Many people are now drinking tea on a regular basis. Some have heard of the health benefits associated with tea, while others have just heard that it’s an effective way to get rid of their cravings for junk food. The biggest problem some people think drinking tea has is that it can dehydrate you if you drink too much or over time. So, is it true that tea is dehydrating?
Tea Can Be Diuretic
What does it mean when a beverage is diuretic? Well, it simply means that it can cause you to urinate more often than usual. When you do that, it can make the water level in your body decrease, which can then lead to dehydration. That’s why some people think that tea is dehydrating because it can cause you to urinate more often than usual.
Tea Has Some Caffeine Content
The main ingredient in tea is caffeine. So, if you drink too much of it, it can make you feel jittery and anxious because it’s the caffeine that causes this effect. That’s why some people think that tea is dehydrating because it has caffeine in it.
Once you swallow caffeine, it goes from your gut into your bloodstream and flows to your liver. There, it is broken down into a variety of compounds. Some of these can affect how your organs function.
The caffeine that you take stimulates your brain, thereby increasing your alertness and reducing your feelings of being tired. On the other hand, it can also cause your kidneys to become diuretic.
Each Tea is Different
The amount of caffeine in each tea varies. Some teas have a very low amount of caffeine while some, such as black tea, white tea, and green tea, have a high amount of caffeine. The type of tea you drink also affects how much caffeine it has.
There is no question that drinking too much or over time can cause you to urinate more often than usual. That’s why many people think that tea is dehydrating because it can cause you to urinate more often than usual. However, there’s no reason to believe that this will happen if you drink the right kind of tea on a regular basis in small amounts because each type has different amounts of caffeine in them and they all affect your body differently.
Not Dehydrating: Herbal Teas
Herbal teas are made from the leaves of various plants. They do not contain caffeine and so are not considered to be dehydrating. They also do not contain the Camellia sinensis plant, which is what usually adds caffeine to most teas.
Herbal teas can be a healthy alternative to coffee or tea and can help you lose weight if you drink them on a regular basis. In addition, they also have other health benefits that make them worth drinking, such as being able to improve your circulation and boost your immune system. So, as herbal teas are not considered to be dehydrating by many people, many people turn to them when they want to enjoy tea without messing with their hydration.
