Drinking 1.5 liters of water (minimum) per day is essential to stay hydrated and compensate for water loss. But do large cups of tea or coffee allow you to meet his needs? We take stock.
Struggling to drink 1.5 liters of pure water a day as recommended, but never mind drinking a cup of tea or coffee first thing in the morning? Does this habit enter into the daily calculation and does it allow you to stay well hydrated as you think? (After all, there is water in your cup). Not that easy…
Hot drinks… which dehydrate
For naturopath Julia Monnier, interviewed on the subject by the media Marie Clairehydrating yourself with morning tea or coffee is a misconception:
“Certainly the basis of coffee, tea and herbal teas is water, but when consumed in large quantities, they do not hydrate the body and even cause the opposite effect.”
Indeed, in the case of coffee, caffeine has a significant diuretic effect which instead of hydrating you will accelerate the elimination of water from your body. In the case of tea, theine also inhibits the absorption of iron, vitamins and minerals. As for herbal teas, it depends. Although initially devoid of theine and caffeine, some so-called “detox” ones are also diuretics. For the expert, if you plan to drink hot to hydrate yourself, only the Roiboos option can satisfy you.
Water and simply water to hydrate
When it comes to providing your body with the water it needs, the only good alternative remains pure water, for this famous 1.5 L.
As a reminder, sugary drinks, fruit juices and alcoholic drinks are just as diuretic as hot drinks, delivering a good dose of sugar in the process. As for the broth, it often contains too much salt, which could cause water retention.
And if you don't like drinking plain water, on the other hand, the expert advises turning to flavored water without sugar, which you can garnish yourself with a slice of cucumber, drops of lemon or leaves of mint.
Some tips for drinking more water
To increase your water intake, however, there are a few tips that can remind you of the right actions:
- Place a glass of water or a small bottle near the bed to drink as soon as you wake up;
- Keep a bottle on your desk to drink regularly throughout the day;
- Set a goal of drinking glasses per day (1.5 liters of water represents approximately 6 to 8 glasses depending on their size);
- Apps also remind you when it's time to drink your drink, which can help.
Finally, don't forget to drink more depending on the situation: in case of sport, hot season, or even fever, it is important to increase your water intake.
Slide: Detox water: 10 recipe ideas for a healthy body
