this case, frequent urination is actually observed.

With excessive coffee consumption, the diuretic properties disappear

The body gets used to the effects of caffeine, and completely different changes are noted:

• increased blood pressure;
• restlessness, anxiety;
• excessive excitability;
• accumulation of fluid in the body.

Is it possible to drink coffee before an ultrasound of organs and kidneys?

Before performing an ultrasound of the kidneys and abdominal organs, the doctor should advise the patient about what preparation he needs to make for the study. One of the important points of this preparation is diet.

1. Three days before the procedure, the patient should exclude from the diet foods that increase gas formation in the intestines. Due to flatulence, internal organs are less visualized, which prevents the doctor from conducting an accurate examination.
2. So, before an ultrasound you should not eat: legumes, peas, beans, corn, raw vegetables and fruits, cabbage in any form, milk and fatty dairy products, any kefir, sugar, sweets, fried and fatty foods.
3. Some drinks are also prohibited: alcohol, soda, tea with milk, black coffee and milk.
4. The ultrasound examination itself is performed on an empty stomach. Sometimes the doctor asks the patient to fill their bladder. But not coffee or tea, but 500 ml of still mineral water.

IMPORTANT: To obtain objective results of an ultrasound examination, you should avoid coffee for 3 days.

For three days preceding an ultrasound scan of the kidneys and abdominal organs, coffee is excluded from the diet.

Scientific research on this issue

Despite the fact that coffee has long been equal in popularity and even surpassed green and black tea with lemon, little research and experimentation has been carried out on the effect of the drink as a diuretic.

Specialists from the Coffee Association in Britain conducted a study in which they found that the diuretic properties of coffee depend on how many cups of the drink a person drinks per day. With moderate consumption of the product, the properties of a diuretic are no greater than when drinking water. Another interesting observation from this organization is that natural coffee can be used if a person is dehydrated, because the drink is taken into account in the total amount of liquid drunk per day. This is possible due to the caffeine content in the product. Nutritionists from global organizations confirm this observation.

Also, studies were conducted among ordinary people. Each person was asked to drink a different amount of coffee (from forty-five to three hundred and sixty milliliters), and then their urine level was measured. According to the results of the experiment, it was revealed that in those people who drank up to two hundred grams of coffee drink, the amount of urine did not change. However, it is worth noting that each person’s body is individual and, accordingly, each person has a different reaction to the same drinks.

Does coffee retain fluid in the body?

Coffee retains water in the body when consumed in excess. Against this background, swelling may appear. True, the effect largely depends on what kind of drink a person drinks. Caffeine is also known to be found in cola, tea and chocolate, but these foods do not cause frequent urination.

Liquid is retained when drinking the following drinks:

• Coffee with milk . Dairy products can lead to water retention. Thanks to its addition to the drink, a barrier is created for the penetration of caffeine into the bloodstream.
• Adding sweet syrups and sugar. At the same time, the amount of urine decreases.
• Low caffeine concentration. It is noted that the more alkaloid is contained, the stronger the diuretic properties.

Natural coffee retains more liquid than instant coffee

Can coffee make you sick and dizzy?

The causes of headaches and dizziness after coffee are:

1. Overwork. If a person is tired and tries to stimulate himself with a cup of strong coffee, the body may respond with an overexertion headache.
2. Constriction of blood vessels in the brain. Caffeine in large quantities can lead to vascular spasm, which causes headaches.
3. Hypertension. On average, a cup of coffee increases blood pressure by 10 mmHg. Imperceptible to a healthy person. But for a hypertensive patient, such a surge in pressure is fraught with headache, dizziness and nausea.
4. Increased blood sugar levels. Then the body spends enormous energy on producing insulin, and as a result it overexerts itself. After several cups of coffee, a person may get a headache.
5. Withdrawal syndrome. For caffeine-dependent people, headaches and dizziness may occur 6-12 hours after drinking a cup of coffee, when the caffeine wears off.

IMPORTANT: Meanwhile, a cup of coffee is an excellent remedy for migraines.

Can I drink coffee before surgery?

It is necessary to drink water, carbonated and non-carbonated drinks, including coffee, no later than 2-3 hours before surgery under general anesthesia. You can drink coffee with milk, which contains animal protein, for the last time 6-8 hours before surgery. This prohibition is explained by the fact that under the influence of central anesthetics, the muscles of the surgical patient relax, and the brain loses control over many vital functions, including swallowing. If the liquid drunk before surgery does not have time to be absorbed and remains in the stomach, it may be released into the respiratory tract, causing the patient to suffocate.

IMPORTANT: Is it worth drinking coffee on the eve of surgery at all? American scientists today are inclined to believe that a cup of aromatic invigorating drink without sugar and milk a couple of hours before the invasion will not only not hurt, but will also be beneficial. Especially for those patients who have a caffeine addiction. Lack of caffeine after surgery under anesthesia is fraught with headaches and increased melancholy syndrome

What is caffeine and how is it useful?

Caffeine is the main active ingredient contained in coffee beans. The effect of the prepared drink on the entire body depends on its quantity. Caffeine is an alkaloid that is often used as a natural stimulant. Its properties have a beneficial effect on the nervous system.

The alkaloid affects the brain, in particular its nervous processes, and increases both mental and physical activity, thereby relieving fatigue. But excessive coffee consumption threatens nervous exhaustion (one of the side effects of this drink).

Caffeine affects each person’s body differently, depending on the characteristics of their nervous system (for one it can be useful, but for another it can be harmful). It is also worth noting that one mug of coffee can neutralize the hypnotic effect of many drugs.

How can you abuse coffee?

As we have already found out, coffee is a powerful natural stimulant and has a strong effect on the human body. But these properties can cause some diseases if you drink coffee in excess. Let's find out what dangers such a drink poses:

1. Frequent consumption of coffee has a negative impact on the human psyche, which can lead to nervous exhaustion. Attacks of aggression and deterioration in well-being are also possible.
2. In case of heart diseases, such as hypertension and tachycardia, drinking this drink threatens to increase blood pressure and disrupt the optimal heart rhythm.
3. Coffee can cause physical dependence: fatigue, drowsiness, constant irritation, deterioration in well-being. Over time, the body will constantly ask to increase the dose, and this, in turn, will lead to serious illnesses.

In addition to the above, coffee is a diuretic product, that is, it helps remove fluid from the body. Therefore, many experts advise drinking a glass of water after drinking it to maintain water balance.

Is it possible to drink coffee before taking urine, blood, hCG, biochemistry and other tests?

Laboratory tests of urine and blood help to determine any specific disease, and also determine the condition of individual body systems and the entire body as a whole. In order for the analyzes to be informative and truthful, you need to prepare for them very carefully. For those who do not know exactly how, it is better to consult a doctor. An important place in this preparation is occupied by nutritional adjustments at least three days before the analysis. Of course, we are talking about a planned donation, and not about one that is carried out during emergency hospitalization. So, on the eve of a urine test, a clinic and blood biochemistry, as well as a test for sugar and hormones, it is recommended to give up coffee. Some doctors urge you not to drink it 12 hours before the test, others - 24 hours.

You should not drink coffee before taking blood and urine tests.

A tonic drink affects many vital signs of the body:

• due to stimulation of diuresis, the color of urine becomes lighter
• the content of calcium salts, as well as magnesium, citrates and other substances increases in the urine
• blood sugar levels increase
• the blood gets thicker
• changes hormonal levels (affects the functioning of the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, gonads)

IMPORTANT: Coffee does not affect the results of serological blood tests (blood type, HIV, syphilis, etc.).

Information from history

People learned to combine strong coffee and water back in Ancient Greece. For many years, historians attributed this to the hot climate and the desire to cool down on a hot day after a hot drink. Drinking water became a tradition; it was adopted by other peoples who purchased coffee beans to prepare a divine and invigorating drink.

The Turks, who learned to brew coffee on sand in copper cezves, made it a cult drink and introduced their own characteristics into the traditions of the Greeks. We drank water before coffee in order to rinse our mouth well and get rid of the aftertaste of food full of spices. The culture of drinking water after coffee arose later, when herbs, spices, and salt began to be added to the drink. Water helped to recognize a bouquet of aromas and quench emerging thirst.

Later the tradition migrated to European countries. Italy, Vienna, England, and Germany have their own canons of the coffee ceremony. According to the recipe, water must be served with espresso; not all establishments serve it with weak or instant drinks. There are certain rules for alternating water and coffee, the main one being to take small sips. Drink water while taking the drink or a few minutes after. To reduce the hypnotic effect, doctors recommend drinking water within 20 minutes after coffee. The heartbeat is normalized and blood pressure is equalized.

Vitamins

A lack of vitamins, amino acids and microelements can also lead to fluid retention in the body. It is imperative to include the following foods in your diet:

• containing vitamin B6: salmon, red meat, tuna, bananas, brown rice. This vitamin also helps normalize digestive processes;
• containing vitamins B1, B5 and D: low-fat dairy products and fresh fruits. These products also have a beneficial effect on the state of the nervous system, bone tissue and metabolic processes;
• trace elements calcium, manganese, potassium, magnesium. They are found in large quantities in greens, spinach, melons and citrus fruits. In addition, these products actively fight viral infections and help improve immunity.

In order for the body to fully get rid of excess fluid, toxins, waste and other products of processing and vital activity of the body, it is necessary to maintain a drinking regime.

You need to drink clean, high-quality water. Juices, compotes, teas, fruit drinks and other liquids that we often try to replace water with will not bring any benefit. If the liquid contains sugar, honey, minerals and other natural ingredients, it is already food. And water should enter the human body in its pure form.

What you need to do to get rid of excess fluid in the body:

1. drink clean water in the amount of 1.5-2 liters per day. Soon your body will understand that it has enough water and will stop storing it in its tissues for future use. The swelling will go away.
2. Eliminate salt as much as possible. As you know, salt retains water in the body. It also masks the real taste of the product. If you gradually get used to less salty foods, you may notice and discover a completely new taste of familiar foods. But completely unsalted food is not always good either. After all, table salt is the main source of sodium for the human body.
3. Walking in the fresh air and dosed physical activity will help speed up metabolic processes. This will also lead to the removal of excess fluid from the body.
4. Proper diet. Make it a rule to start the day with breakfast, which must include oatmeal, cooked in water without salt or sugar. Add dried fruits, cinnamon, turmeric to it. If you really can’t bear it and want something sweet, a spoonful of honey will replace sugar and serve as a source of glucose. You can vary your breakfast and replace oatmeal with other cereals - buckwheat, brown rice, corn. Corn is almost the only grain that contains gold elements that can be absorbed by the human body.
5. Be sure to eat fresh vegetables, fruits and wholemeal bread every day. This is a source of “correct” carbohydrates, which will not only help remove excess water from the body, but also provide it with the necessary energy for the whole day.
6. Low-fat fermented milk products, lean meats, fish and legumes are the most correct and healthy source of proteins, without which the normal functioning of the body is simply impossible.
7. Replace sugar, baked goods and synthetic sweets with natural ones - dried fruits, nuts, honey and dark chocolate in small quantities.

The human body is 75% fluid, but too much of it can cause big problems. Edema itself can occur for various reasons. One of them is a warning about impending troubles or a predisposition to some kind of disease.

You just need to learn to understand your body language. It sends us signals that we often ignore for a reason. Morning swelling is a reason to think about your health. And of course, take action.

Could there be dehydration?

Scientists conducted a study in which two groups of men participated. The first ones consumed 4 servings of coffee drinks per day. The second drank exclusively water.

Participants in the experiment not only measured the volume of urine excreted, but also monitored the activity of the kidneys and changes in the entire body. Thus, it was possible to prove that coffee dehydrates the body no more than ordinary water.

After the study was completed, a verdict was made. Although caffeine removes water from the body, it is a weak diuretic. There is no danger of dehydration when consuming it.

Can coffee cause allergies?

Coffee contains chlorogenic acid, a strong allergen. A reaction to the drink can appear from the first cup or cumulatively (gradual allergization of the body), as well as against the background of an acute illness, taking antibiotics, or exposure to other allergens.

Most often, coffee causes skin allergies (rash with itching, redness of the skin), less often respiratory allergies (sneezing, coughing, rhinitis) and digestive allergies (flatulence, diarrhea).

The diagnosis is confirmed by an allergy test. Allergy sufferers will need to give up coffee and relieve the condition by taking antihistamines and symptomatic medications.

Allergy to coffee.