Caffeine ???????????????

OK Everyone I need some help. What's your take on CAFFEINE?????????? I have heard soooooooooooo many diffferent things about caffeine I can't keep them straight.  It helps with weight lose, curbs your appite, makes you retain water, you have to drink double H2O if you have any caffeine. I drink Green Tea, Decafe reg tea, and crystal light.  What's your take???????????? Thanks,  Robin

Robin - I was told by my Nut that for every cup of coffee I drink that I need to drink an extra 8 oz of water.  If it helps you loose weight then I should have been skinny years ago!    It does not curb my appeite or help me loose weight.  I am not sure about the water retention since I drink so much water anyway.   I will be interest in hearing the comments about Green Tea since I have just starting getting into it also. Take care! Valerie

Hey Val....I just don;t see it....the replace a cup of coffee....you know me, I would love to see your nut's documentation on that....I have looked..... help a texan out russ

I've heard the same - double the ounces in water for the consumed ounces of caffeine.  Don't know how accurate that is, but it certainly can't hurt! As for the caffeine contributing to weight loss - I agree with the other poster - if that were the case for me, I would have never had to have WLS in the first place!! 

The same as above - for every caffeinated coffee I have, I need to drink more water. However, I love decaf and will often have one in lieu of a water.  Water hydrates, caffeine dehydrates. Decaf can count as water so I now enjoy a decaf every now and again.  Sometimes it is great to curb hunger. Dawn

I agree with having caffeine that you should drink as much water (I couldn't live without my coffee in the morning); however, I drin****coffee which doesn't have as much caffeine in it.

I am just curious.  Why do you say iced coffee has less caffeine?  It is usually brewed somewhat stronger than hot coffee and drunk in a larger amount at one time.

Robin, I just don't see the double your water type thing...Nothing that i have studied for read has ever mentioned that..the only place I have ever heard it is on a bypass sight....ok, caffeine is a diuretic...that does not mean that it gets rid of too much water and out body is suffering...especially since we drink so much anyway...if a patient is completly NPO, we only run and IV at 2- 3 liters a day...i just dont; see it..... I've heard that NUTs say this.,...but I don't see it.. I drink coffee..i just count it as fluid..... Russ here is a report from the Mayo clinic

Does caffeine increase weight loss?

- Michelle / Illinois

Mayo Clinic dietitian Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

A few studies indicate that caffeine may slightly enhance weight loss in people who exercise and maintain a low-fat diet. But there's no evidence that increased caffeine intake results in significant or permanent weight loss.

Marketers of fad diets and weight-loss supplements often exaggerate the benefits of caffeine, claiming that caffeine will significantly curb your appetite and help you drop pounds quickly. However, clinical studies on the relationship between caffeine and weight loss don't support these claims.

Here's what researchers have found:

• Caffeine may act as an appetite suppressant. However, while studies have shown that some people eat less after consuming caffeine, this effect is brief — not long enough to lead to significant weight loss.
• Caffeine may increase your body's ability to burn calories. Caffeine is thought to stimulate thermogenesis — one way your body generates heat and energy from digesting food. However, caffeine's role in thermogenesis probably isn't enough to result in significant weight loss.
• Caffeine acts as a diuretic, which means it causes an increase in the amount of urine you excrete. This water loss may temporarily decrease your body weight.

It's important to keep in mind that caffeine is a stimulant that can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, interrupt your sleep, and cause nervousness and irritability. Also, many caffeinated beverages are high in calories, which can contribute to unwanted weight gain.

Ok let me clarify...when you search for this...nobody with any credientials says this... i'm really open to the idea, but I just don;t see it...yes if you are dehydrated, you will stop loosing weight....but we are not dehydrated.... great topic....lets see where it goes Russ

Russ - since it has been a longggggg time since I have gone to my Nut ( I had to in the begining but dropped it after 6 months)   I think where it all stems from is this:

Caffeine acts as a diuretic, which means it causes an increase in the amount of urine you excrete. This water loss may temporarily decrease your body weight.  I think that since they say it acts like a diuretic you have to increase your water.  I could not find anything either when scanning the internet yesterday.   You know the odd thing is that I drink coffee and it does not cause in increase in the amount I excrete...... now the gallon of sf koolaid or crystal lite does!!!!   It is so hard to tell what is true and what is a myth..... I am interesting in you thoughts about green tea - what do you think about all the hype about it?   Hey also thanks for the tips about exercise...... I have started out slowly and so far so good.  I want to start going to yoga but have not found anything in the Katy area that I like.  Watch - soon you will see me at Babba Yaga's -buying all kinds of herbs.... going back to nature! LOL!!!  (NOT!) I love my Starbucks way to much!!!   Enjoy your Friday! Valerie :)