Will caffeine free tea dehydrate?

D

deermaster

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Apr 19, 2009
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I drink alot of hot tea. I have sinus problems, and it seems to help with the congestion and pain to drink something warm throughout the day, and I dont really like coffee, so I drink hot tea. Its always some sort of caffeine free stuff, like white tea or herbal lemon tea. I have heard caffeinated tea can cause dehydration, but will caffeine free tea do that as well? Not really survival related, but was wondering if any of you all knew. Thanks.
 
deermaster said:
I drink alot of hot tea. I have sinus problems, and it seems to help with the congestion and pain to drink something warm throughout the day, and I dont really like coffee, so I drink hot tea. Its always some sort of caffeine free stuff, like white tea or herbal lemon tea. I have heard caffeinated tea can cause dehydration, but will caffeine free tea do that as well? Not really survival related, but was wondering if any of you all knew. Thanks.
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From my understanding, caffeine-free tea doesn't cause dehydration. In fact, I know Brits that carried tea bags in their survival kit to help with hot-fluid hydration when brewed. I like the individual coffee bags, but I also carry my favorite non-caffeine tea, Licorice Root tea bags.

ETA: Just read a few studies that caffeinated tea (or other drinks) doesn't necessarily cause dehydration unless is "excessive" amounts. Some doctors believe that even with excessive caffeinated beverages, the net gain is equalized. I wouldn't worry about it too much unless your sucking on the tea bag:D

ROCK6
 
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I have been drinking alot of green tea lately. There is some caffeine in green tea, much less than black tea or coffee, but I find it to be a refreshing drink in the summer or winter.
 
A Billion Chinese people can't be wrong:D Not to mention all those Brits who drink tea several times a day. It seems to be catching on in America to. First with sweet tea (in the deep south) then spreading. I drink tea daily and don't worry about dehydration. I like black tea. Caffine is not so bad either. Everything (or most things) in moderation.
 
Absolutely not. I've got a pet peeve with this as I've known of more than one supposed survival school that has the audacity to take money off people whilst peddling that kind of tripe. I consider such people a bloody hazard because they have the potential to deny themselves, and most importantly other people, accesses to fluids without so much as a half-baked understanding of the actuality. When a source disseminates such rubbish one would do well to take anything else they have to say with a pinch of salt 'till it is verified by someone that really does know what they are doing.
 
I wouldn't worry too much about the tea, caffeinated or otherwise. Although the theophylline and caffeine in tea have a mild diuretic effect, they won't dehydrate you. A cup of tea will add more net water to your system than it will drain out. It's just not as efficient in hydrating you as water.

Kenyan distance runners drink boatloads of tea for hydration--generally more than they drink water--so you're probably okay.
 
Nicotine also has a mild diuretic effect, not a bad idea to drink coffee or tea and have some tobacco if you start feeling constipated on a camp out / hike, effects are much milder than any laxative I've seen and with shorter term effects.
 
Rotte challenged me to find research that supported the dehydrating effect of tea or coffee - and I could not find any. In fact, you are taking in, what is essentially 99% water, so you actually get a hydrating effect.

TF
 
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