Why is that water is needed to live as opposed to alternative liquids? If coffee is just bean-flavoured water, why couldn’t you survive by only drinking coffee? If you were lost on a desert island and had only coffee, juice or soda to drink, could you survive?

Question

Why is that water is needed to live as opposed to alternative liquids? If coffee is just bean-flavoured water, why couldn’t you survive by only drinking coffee? If you were lost on a desert island and had only coffee, juice or soda to drink, could you survive?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Anything that has 90-99% water, no more than 5-7% alcohol and no salts and harmful substances in it is perfectly potable and quenchy. This includes soda pop, juice and beer. Coffee may not be as benign, unless it’s decaf; caffeine is a drug that may have harmful side effects.