Does tea count as water?

RyanneRose
RyanneRose Posts: 128 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I have a hard time getting myself to drink water unless I add like half a lemon to it. But I'm happy to drink a variety of teas. Now, does tea count as water since it's basically water with some leaves thrown in, or does it counter some of the hydration or something?

Replies

  • PlantBasedRnr
    PlantBasedRnr Posts: 129 Member
    Tea is a diuretic - I am not a doctor or nutritionist but I think that would counter act the benefits of drinking it. You may want to try some of those " flavor enhancers " that you can get at the local supermarket, most of them are just flavoring so they have no calories... it may take a while but you will find one you like. I finally found a flavor I like and I am drinking about 2 gallons a day ( you read that correctly )
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    RyanneRose wrote: »
    I have a hard time getting myself to drink water unless I add like half a lemon to it. But I'm happy to drink a variety of teas. Now, does tea count as water since it's basically water with some leaves thrown in, or does it counter some of the hydration or something?

    Yes, tea counts towards your fluid/water intake.
    brhollifield wrote: »
    Tea is a diuretic - I am not a doctor or nutritionist but I think that would counter act the benefits of drinking it. You may want to try some of those " flavor enhancers " that you can get at the local supermarket, most of them are just flavoring so they have no calories... it may take a while but you will find one you like. I finally found a flavor I like and I am drinking about 2 gallons a day ( you read that correctly )

    No. Even if it does have. A slight diuretic effect, there is enough fluid to make it negligible.
  • totaldetermination
    totaldetermination Posts: 1,184 Member
    herbal teas are ok.
    or try infused water (put some piece of fruit in a jug of water and let it sit for a while).
  • PlantBasedRnr
    PlantBasedRnr Posts: 129 Member
    I stand corrected - I should have used GOOGLE before I opened my mouth - It appears that tea, coffee and others do count toward your 8 glasses a day so DRINK UP!
  • debrakgoogins
    debrakgoogins Posts: 2,033 Member
    Yes, you can count it. Be aware that caffeine can act as a diuretic which does the opposite of hydrate you. If your urine is the color of a pale ale, you are doing ok.
  • sunnybeaches105
    sunnybeaches105 Posts: 2,831 Member
    debrakgoogins wrote: »
    Yes, you can count it. Be aware that caffeine can act as a diuretic which does the opposite of hydrate you. If your urine is the color of a pale ale, you are doing ok.

    Is there a particular brand of Pale Ale that we should be drinking? And if I drink nothing but Pale Ale would that be okay? Or do I need to start with a slightly paler Pale Ale? You know, to account for all the toxins? But, since we are talking about tea, would the colour of Jasmine be okay? Let's assume steeping for exactly 2 minutes for the purposes of comparison. But, I suppose the brand of Jasmine tea could account for a certain variability for which we must account. So, OP, what brand of Jasmine tea do you drink? You know, for science.
  • debrakgoogins
    debrakgoogins Posts: 2,033 Member
    sunnybeaches105 wrote: »
    Is there a particular brand of Pale Ale that we should be drinking? And if I drink nothing but Pale Ale would that be okay? Or do I need to start with a slightly paler Pale Ale? You know, to account for all the toxins? But, since we are talking about tea, would the colour of Jasmine be okay? Let's assume steeping for exactly 2 minutes for the purposes of comparison. But, I suppose the brand of Jasmine tea could account for a certain variability for which we must account. So, OP, what brand of Jasmine tea do you drink? You know, for science.

    @sunnybeaches105, for you personally I suggest waiting until your urine is the color of Guinness...Extra Stout.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    If I were counting water I'd certainly count it.
  • sunnybeaches105
    sunnybeaches105 Posts: 2,831 Member
    debrakgoogins wrote: »
    sunnybeaches105 wrote: »
    Is there a particular brand of Pale Ale that we should be drinking? And if I drink nothing but Pale Ale would that be okay? Or do I need to start with a slightly paler Pale Ale? You know, to account for all the toxins? But, since we are talking about tea, would the colour of Jasmine be okay? Let's assume steeping for exactly 2 minutes for the purposes of comparison. But, I suppose the brand of Jasmine tea could account for a certain variability for which we must account. So, OP, what brand of Jasmine tea do you drink? You know, for science.

    @sunnybeaches105, for you personally I suggest waiting until your urine is the color of Guinness...Extra Stout.

    people are so touchy . . .
  • Pawsforme
    Pawsforme Posts: 645 Member
    Tea counts. As do coffee and soft drinks and most other beverages.
  • RyanneRose
    RyanneRose Posts: 128 Member
    Thanks for the helpful replies :) I've tried a few water flavorings, but haven't found one I like yet. Which is why I generally just go with a lemon. But thats not super convenient when I'm out! I've kind of gotten hooked on a cinnamon tea recently. I used to be huge on sodas (Coke mostly), but I've cut down a LOT. I tell myself I can have one (can) a day, but I usually end up with maybe 3 a week now. ...instead of per day. So I know the tea is better than *that*, but wasn't sure if I was helping myself at all with hydration. :)
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    edited January 2016
    Tea counts, as do coffee, soup, milk, fruits and vegetables, jello, soda and almost anything that has water.
  • dutchandkiwi
    dutchandkiwi Posts: 1,389 Member
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    Tea counts, as do coffee, soup, milk, fruits and vegetables, jello, soda and almost anything that has water.

    This!!!
    My MIL was a medically required fluid restricted diet for a while and the amount of water in some foods surprised her hugely. Made that she really had to calculate to have enough water allowance for her medication in the evening.
  • csymalla
    csymalla Posts: 4 Member
    debrakgoogins wrote: »
    Yes, you can count it. Be aware that caffeine can act as a diuretic which does the opposite of hydrate you. If your urine is the color of a pale ale, you are doing ok.

    The diuretic effect of 4 cups of black tea is about the same as the diuretic effect of four glasses of water. Yes water is a diuretic, which is anything which promotes urine production.

    Don't worry about caffeine unless sensitive to it or you get a genetic testing to determine if you are a fast or slow metabolizer of it. Slow metabolizer have greater odds of a non fatal heart attack with long term use over 4 cups of coffee a day.

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