What do you count as "water"?
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As a nurse, when completing fluid balance charts all liquid counts right down to yoghurt or custard.
But in documenting we will differentiate the type of fluid, method in (IV infusion, orally etc).
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As an individual I only count my water as water.
I do take mental note of other fluids I've taken though, such as tea or coffee, alcohol etc - but I don't put those fluid amounts towards my personal water goals.5 -
The only thing i count as water is plain water. If the only fluids i get are from tea and coffee i can feel noticeable water retention that evening and into the next day. But if i also drink a couple Litres of water, I'm fine and have no problems.1
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When I started out on MFP (in winter) I logged water, tea and coffee as water (those being nearly everything I drank). Now that it's summer I only log water, because I find I need eight glasses of actual plain water to stay hydrated. I don't care too deeply about it, though.0
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TimothyFish wrote: »I find it interesting that people would log coffee and tea differently than they do plain water. If you swallow some dry instant coffee crystals and then drink a cup of hot water, your body can't tell a difference from putting the crystals in a cup of hot water and drinking that.
I drink a cup of tea with my breakfast and log it as part of breakfast.
I drink various juices with my lunch and log them as part of lunch.
I drink either coffee or juice with dinner and log them as part of dinner.
I may possibly have coffee during the morning at work and log this under snacks (items consumed apart from my three main meals)
None of this counts as water for me, although I can see how it helps with hydration.0 -
TimothyFish wrote: »I find it interesting that people would log coffee and tea differently than they do plain water. If you swallow some dry instant coffee crystals and then drink a cup of hot water, your body can't tell a difference from putting the crystals in a cup of hot water and drinking that.
I found this on webmd. "Although tea contains only about one-third the caffeine found in coffee, preliminary studies show that the caffeine may actually help to increase tea's cancer-protection effects. Caffeine is a diuretic and stimulates urination, and you can actually get dehydrated by drinking too much tea or coffee -- so take it easy." So it appears it isn't the same as plain water after all, which hydrates you.0 -
TimothyFish wrote: »I find it interesting that people would log coffee and tea differently than they do plain water. If you swallow some dry instant coffee crystals and then drink a cup of hot water, your body can't tell a difference from putting the crystals in a cup of hot water and drinking that.
I found this on webmd. "Although tea contains only about one-third the caffeine found in coffee, preliminary studies show that the caffeine may actually help to increase tea's cancer-protection effects. Caffeine is a diuretic and stimulates urination, and you can actually get dehydrated by drinking too much tea or coffee -- so take it easy." So it appears it isn't the same as plain water after all, which hydrates you.
That's pretty much earned the status of "old wives' tale." Whoever is quoted was just repeating the same conventional wisdom that was passed down to them.2 -
I stopped logging water and black coffee. I drink enough that I don't need to worry and my coffee is close enough to no calories to not bother.0
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TimothyFish wrote: »I find it interesting that people would log coffee and tea differently than they do plain water. If you swallow some dry instant coffee crystals and then drink a cup of hot water, your body can't tell a difference from putting the crystals in a cup of hot water and drinking that.
I drink a cup of tea with my breakfast and log it as part of breakfast.
I drink various juices with my lunch and log them as part of lunch.
I drink either coffee or juice with dinner and log them as part of dinner.
I may possibly have coffee during the morning at work and log this under snacks (items consumed apart from my three main meals)
None of this counts as water for me, although I can see how it helps with hydration.
Well, yes, you'd need to log anything with calories as a food, but you could also add it to water if you wanted. I don't log anything I drink because I have no cause to track fluids, and other than water I only drink diet beverages, black coffee and plain tea.0 -
Fine. I wont try to help anyone anymore. Happy?1
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TimothyFish wrote: »I find it interesting that people would log coffee and tea differently than they do plain water. If you swallow some dry instant coffee crystals and then drink a cup of hot water, your body can't tell a difference from putting the crystals in a cup of hot water and drinking that.
I found this on webmd. "Although tea contains only about one-third the caffeine found in coffee, preliminary studies show that the caffeine may actually help to increase tea's cancer-protection effects. Caffeine is a diuretic and stimulates urination, and you can actually get dehydrated by drinking too much tea or coffee -- so take it easy." So it appears it isn't the same as plain water after all, which hydrates you.
How about some actual science instead of a WebMD blog?:
http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/12187618The literature indicates that caffeine consumption stimulates a mild diuresis similar to water, but there is no evidence of a fluid-electrolyte imbalance that is detrimental to exercise performance or health. Investigations comparing caffeine (100-680 mg) to water or placebo seldom found a statistical difference in urine volume. In the 10 studies reviewed, consumption of a CB resulted in 0-84% retention of the initial volume ingested, whereas consumption of water resulted in 0-81% retention. Further, tolerance to caffeine reduces the likelihood that a detrimental fluid-electrolyte imbalance will occur. The scientific literature suggests that athletes and recreational enthusiasts will not incur detrimental fluid-electrolyte imbalances if they consume CB in moderation and eat a typical U.S. diet. Sedentary members of the general public should be a less risk than athletes because their fluid losses via sweating are smaller.
http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/12834577...It is relatively safe and has no known negative performance effects, nor does it cause significant dehydration or electrolyte imbalance...7 -
The Food and Nutrition Board released the sixth in a series of reports presenting dietary reference values for the intake of nutrients by Americans and Canadians. This new report establishes nutrient recommendations on water, salt and potassium to maintain health and reduce chronic disease risk. Highlights of the report include:
◾The vast majority of healthy people adequately meet their daily hydration needs by letting thirst be their guide. The report did not specify exact requirements for water, but set general recommendations for women at approximately 2.7 liters (91 ounces) of total water -- from all beverages and foods -- each day, and men an average of approximately 3.7 liters (125 ounces daily) of total water. The panel did not set an upper level for water.
◾About 80 percent of people's total water intake comes from drinking water and beverages -- including caffeinated beverages -- and the other 20 percent is derived from food.
http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10925
http://iom.edu/Reports/2004/Dietary-Reference-Intakes-Water-Potassium-Sodium-Chloride-and-Sulfate.aspx
http://ajpregu.physiology.org/content/283/5/R993When we speak of water we are essentially focusing first and foremost on all types of water, be they soft or hard, spring or well, carbonated or distilled water. Furthermore we get water not only directly as a beverage but from food and to a very small extent also from oxidation of macronutrients (metabolic water). The proportion of water that comes from beverages and food varies with the proportion of fruits and vegetables in the diet. We present the ranges of water in various foods (Table 1). In the United States it is estimated that about 22% of water comes from our food intake while it would be much higher in European countries, particularly a country like Greece with its higher intake of fruits and vegetables or South Korea
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2908954/Fluids come from the beverages you drink and the foods that you eat
Coffees and teas are not dehydrating. Limit caffeine intake to about 400 mg per day. That is equal to 750 mL (3 cups) of black coffee or 1 L (4 cups) of black tea per day.
Drink herbal teas or decaf coffee if you want to have more than the recommended amount of caffeinated beverages.
http://www.dietitians.ca/Your-Health/Nutrition-A-Z/Water/Why-is-water-so-important-for-my-body-Know-when.aspxFact or fiction: Beverages that contain caffeine will contribute to your daily fluid
needs? FACT! Research has shown that beverages containing caffeine, such as
soft drinks, tea, and coffee can contribute to meeting your daily fluid needs as
much as non-caffeinated beverages, such as water, milk, and juice do. Some of
these beverages may contain calories, which should be accounted for in your diet.
http://www.ecu.edu/cs-dhs/fammed/customcf/resources/nutrition/hydration.pdfWater comes from more than just fluids, it is a major component of many foods. In fact, it is estimated that 20% of our water needs are met through food, not fluids. Meal consumption is critical to ensure full hydration on a day to day basis. Eating food promotes fluid intake and retention.
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/humansciences/fluidsWater comes from a variety of sources. All beverages or fluids are a source of water. Even solid foods contain water. Lettuce, celery, and other crisp vegetables are composed of 90 percent or more water. Protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, or chicken may contain as much as one-half to two-thirds their weight in water. Even grain products, which don’t seem watery at all, may be up to one-third water.
Fats, such as butter or margarine, and sugar are among the foods that contain the least water.
Some water, perhaps one to two cups per day, comes from inside our bodies as a byproduct of energy metabolism. This amount is small but significant.
It is important to be aware of fluid intake. Even though solid food is a source of water, additional water from drinking fluids is needed. Besides plain water, juices, milk, or other beverages boost fluid intake.
http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?publicationId=296
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frankpappalardo wrote: »Sorry, I'm sure this is posted somewhere but I can't find it...
If I have 8 oz of coffee, do I check off 1 water? What about tea, beer, wine, soup, etc?
I only log plain water as water. Other fluids such as tea, coffee, juice, I log with the relevant meals.
Same here.0 -
I am aware of what I drink - I don't stress about logging it though. I check my pee, and that gives me an indication of how hydrated I am.2
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If I'm thirsty I drink.
If my urine isn't the correct colour I drink.
I don't log it - seems a complete waste of time and 8 glasses a day (of liquid) is actually ludicrous to apply to everyone.
And yes my thirst response does work perfectly well, like the vast majority of people.
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I have a separate section on my MFP page for 'Drinks' in which I track tea, coffee, wine, cocktails etc. I keep tabs on how much water I've drunk in the 'Water' section, but don't worry if I haven't reached the recommended (1900ml or whatever the figure is) as long as my urine is clear.0
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I only count water as water. I really don't drink much else though anymore with the exception of my morning coffee.0
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TimothyFish wrote: »I find it interesting that people would log coffee and tea differently than they do plain water. If you swallow some dry instant coffee crystals and then drink a cup of hot water, your body can't tell a difference from putting the crystals in a cup of hot water and drinking that.
I found this on webmd. "Although tea contains only about one-third the caffeine found in coffee, preliminary studies show that the caffeine may actually help to increase tea's cancer-protection effects. Caffeine is a diuretic and stimulates urination, and you can actually get dehydrated by drinking too much tea or coffee -- so take it easy." So it appears it isn't the same as plain water after all, which hydrates you.
I drink a lot of coffee. I drink little else and have never experienced this dehydration they speak of. It would be interesting to see how thick the coffee would have to be for someone to experience dehydration from drinking coffee. I suspect it would have to have the consistency of mud.2
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