Coffee as water intake?

LazyGuy91

Does anyone else track coffee (black, no sugar) as water intake? Or do most people track it separately?

ChrisMundie

Caffeine actually dehydrates you as it is a diuretic, so you should actually be drinking another 2 cups of water for every 8oz. of black coffee you drink.

RealMarkD

I track it separately because of the caffeine and that I sweeten it. For me, water is water, and anything else gets logged as whatever it is (coffee, tea, beer, whatever).

links_slayer

here we go again.....

what's next - is a calorie really a calorie?

unless you spell it w-a-t-e-r why would you log it as water?

RealMarkD

unless you spell it w-a-t-e-r why would you log it as water?

This.

QuietBloom

What Counts as Water?

Fruits are an excellent source for water. Watermelon is 90% water, so it ranks highest on the list. Oranges, grapefruit, and melons like cantaloupe and honeydew are also strong contenders.

Vegetables, though not as full of water as fruit, can also provide a nutrient-rich water source. Stick with celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, and Romaine lettuce.

There are plenty of hidden sources of water in your diet, says White. If you want to tap into these foods, reach for oatmeal, yogurt, soup, and smoothies.

Besides guzzling water, milk is a top choice to refuel. Sodas, even diet ones, get a bad rap for lacking nutritional value, but they can still be hydrating. Juices and sports drinks are also hydrating -- you can lower the sugar content by diluting them with water.

Coffee and tea also count in your tally. Many used to believe that they were dehydrating, but that myth has been debunked. The diuretic effect does not offset hydration.

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/healthy-beverages

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11022872

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19774754

___________________________________________________________________________________________

In short, yes, you can count your coffee towards your fluid totals.

susannamarie

Caffeine actually dehydrates you as it is a diuretic, so you should actually be drinking another 2 cups of water for every 8oz. of black coffee you drink.

Not true.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeinated-drinks/AN01661

willdob3

I don't track my beverages; they are all zero calorie. I have a good habit of drink plenty of water (about a gallon per day, not including coffee/tea) and I drink coffee & tea in moderation so they are not a problem.

AmyRhubarb

I only log water as water.

I do log other drinks, even black coffee or unsweetened tea, partly because I track my potassium and it's in both of those, and partly so I can keep track of my overall fluid intake for the day in addition to plain ol' water.

ZRx4

Lol!

ZRx4

here we go again.....

what's next - is a calorie really a calorie?

unless you spell it w-a-t-e-r why would you log it as water?

Lol!

wannabhealthy50

Coffee, if it contains caffeine, works as a diuretic and therefore should not be counted toward your fluid intake.

susannamarie

Coffee, if it contains caffeine, works as a diuretic and therefore should not be counted toward your fluid intake.

Not true.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeinated-drinks/AN01661

yarwell

Does anyone else track coffee (black, no sugar) as water intake? Or do most people track it separately?

I don't track either because it's pointless and unrelated to weight loss. Most of my hydration is the water in beverages, like most of the population. In my case hot beverages unsweetened and without milk. The rest is from water in my food.

mitchiemo

Nope! I just let thirst dictate how much to drink because you can drink too much - the body is a great thing!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24464774

xmysterix

Lettuce counts, apples count, coffees count, sodas even count, though that's probably not the best choice. Humans need 1-2L total h20 consumption through any means over the course of a day. Water is "best" because it's free, calorie-free, and theoretically pure hydration (though some sure isn't!).

I don't track water, but I always have a drink going. Often decaf iced tea *shrug* or coffee which just happens to be what I like. I tend to drink plain filtered water in the car (to avoid drive-thru stops) and during/after workouts.

supplemama

Why not just drink water and count it as...water?

mitchiemo

Why not just drink water and count it as...water?

Probably because he thinks water is a bit boring.

mitchiemo

here we go again.....

what's next - is a calorie really a calorie?

unless you spell it w-a-t-e-r why would you log it as water?

Sounds like you been on this website a bit too long lol!

karllundy

I only log water as water.

I do log other drinks, even black coffee or unsweetened tea, partly because I track my potassium and it's in both of those, and partly so I can keep track of my overall fluid intake for the day in addition to plain ol' water.

Yep, this. Water is water, the rest is hydrating, but not water.

KeViN_v2pt0

I eat steak and log it as chicken. Sure, why not.