Thread: Caffeine

I drink plenty of water but I also drink alot of Diet Tea...
I was wondering if too much caffeine is bad for you? Does it make you retain water? Any comments, Thanx 308/296/215 Just started 6/8/04

I brew up regular iced tea and sometimes green tea. Both have alot of antioxidants in them AND alot less caffeine than sodas and coffee. (Look at the back of the Lipton box.) I sweeten it with Splenda and always have it over ice so it's even more watered down. I know caffeine is a stimulant, but I don't feel that is stimulates my appetite. I think this is a YMMV (your mileage may vary) kind of thing. I drink a bottle of water on the way to work, a diet Coke after that (free from work) just for the caffeine. I drink only water the rest of the day until supper and I have a large (32 oz.) glass of iced tea. I have no trouble sleeping, so there couldn't be that much caffeine in it! I only really feel like I retain water during my TOM. So, I guess my answer is no, it doesn't make me retain water. Actually, caffeine is mildly diuretic, so be sure to keep drinking lots of water, too. By the way, welcome!

Ic ed tea leaves me living in the bathroom for hours--after just one glass--it is a mild diuretic but if you are drinking one with lots of other stuff in it--it might be one of the other filler things that is causing it. Use the tea bags and brew it to specifications--don't use the diet ones with aded sugar/sweeteners and flavors...try that if that is what you are using! Those are usually the granular ones though--instant!

From comments on other threads, I believe that caffine is a ymmv (your mileage may vary) issue. Some are sensitive to the caffine and find that they must cut back, or cut out caffine. Others never give it up, and do well.
I thought at one time that it was causing me to stall, but it turned out to be the powdered ceamer that I was using. I did switch from coffee to tea (I drink it English style, hot, with cream and sweetener), saving coffee for an occassional Starbucks treat. I just like the tea better, tho I am the only one in my office who drinks it rather than coffee.
Caffine shouldn't make you RETAIN water at all, but to make sure your muscles are getting enough to keep you well hydrated, drink plenty of water, in addition to any caffine drinks. See the sticky titled "Drink your water" in the newbies section for more on that!

I think the important thing with any caffienated beverage (or any beverage that is not water) is that it should be IN ADDITION to the full amount of water we require. A good rule of thumb, often repeated here, is divide your body weight in half and drink that many ounces of water.

i thought i had the coffee demon licked.. but he struck back with a vengence.. i am happy to report that with the rise in temperature.. from the fifties to the eighties.. i am drinking almost ALL water again...*sigh*... I had worked so hard to limit coffee to a couple half cups a day..

Caffeine seems to almost always make my Ketostix darker. I guess one might infer from that that it doesn't interfere with my low-carbing. I've done low-carb both ways: caffeine-free and caffeine-drenched. (I'm in my drenched stage, right now. New coffee maker, Trader Joe Columbia Supremo coffee, Moka Java, and Kenya AA... yumyumyum!!)

Caffeine can dehydrate you, so be sure to drink lots of water with it. And don't count the extra water weight loss as anything special -- it can come and go away again just as quickly.

Welcome back to the "high octane" club, Dr. I.

I drink regular brewed and instant coffee, up to about a pot and-a-half a day. Drinking coffee acts as a diuretic for me most times. Sometimes lately -- and as recently as just two weeks ago -- I find that consuming too much caffeine messes up my BGL's.

So, I've been drinking decaf instant more and more lately, and I'm trying to get to the point where I can drink just a little caffeine each week.

This is gonna be tough for me, but I know it hasta be done.

High Test for me, about 3 to 4 mugs in the AM, I don't function right without it, not that my functioning is anything to brag about.Too much though and I start pinging. I tried decaf, but why bother...no morning zip.