#coffeemyths

Hydration feels simple, right? Just drink water! But between the "8 glasses a day" rule and warnings about coffee, the advice can get seriously confusing. 😵‍💫

Are you accidentally sabotaging your hydration game based on outdated myths? Let's bust 5 common ones right now:

Myth #1: You MUST drink exactly 8 glasses (64 oz) of water per day.

BUSTED! 💥 Reality: This is a generic guideline, NOT a universal rule. Your actual water needs depend heavily on factors like your activity level, climate, body size, health status, and diet. Someone working out in the heat needs way more than someone sedentary in a cool office.

Instead: Listen to your body's thirst signals and pay attention to your urine color (aim for pale yellow).

Myth #2: If you feel thirsty, you're already dangerously dehydrated.

BUSTED! 💥 Reality: Thirst is your body's normal and healthy signal that it's time to drink fluids. It doesn't automatically mean you've hit a critical dehydration danger zone. It's simply a cue to rehydrate soon.

Instead: Sip water consistently throughout the day, and definitely drink when you feel thirsty. Don't panic!

Myth #3: Only plain water counts towards your daily hydration.

BUSTED! 💥 Reality: ALL fluids contribute to hydration, along with water-rich foods! Think milk, juice, herbal teas, soups, and even fruits and vegetables (like watermelon, cucumber, oranges). They all add water to your system.

Instead: Enjoy a variety of hydrating fluids and foods. Water is often the best choice (no calories/sugar), but it's not the only choice.

Myth #4: Coffee and tea are dehydrating because they contain caffeine.

BUSTED! 💥 Reality: While caffeine is a mild diuretic (makes you pee a bit more), the water content in coffee and tea far outweighs this effect. They still contribute a net positive amount of fluid to your daily intake.

Instead: Enjoy your coffee or tea in moderation as part of your overall fluid consumption. Just don't rely on highly caffeinated drinks as your sole source of hydration.

Myth #5: Your urine needs to be completely clear to be properly hydrated.

BUSTED! 💥 Reality: Aiming for consistently clear urine might actually mean you're over-hydrating, which can dilute electrolytes. The ideal color is typically a pale, straw-like yellow. Dark yellow usually means drink more; totally clear might mean ease up slightly.

Instead: Use urine color as a general guide, aiming for pale yellow, but don't obsess over achieving crystal clear pee all day long.

Think coffee is bad for you? Think again!

Registered dietitians debunk common myths about coffee's health effects, morning consumption, and daily intake. With benefits like antioxidants and improved alertness, coffee can be part of a healthy routine if enjoyed mindfully.

There are several myths surrounding coffee and we’re here to tell you if they’re true or not.

Coffee stunts your growth

“Don’t let your kids drink coffee, it will stunt their growth!”

People thought this to be the case because of a study linking caffeine to reducing bone mass and an increased risk of osteoporosis. The problem with these studies is that they were conducted on the elderly and their diets were low in calcium. A more recent study, which focused on 81 adolescents showed that there is not a connection between coffee consumption and height.

Coffee is bad for you

“You drink too much coffee, you've got to stop, it’s so bad for you.”

Coffee is quite good for you in many ways. In steep contrast to the myth is the fact that coffee can help prevent a huge number of diseases. So, the next time someone tells you to stop drinking coffee just tell them why they should start.

Coffee causes ulcers

“Coffee can give you ulcers…”

Recent studies have shown that most ulcers are caused by a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori. The ulcers caused by this bacteria can easily be cured with an antibiotic. Coffee can however irritate an ulcer that is already there but plays no part in actually giving them to you.

The refrigerator keeps coffee fresh

‘Coffee quality is hurt by light, moisture and air; so if I put it in the refrigerator it will protect the coffee from those 3 dangerous elements.’

Though the thinking seems sound, it is just not true. There are a number of reasons why the refrigerator is a bad place to store coffee, one is that it is porous and will absorb the food odour and moisture. The best place to store coffee is in a cool dry place and in an airtight container. 

The best coffee comes from Italy

Coffee is actually not grown in Italy, unless it’s indoors. Italy is famous for coffee because of its dedication to roasting and quality tasting espresso. There are coffee shops in Italy which don’t offer quality espresso but in an environment as competitive as Italy those shops probably don’t last very long.