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

For the most part, I absolutely can’t stand plain water. I’ve tried many brands and while some taste better than others, it still makes me gag. For the past 20 years I’ve drank almost exclusively tea, coffee, and sugar-free soda. When I’m trying to avoid a hangover I drink Gatorade or pedialyte.

I say for the most part because there are rare times (talking like 2-3 times a year) where I feel really dehydrated and I crave a glass of water… but I usually can’t finish it. I wish I could tolerate the taste of water cause I probably would just feel better in general.