We have always been told that tea and coffee dehydrates you, and this apparently was based on the fact that large amounts of caffeine can dehydrate, but even the strongest coffee or tea apparently does not have a dehydrating effect, according to research by Dr Carrie Ruxton & colleagues at Kings College London, this is an urban myth. This research is written up in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2006. Dr Ruxton is a peer reviewer for this journal. Dr Ruxton claims that tea is a better drink for health because water only rehydrates and tea supplies antioxidants as well as rehydrates. I always believed tea was a diuretic and consequently reduced the amount of fluid within the body. Has anybody seen any unbiased research that contradicts this, that was published in the last 2 years.
John Bobbin BNat

This may be what you are looking for. A kinesiology professor published a study debunking this myth in 2002

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?D..._RVAbstractPlus

Fantastic!!
Just what the Dr ordered, thanks Gloria.

John Bobbin BNat

I had two friends, a brother and sister in their 70's and they never drank water. Only tea. They both ended up in the hospital within weeks of each other and both were severely dehydrated and died. Tea is beneficial but I would stick to good drinkable water to keep well hydrated.

Hi Frogholler,
They are dropping like flies mate, you are probably right, I wouldn't be at all surprised if this is what killed my 96 year old grandmother or her 101 year old sister, they only ever drank tea. What does water deliver that tea doesn't? I can remember as a kid going to relatives farms where all water was collected in rainwater tanks, as run off from roofs, we were always told to only drink boiled water because of storage problems with water, possums, wrigglers (mosquito larvae),birds etc. From time to time my relatives would put kerosene in the tanks (in small doses) to kill the wrigglers, but you would not drink the water without boiling it first, hence you drank tea. Even the creeks around where I grew up lacked iodine so Goitre was a problem in non salt water fish eaters. Not everyone used salt (iodised) on food and a lot of Australian soil has been depleted of iodine.

I have digressed a little here from the original juxtaposition of placing dehydration and caffeine side by side, my apologies for this.

Hi Everyone,
I have just found another reason why tea may be superior to water.


Related
Black tea shown to improve blood vessel health

A new study suggests that black tea reverses blood vessel dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease, which reduces the risk for heart attack and stroke in these patients.

The study was published in the July 10 issue of the medical journal Circulation.


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American researchers found that when a group of people with heart disease who have abnormal blood vessel function to begin with, were asked to drink tea, their blood vessels improved .

In their crossover study, the scientists asked 66 patients with coronary artery disease to drink either 4 cups of black tea or 4 cups of water daily for 4 weeks. Investigators found the arteries of the tea drinkers were better able to expand and contract with the body's blood flow needs compared with the arteries of the water drinkers.

The findings could help explain why black tea has heart health benefits. The study does not directly prove that tea can prevent cardiovascular disease. The writers speculate that flavonoids in tea are what help the artery walls stay healthy.

The results are regarded as important but not anywhere near a guarantee that black tea drinkers will live longer.

Multiple studies on other foods, such as soy and vitamin C or E, or hormones have shown promise for preventing heart disease, but have failed when tested in major clinical trials.

Even beer is better than water now for rehydration, in moderation of course!!

Good excuse to head to the pub
Article from: Herald Sun

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November 05, 2007 12:00am

SCIENTISTS have come up with the perfect excuse for heading to the pub after a game of football.

Their research has shown that a glass of beer is far better at rehydrating the body after exercise than water. Researchers suspect the sugars, salts and bubbles in beer may help people absorb fluids more quickly.

The study at Granada University in Spain will be welcome news for the legions of weekend sports enthusiasts who enjoy a post-match pint.

Professor Manuel Garzon tested 25 students over several months. Half were given beer to drink after exercise and the other half water.

Prof Garzon said the rehydration effect in the students who were given beer was slightly better than among those given only water.

Good news again for devotees of science and diet
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v398/...s/398381a0.html

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v389/...s/389134a0.html

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/296/10/1255

I would not cut out either water or tea. The benefits of drinking a lot of water are well-known, but I believe it is nearly as important to occasionally drink white or green tea, especially if it's in place of coffee. White tea has EGCG, which is a powerful anti-oxidant, and they both have been proven to have great effects on the body, such as a strengthened immune system. I get my green and white teas from energy drinks, which would seem to be counterproductive at first glance, but they are actually twice as good for you because I only drink healthy energy drinks, with no carbs or sugar, a minute amount of calories and sodium and a good amount of B vitamins and aptogenic herbs. These are pretty much the only beverage I drink anymore along with water and an occasional protein shake. It's amazing what limiting your beverages to only water and tea could do for your health. It is a fantastic regimen for weight loss and it is good for anyone that wants to feel better all day.

I agree with neilmanello. I think that water should always be included in a diet. Water is essentially in hydration. It is not good to focus on just drinking tea or just water. Both should be combined along with a healthy diet to promote healthy living.

I think water is the best health drink

Hi linnping,
I always felt water was the best drink as well, until I started researching the subject and then I found the evidence to support this belief was very thin indeed, like non-existent!!!