With summer in full swing, now is a great time to start a conversation about caffeine vs. water! No, this is not just another blog that is going to tell you to put your coffee down or dump out your pop. We understand that it takes time to change habits. Today we are just going to dive a little deeper to take a closer look at how caffeine and water effect our bodies.
Let’s first start by taking a look at our bodies (not literally, ha!). According to the US Geological Water Science School, the adult human body is comprised of 60% water. Let’s break that down even further. Below is the percentage of water our organs carry:
Brain and Heart: 73%
Lungs: 83%
Skin: 64%
Muscle and Kidneys: 79%
Bones 31%
That’s pretty incredible to think about! Water is essential to our health and well-being.
Here are just a few benefits of water:
So what happens when we add caffeine to the mix?
Caffeine is a diuretic which means it removes water from your body which in turn has you taking more potty breaks. With caffeine having the effect of removing water from your body, this puts you at risk for dehydration. You may also not know, that caffeine is considered an addictive drug. When regularly consumed, it can cause you to be anxious, restless, jittery and can even increase your heart rate.
BUT, don’t let all this get you down. I think I can speak for many momma’s when I say that caffeine has its benefits! Research has shown that caffeine can help combat fatigue, improve memory, and potentially decrease the risk of some diseases. Good news RIGHT?!
So I promised I wasn’t going to tell you to dump out your favorite caffeinated beverage, but we do have a responsibility to take care of ourselves. With most things in life, balance is key. There is no denying that our bodies function best when we are well hydrated, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up your morning coffee or give up mixing your favorite caffeinated cocktail. What we need to do is figure out how to balance it all.
So how do we do that? It really depends on you! If you are a person who consumes a lot of caffeine but are ready to make a change, start slow by cutting back 1 beverage a day. You can also follow the recommendation to add a cup of water for every cup of caffeinated drink you consume. This can help you stay hydrated.
For those of you who have a hard time getting your daily water intake (GUILTY!)… Set goals for yourself and always be sure to keep a water bottle close by. A great rule of thumb is to aim to consume half of your body weight in fluid ounces of water. For example, someone who is 160lbs should consume 80oz of water in a day. But again, start small, set a goal and you will be sure to succeed!
We hope you found this informative and helpful. Post a comment below with your water intake goal and you will be entered in a drawing to win a FREE water bottle!
Jackie Giese, LPTA
Physical Therapist Assistant
Community Outreach Coordinator
Physical Therapy Consultants, Inc.
PTC_therapy July 19th, 2018
Posted In: General
