Researches have refuted the belief that consuming too many caffeinated beverages can lead to dehydration. Most studies have found that in moderate amounts, caffeine has only mild diuretic effects—much like water. One such report by a scientist at the University of Connecticut who reviewed 10 previous studies appeared in The International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. Reports found that comparing caffeine with water or placebo seldom found a statistical difference in urine volume. “In the 10 studies reviewed, consumption of a caffeinated beverage resulted in 0 to 84 per cent retention of the initial volume ingested, whereas consumption of water resulted in 0 to 81 per cent retention,” said the author.

Drinking may trigger blood pressure
Drinking alcohol, even in moderate amounts, may boost blood pressure more than previously thought, say British researchers in a recent report published in the journal PLoS Medicine. People with a genetic mutation that makes it difficult to consume alcohol had significantly lower blood pressure than regular or heavy drinkers, the researchers found. People without the mutation who had about three drinks per day had “strikingly” higher blood pressure than people with the genetic change who tended to drink only small amounts or nothing at all. The researchers said there was more than a two-fold risk for high blood pressure among drinkers and a 70 per cent increased risk for “quite modest” drinkers compared to people with the genetic mutation. High blood pressure is one of the causes for most heart ailments and kidney failure.

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