Caffeine consumption has been believed to cause dehydration or lack of body fluids. But some study led by a scientist named Lawrence Armstrong said, caffeine is not proven to cause dehydration. Unless you drink it in excessive amounts.
Excessive amounts, according to Armstrong is more than 4 cups of coffee per day or 500 mg of caffeine. This amount may result in increased risk of dehydration.
According to the guidelines of the Mayo Clinic experts, caffeine has diuretic properties thereby increasing the need to urinate. This is why caffeine can cause dehydration due to fluid loss when too much discharge when urinating.
In addition to findings about dehydration, Armstrong studies find other information related to caffeine. Study Armstrong stated, the theory that caffeine causes an imbalance of fluids and electrolytes is not proven, which it supports previous theories that caffeine inhibits the performance of athletes.
In contrast, consumption of caffeine will have a dramatic effect for people who do not move too much, because they do not sweat as much as fluid athlete.
As a scientist researching the field of human performance and thermoregulation since 1980, Armstrong has done at least three studies that help support the fact that moderate amounts of caffeine does not cause dehydration or impair sports performance.
Two of the study appearing in the Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, the study entitled "Caffeine, Body Fluid-electrolyte balance, and Exercise Performance" (2002), and the study of "Fluid, electrolyte, and Renal Indices of Hydration During 11 Days of Controlled Caffeine Consumption "(2005). A third study into the "Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews" with the title "Caffeine, Fluid-electrolyte Balance, Temperature Regulation, and Exercise-Heat Tolerance," (2007). Each study compared a group of people who consume large quantities of caffeine in an amount set by those who took a placebo.
Based on the study of Armstrong, caffeine also can make the body to build up tolerance. So if you are not used to drinking caffeinated drinks, then your body will be very sensitive to its effects, but as you increase the intensity to drink caffeinated beverages, your body will be more tolerant, especially the diuretic properties of caffeine.
Despite not drinking caffeine cause dehydration, caffeine can still cause nervousness, sleeplessness and anxiety. Coffee is one of the most common beverages containing caffeine, but soda and tea are also included in the list of caffeinated beverages.