Summer Vibes are Good for Drinking Coffee at Urban Water Parks
Quick question: Are you drinking less coffee because you’re concerned about dehydration?
Well, don’t worry. Another myth about coffee
has been debunked. Medical studies have refuted the longstanding idea that
coffee causes dehydration.
In fact, drinking hot coffee in the
summer actually improves well-being, because it increase energy levels;
replenishes antioxidants in the body; helps prevent dizziness and vertigo due
to heat; and helps to replenish fluids in the body.
The Science
Behind the Effect
According to Mayo Clinic: “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.”
So although caffeine has
a slightly diuretic effect, the hydration from coffee (or tea) more than offsets the
effect. A rigorous study, conducted in
the Thermal Ergonomics Lab at the University of Ottawa, showed that when the
body is able to sweat out heat, drinking hot drinks actually cools you down
more quickly, because the heat sensors in the stomach trigger the body to sweat
more aggressively.
Enjoy the Magic of Water, Laughter and Coffee at Yards Park
Last month, I visited Yards Parks,
where I enjoyed the full glory of an urban splash park (with my kid) in Washington,
D.C. I am enthralled by this place—by the majesty of water; by the laughter and
splashing of children; by the democracy of urban splash parks; by the sheer joy
of summer heat offset by cool water; and by the coffee I drank the entire time
as part of the celebratory atmosphere.
Check out this video to see what Yards
Park is like and learn more about going there.
Happy summer!
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