Drinking caffeine-containing beverages as part of a normal lifestyle doesn't cause fluid loss in excess of the volume ingested. While caffeinated drinks may have a mild diuretic effect — meaning that they may cause the need to urinate — they don't appear to increase the risk of dehydration.

Do caffeinated beverages count as water intake?

Yes, drinking a few cups of coffee or tea counts toward your daily water intake. However, drinking huge amounts of caffeine can be dehydrating. That's because it may increase urination that can result in a higher risk of dehydration. Keep in mind that your body needs more than just plain water to stay hydrated.

Can you hydrate with caffeinated drinks?

Even though caffeine is a diuretic, which forces water to be excreted in urine, our bodies quickly compensate. So even caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea have a net hydrating effect.