On average, 0.41 liters of coffee beans are consumed per capita per day in Germany. The average German adult consumes 6.4 kg of coffee per year. Extrapolated over a lifetime, this would result in an incredible 77,000 cups of the popular hot drink. Do you also know the rule “drink a glass of water with every cup of coffee“? In principle, this is a good idea, but it is not absolutely necessary, as this recommendation is based on outdated study results.
Coffee – taste meets caffeine and water
The taste of a coffee or coffee drink cannot be compared to any other hot beverage. The smell of coffee is also unique and evokes positive associations in most people. Basically, coffee consists of hot water, which develops a typical aroma when the ground coffee beans are brewed. Coffee consists almost exclusively of water and can also be included in the liquid requirement. The caffeine it contains has long been held responsible for increased water excretion. However, this is not quite so generalized.
Caffeine tales, water and sodium facts
The caffeine contained in coffee has a diuretic effect. However, the frequency of coffee drinking and the amount of caffeine also have an influence here. Those who rarely drink coffee will feel the diuretic effect more than people who regularly consume the popular hot drink. If you drink coffee regularly, you will rebalance your fluid balance over the course of the day. If the amount of caffeine is higher, there is not only an increased excretion of water but also an increased excretion of sodium. However, even these excretions are balanced out by the body’s compensatory mechanisms if coffee is consumed regularly. This means that for regular coffee drinkers, the effects of caffeine in terms of water and salt loss remain comparatively low.
Coffee is not a thirst quencher
Even if the popular dark hot drink can be counted towards the recommended fluid intake of at least 1.5 liters a day, it should not be used as a thirst quencher. Mineral and tap water, fruit juice spritzers and herbal and fruit teas are ideal here. The German Nutrition Society (DGE) considers a maximum of four cups of coffee a day to be acceptable for health reasons. Four cups achieve a caffeine content of around 350 mg. However, risk groups such as sick, pregnant or breastfeeding women should limit their caffeine consumption and discuss it with their doctor as a precaution.
Differences in the mode of action
The effect of water and coffee on the fluid balance of the human body is not as different as is often assumed. If you drink pure water, you excrete up to 81% of it in the course of the day. If you consume coffee, on the other hand, you end up excreting up to 84% of the liquid within 24 hours. Even if caffeine increases the filter function in the kidneys by up to 3 % and thus produces more urine, this effect is small and only short-term. Illnesses, the intake of medication and age alone can also influence the effect of caffeine.
A tip for your health:
Use the hot drink as a stimulant and mineral and tap water as a thirst quencher. It contains valuable secondary plant substances, especially polyphenols, to boost vitality. Limited consumption is nevertheless an advantage due to the caffeine content.
