Dehydration from Beverages: Coke, Tea, Beer & Caffeine - What You Need to Know

Question
Could you live off of Coke or tea or beer for a year or more.  Will the carbonation in the beer or Coke dehydrate you enough to where you will die and will cancel the water you have taken in making it as though you really did not drink any water at all. Does carbonation even dehydrate you at all? Does the sodium dehydrate you at all? Does caffine dehydrate you? I guess what my overall question is that will of these things, if they cause dehydration, make it so that these beverage are more dehydrating than hydrating? Thank you.

Answer
Hello Adam!

Thank you for your nutrition question.  You could not live off of soft drinks, tea, or beer for a year because you they are void of nutrition.  They don't contain enough vitamins and minerals to sustain life. You need different vitamins and minerals to carry out various functions in the body.  You would also be dehydrated because caffeine in the coke and tea cause you to pay so many visits to the restroom.  Hope this helps.

-George