Looking to stay hydrated? Love your morning cup of coffee? Turns out coffee and hydration are more compatible than you may believe.

Coffee versus Water

Sample Beverage Plan, created by Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health

So, does coffee hydrate you? A Harvard study recently compared the hydration effects of drinking water and coffee, and found very little difference. Coffee does have a mild diuretic effect, but this effect is reduced in regular coffee drinkers since they build up a tolerance, giving coffee a great ability to hydrate as well as wake you up. Even more important, coffee also contains natural polyphenols, which have antioxidant properties, so in addition to helping with hydration, coffee also holds the potential to boost your body’s ability to fight diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure.

According to Eric Rimm, professor in the Departments of Epidemiology and Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, “This also is why we think those who drink two to three cups of coffee a day show lower rates of diabetes than those who do not drink any coffee.”

Are you a decaf fan? Fear not, since decaffeinated coffee has similar hydration and antioxidant properties. Coffee is healthiest when consumed black since cream adds fat and sugar adds…. well,…. sugar, which decreases some of the health benefits of black coffee.

Hydration Beverage Plan

According to a different study by Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, they created a sample beverage plan, similar to the graphic of a plate showing the ideal amounts of food types to consume. Their plan is based on percentages, and they recommend that a minimum of 50 (up to 100%) of your daily liquid consumption be water. About 30% could be coffee or tea (preferably black).  Low fat milk can be another 20%.  A small glass of 100% juice or alcoholic beverages complete the suggested protocol.  Drinks high in sugar, high fructose corn syrup or those containing artificial sweeteners are not recommended, but if consumed, should be no more than 8 ounces.  The Harvard researchers created a graphic using a pitcher to show the percentages of liquids consumed on a daily basis. They avoided telling people how many cups to drink, because there is no set amount per person. The old “8 cup a day” cliché is not effective for all people.  Hydration is based on several things, including the size of a person, his/her activity level, and humidity of the environment around them.  The researches opted, instead for a graphic that focuses on percentages of liquids consumed in a day.

The bottom line: water is the best thing we can drink to hydrate our bodies, but coffee is a close second, and offers additional health benefits.  Keep in mind that moderation in all things is best.

Please join us at Wellness Balance, in person and online, as we all make changes to be healthier together. As always, I’m here for the support of your good health.

About the author

Kimberly Distilli

Kimberly Distilli, R.N. and founder of Wellness Balance, has spent almost three decades in the medical field. Kimberly devoted her life to taking care of others but it wasn’t until she became seriously ill with breast cancer that she discovered the impact of alternative, non-invasive therapies such as cold laser therapy, alkaline water, cellular cleansing and neurotoxin release.