COFFEE AND DEHYDRATION
Who loves a good caffeinated beverage?
I know I certainly do! An iced late each morning to boost my productivity for the first few hours of my working day.
But... Did you know that caffeine can contribute to dehydration?
How does caffeine affect hydration levels?
Caffeine is a known diuretic, which can stimulate the kidneys to produce more urine. The increase in urine output (fluid loss) can also lead to an increased loss of sodium and other essential electrolytes.
This can kickstart dehydration, leading to various negative side effects.
The impacts from dehydration can negate the benefits that we are often seeking from caffeine (alertness and focus, mood and performance).
Dehydration can also increase the side effects of caffeine including headaches, restlessness and fatigue.
How can we negate the dehydration effects from caffeine?
Fear not! There is a solution that we can implement to harness the benefits of caffeine without increasing dehydration.
Hydrate first, coffee second!
Start your day by hydrating with both water and electrolytes, then add your favourite caffeinated beverage about 60-90 minutes after waking up.
This will allow:
- Your adrenal system to wake you up naturally and avoid the mid morning caffeine crash.
- The full benefits of caffeine whilst minimising the side effects.
- You to maintain hydration levels.
Our Endurance Fuel contains 500mg of sodium and a full electrolyte profile per serve and makes the perfect hydration drink to start your day.
#pulsenutritionau