I've been seeing ads that say caffeinated drinks hydrate you as well as water does. Is this true?

Answer From Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.

It is true that caffeinated drinks can contribute to your daily fluid requirement.

Drinking caffeine-containing beverages as part of a normal lifestyle doesn't cause fluid loss in excess of the volume ingested. While caffeinated drinks may have a mild diuretic effect — meaning that they may cause the need to urinate — they don't appear to increase the risk of dehydration.

Still, caffeinated drinks can cause headaches and insomnia in some people. Also, some studies suggest that if you're pregnant, high levels of caffeine consumption could increase your chance of preterm birth or miscarriage.

Water is probably your best bet to stay hydrated. It's calorie-free, caffeine-free, inexpensive and readily available.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Aug. 27, 2020 See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. 3 diet changes women over 50 should make right now
  2. Added sugar
  3. Alcohol use
  4. Alkaline water
  5. Are energy drinks bull?
  6. Artificial sweeteners and other sugar substitutes
  7. Autism spectrum disorder and digestive symptoms
  8. Bad food habits at work? Get back on track in 5 steps
  9. Best oil for cooking?
  10. Dietary guidelines
  11. Breastfeeding nutrition: Tips for moms
  12. Caffeine: How much is too much?
  13. Calorie calculator
  14. Can whole-grain foods lower blood pressure?
  15. Carbohydrates
  16. Chart of high-fiber foods
  17. Cholesterol: Top foods to improve your numbers
  18. Coconut water: Is it super hydrating?
  19. Coffee and health
  20. Diet soda: How much is too much?
  21. Dietary fats
  22. Dietary fiber
  23. Prickly pear cactus
  24. Does soy really affect breast cancer risk?
  25. Don't get tricked by these 3 heart-health myths
  26. Don't go cuckoo for coconut water
  27. Eat more of these key nutrients
  28. Eggs: Bad for cholesterol?
  29. Fiber: Soluble or insoluble?
  30. Fit more fiber into your diet
  31. Get to know the new Nutrition Facts label
  32. Healthy-eating tip: Don't forget fiber
  33. Hidden sources of sodium
  34. High-fructose corn syrup
  35. High-protein diets
  36. How to track saturated fat
  37. Takeout containers
  38. Is there more to hydration than water?
  39. Juicing is no substitute for whole foods
  40. Juicing
  41. Limit bad fats, one step at a time
  42. Make food labels required reading
  43. Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
  44. Need a snack? Go nuts!
  45. Need more fiber? Take 3 steps
  46. Nutrition rules that will fuel your workout
  47. Nuts and your heart: Eating nuts for heart health
  48. Omega-3 in fish
  49. Omega-6 fatty acids
  50. Phenylalanine
  51. Protein: Heart-healthy sources
  52. Health foods
  53. Portion control
  54. Planning healthy meals
  55. High-fiber diet
  56. Sodium
  57. Step away from the saltshaker
  58. Stevia
  59. Taurine in energy drinks
  60. Time to cut back on caffeine?
  61. Trans fat
  62. Underweight: Add pounds healthfully
  63. Want a healthier dinnertime? Science says change your eating space
  64. Daily water requirement
  65. What's considered moderate alcohol use?
  66. What's the difference between juicing and blending?
  67. Working out? Remember to drink up
  68. Yerba mate