Decaf coffee is a favorite drink of many people, especially those who love coffee but do not want to consume too much caffeine. Decaf coffee allows you to enjoy a cup of hot coffee without worrying about restlessness or insomnia. But does decaf coffee dehydrate you? This is one of the most frequently asked questions when discussing decaf coffee.
Does drinking decaf coffee dehydrate you? And how does decaf coffee affect our body? All will be revealed by Coffee Xpresso right after this. If you are a decaf coffee lover and want to know more about this special type of coffee, scroll down. You will learn more interesting information!
What is Decaf Coffee?
Decaf coffee is short for decaffeinated coffee, which has had most of its caffeine removed. Decaf coffee beans usually go through a process to remove up to 97% of the caffeine content in pure coffee beans. There are many methods to remove caffeine from coffee beans such as using water, organic solvents, or carbon dioxide.
Depending on the method, the flavor of decaf coffee may change slightly. However, decaf coffee will still retain the original flavor of traditional coffee with less caffeine content. Therefore, decaf coffee is a great choice for those who love coffee but do not want to be restless, lose sleep, or do not want to consume too much caffeine.
Does Decaf Coffee Dehydrate You?
The answer is no. Although there are many “rumors” about decaf coffee dehydrating you due to its diuretic effect, scientific studies have disproved this misconception. A study published in PLOS Online in 2014 proved that coffee does not cause dehydration1.
In fact, caffeine is the natural diuretic element in coffee. Decaf coffee has undergone a caffeine removal process, so it will not be diuretic and will not cause dehydration.
Diuretic Properties of Decaf Coffee
To help you better understand does decaf coffee dehydrate you, we will discuss the diuretic properties of coffee. A diuretic is an active ingredient that stimulates the body to eliminate waste water and excess salt, thereby producing more urine.
Caffeine is a mild diuretic, which can stimulate the kidneys to produce more urine. However, when you drink coffee, you also drink water because there is always water in a cup of coffee. Therefore, the amount of water in a cup of coffee will compensate for the diuretic effect of caffeine. In simpler terms, coffee has a diuretic effect but does not cause dehydration.
Meanwhile, decaf coffee goes through a caffeine removal process so the caffeine content will be extremely low. Therefore, the diuretic effect of decaf coffee will be even less than that of regular coffee.
The Hydration Equation
There are some opinions that decaf coffee will provide less water than regular coffee because it has undergone a hydration process. However, the truth is not so. The hydration process is mainly to remove some of the caffeine in regular coffee beans and does not change the water retention properties of coffee. Besides, a cup of decaf coffee still has water as its main ingredient. So it is still the perfect choice without worrying about dehydration.
The decaffeination process of decaf coffee also determines does decaf coffee dehydrate you. Decaf coffee can be made by many different methods. Commonly, such as the Swiss Water Process method, using carbon dioxide (CO2), or using solvents.
Each method has a different way of doing it, so there will be a difference in the effectiveness of removing caffeine and the diuretic effect of coffee beans. However, most methods are effective enough to remove 97 – 99% of caffeine, so the diuretic effect is also eliminated. Therefore, decaf coffee can be considered a “cup of water” that tastes like coffee.
Decaf Coffee vs Regular Coffee: A Comparison of Caffeine Levels and Diuretic Effects
Expanding the issue a bit, let’s compare the caffeine content and diuretic effects of decaf coffee vs regular coffee. First, we need to tell you the truth that decaf coffee still contains caffeine. Many people mistakenly think that decaf coffee is caffeine-free, but in fact, decaf coffee still has a very small amount of caffeine.
Normally, a regular cup of coffee will contain about 95mg of caffeine. Meanwhile, a similar cup of decaf coffee will only contain about 2mg of caffeine. Due to the obvious difference in caffeine content, decaf coffee also has fewer diuretic effects than regular coffee. So, if you want to drink coffee but don’t want to urinate too much, decaf coffee is for you.
Health Benefits of Decaf Coffee
Next, to help you understand better about does decaf coffee dehydrate you, we will share with you some of the great benefits of decaf coffee. Decaf coffee is rich in antioxidants, reduces free radical damage, and prevents diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or cancer.
Some studies have shown that consuming decaf coffee will positively affect the condition of type 2 diabetes2. According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, each cup of coffee per day can reduce the risk of diabetes by 6 – 11%3.
Decaf coffee also has a positive effect on nerve function and cardiovascular health. Researchers have also shown that coffee can improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative conditions commonly found in the elderly over 60 years old. Coffee also helps to effectively limit depression and anxiety.
Coffee also helps reduce the risk of heart-related problems such as high blood pressure, heart failure, and has a positive effect on liver function. Additionally, coffee has also been linked to lower mortality, reducing the risk of death from cancer and heart disease.
Is Decaf Coffee Healthier than Regular Coffee?
Overall, the health benefits of regular coffee and decaf coffee are not that different. The only difference is the caffeine content. Therefore, decaf coffee vs regular coffee – which is better depends on each person’s preference and caffeine tolerance.
If you need stronger alertness or don’t get jittery or anxious when consuming too much caffeine, regular coffee is the ideal suggestion. But if you want a milder coffee that doesn’t cause insomnia or heart palpitations, decaf coffee is for you.
Wrap Up
Does decaf coffee dehydrate you? The answer is no. Decaf coffee has undergone a hydration process, so most of the caffeine content has been removed. Therefore, it does not have a diuretic effect and does not dehydrate you.
The hydration process also only removes the caffeine content and does not change the water-retaining nature of the coffee beans. In addition, decaf coffee is also mainly composed of water, so you do not need to worry about dehydration when drinking decaf coffee. So, feel free to enjoy delicious cups of decaf coffee, and have a good day!
FAQs
No. When consumed in moderation, both regular and decaf coffee are not harmful to your kidneys and liver. Scientific studies have shown that coffee has a positive effect on the internal organs. Therefore, you can enjoy your cup of coffee without any worries.
Yes. Decaf coffee is not completely caffeine-free. It still contains a small amount of caffeine but it is not significant. Because it contains caffeine, decaf coffee is still considered a stimulant but the effect is very mild.
Common symptoms of too much caffeine include restlessness, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, insomnia, high blood pressure, stomach upset, or even nausea.
- Killer SC, Blannin AK, Jeukendrup AE (2014) No Evidence of Dehydration with Moderate Daily Coffee Intake: A Counterbalanced Cross-Over Study in a Free-Living Population. PLoS ONE 9(1): e84154. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0084154 ↩︎
- Willis, B. H., & Bartlett, K. (2004). Evidence-based medicine in general practice: Improving patient care. JAMA Internal Medicine, 164(12), 1397–1404. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.164.12.1397 ↩︎
- Jang, M., Song, J., & Jeong, M. (2021). Aloe vera: Potential candidate for the treatment of atopic dermatitis symptoms. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(8), 4066. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22084066 ↩︎
