Can coffee count as water? I fail to see why not?

DorothyM11

Can coffee count as water? I fail to see why not? (I'm sure there are a million reasons....)

kd_mazur

black coffee, yes. coffee with cream, sugar, etc can be water but the calories in the additives should be counted as well.

L1zardQueen

It's 99% water. If your pee is light colored you are good.

kimny72

Yep, it is mostly water and just to head off the "it's a diuretic!" posts sure to follow - Some people do experience a diuretic effect from coffee but it is less than the water consumed so it is still hydrating.

Just make sure you log any add ins

Lounmoun

If you want. If your drink has calories be sure to log it for the calories though.
I don't think tracking water is very important though. If you are not thirsty and your pee is light in color you are probably hydrated sufficiently.

lemurcat12

Sure, if you want to count water. I personally don't count water and consume too much coffee (because of the caffeine), so don't need to encourage myself to drink more.

Re counting water, I think it's this weird thing pushed in dieting circles as if it mattered when it doesn't. I can't imagine people wouldn't drink when thirsty if water is available, and wouldn't want to drink if thirsty, and personally I've always consumed plenty (I like to have something to drink near me, and I enjoy cold water).

So I'd say check your pee color if concerned about it, and coffee is great if we are talking black or you are counting the calories and they are reasonable, and you aren't overdoing it like I sometimes can.

My guess is the main reason for the water thing in dieting circles is that SOME people may be in the habit of drinking caloric beverages and it's a good way to get them off that habit.

brightresolve

The old schtick used to be that caffeine (which I adore) is a diuretic, so nothing caffeinated counted as water.

I found a source that says otherwise: "Coffee and tea also count in your tally [of fluid]. Many used to believe that they were dehydrating, but that myth has been debunked. The diuretic effect does not offset hydration." - https://webmd.com/parenting/features/healthy-beverages#1

Enjoy that coffee!

DomesticKat

Coffee is flavor enhanced water.

justinejacksonm

I wouldn't because coffee that is caffienated is rather dehydrating. I, personally, am very sensitive to hydration levels, meaning my body is super in tune with how hydrated I am and it's easy to guage if I am drinking enough water. This is especially true when drinking coffee cause it's pretty much the only other beverage I'll drink on a typical day other than water (1-2 small cups when I wake up and sip from a Contigo throughout my day till about lunchtime).

If I have coffee and no water to accompany after, it's very obvious (when I use the little girls room) that I need to drink water. This is true whenever I have a coffee. My face will be have a redder tone if dehydrated, too.

If I try to exercise after having coffee it just won't be a good effort and that's probably more to do with the caffiene but it will cause too much sweating, racing heart, even in low impact.

Everyone is different so maybe this is just how my body reacts, or I'm just more like I said sensitive to hydration and coffee, alone, is dehydrating just from my own personal history with it.

100_PROOF_

I don't see why not.
Pretend that you drank 12 ounces of water and then ate 1. Tsp of coffee grinds, it would still be the same thing.

mmapags

Why do you feel the need to count water? Do you really forget to drink enough in a day? The whole "counting water" thing is one of the silliest myths in health and fitness.

Sayanogo

mmapags wrote: »

Why do you feel the need to count water? Do you really forget to drink enough in a day? The whole "counting water" thing is one of the silliest myths in health and fitness.

Confession, I totally do. I have a problem with ignoring my thirst so being conscientious about making sure I get enough fluids is important for me. I've been chastised by doctors since I was a child for being dehydrated all the time.

Not saying it's the same for op, but counting fluids isn't necessarily dieting woo.

mmapags

Sayanogo wrote: »

mmapags wrote: »

Why do you feel the need to count water? Do you really forget to drink enough in a day? The whole "counting water" thing is one of the silliest myths in health and fitness.

Confession, I totally do. I have a problem with ignoring my thirst so being conscientious about making sure I get enough fluids is important for me. I've been chastised by doctors since I was a child for being dehydrated all the time.

Not saying it's the same for op, but counting fluids isn't necessarily dieting woo.

I guess its an individual thing. I just couldn't imagine it myself.

Tacklewasher

mmapags wrote: »

Sayanogo wrote: »

mmapags wrote: »

Why do you feel the need to count water? Do you really forget to drink enough in a day? The whole "counting water" thing is one of the silliest myths in health and fitness.

Confession, I totally do. I have a problem with ignoring my thirst so being conscientious about making sure I get enough fluids is important for me. I've been chastised by doctors since I was a child for being dehydrated all the time.

Not saying it's the same for op, but counting fluids isn't necessarily dieting woo.

I guess its an individual thing. I just couldn't imagine it myself.

I did for a while, just to be sure I was on track. But I counted black coffee as water as well.

I stopped as it was clear I was drinking enough.

diannethegeek

Sayanogo wrote: »

mmapags wrote: »

Why do you feel the need to count water? Do you really forget to drink enough in a day? The whole "counting water" thing is one of the silliest myths in health and fitness.

Confession, I totally do. I have a problem with ignoring my thirst so being conscientious about making sure I get enough fluids is important for me. I've been chastised by doctors since I was a child for being dehydrated all the time.

Not saying it's the same for op, but counting fluids isn't necessarily dieting woo.

I'm really bad about not drinking enough fluids, too. I usually end up downing a couple of glasses of water late at night when my thirst catches up with me, but in general my thirsty signals seem to be about as broken as my hunger signals. If I'm not careful I can end up pretty dehydrated.

But I also recognize it's not the same for everyone, so track water if you want, don't track it, whatever works for everyone :drinker:

DorothyM11

Thanks everyone. I guess its an old weight Watcher's thing. They really used to push that water thing. Maybe because it makes you feel full? I take my coffee black, so no add ons fortunately. Just don't want to give up my coffee, one of the few good things I have left! lol

HarveysBud

DomesticKat wrote: »

Coffee is flavor enhanced water.

So is beer!

lemurcat12

I wouldn't give up your coffee. I actually find coffee really helpful when getting into losing, since when others get a treat in the breakroom or if I find myself wanting something I can have coffee and be satisfied. I love cold water, but it does not have that same effect.

lemurcat12

I really do think the drink water dieting woo is that some people are less likely to mindlessly eat or drink caloric beverages if they are focusing on drinking water.

anubis609

HarveysBud wrote: »

DomesticKat wrote: »

Coffee is flavor enhanced water.

So is beer!

There's evidence that supports this: https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-015-0088-5

mmovesian

I 100% need to track my water intake! I do drink a few cups of coffee in the morning, but if I'm not tracking then that coffee could be the only fluid I drink until late evening (by which point I'm dealing with headaches and muscle aches.) I also routinely confuse thirst with snack cravings so tracking fluids helps me stay within my cal goals. I do count coffee, tea, and broth as water when I drink them.