Tea is hydrating

Drinking tea is just as good as water when it comes to keeping the body hydrated, an important new study has found.

Four mugs of tea a day were found to be just as hydrating as water – with no negative effects.

In the new UK study, a total of 21 volunteers drank either four mugs of tea with milk (240ml) over a 12-hour period – equivalent to just under one litre of tea in total – or a similar amount of plain, warm water. Four cups of tea was chosen because this is slightly above the average daily tea intake in the UK. The all-male volunteer group had an average age of 36 years and none had habitually high caffeine intakes. The study was a cross-over trial so each male was exposed to both tea and water, although on separate days. A controlled diet was given during the test days and vigorous exercise, caffeinated products and alcohol were banned the day before each test.

Blood samples were taken before drink consumption and then at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 hours during the test days to check levels of electrolytes, total protein, urea, creatinine and osmolality – all recognised markers of body hydration. Urine was collected over 24 hours to gauge total volume and to check levels of creatinine, osmolality and electrolyte concentration – again common markers of hydration.  Following detailed analysis by a qualified statistician, no significant differences were found between the tea and water conditions. Drinking four mugs of tea over one day was found to be equally hydrating to drinking the same level of water. The researchers concluded that tea can make a valid contribution to daily fluid requirements.

It’s a common thought that drinking tea can increase the risk of dehydration because of the caffeine content. But this new study proves that it may not be the case with tea.

Drinking moderate amounts of tea – four mugs a day – offered the same excellent hydration qualities as plain water. There were no statistical differences between regular tea and water when a wide range of blood and urine markers for hydration were tested among the volunteers.

In addition, urine volume was similar after tea or water, confirming that we do not urinate more after drinking tea.

It seems that it is the quantity of caffeine in a beverage that affects our hydration levels.  Coffee and other energy drinks with higher and more easliy absorbed levels of caffeine will have an impact on your hydration, and you can lose more water the higher the caffeine levels.