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Water vs. Other Liquids
Replies
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I only log water as water. Other drinks, even zero cal stuff like black coffee and tea still get logged, and help me get a view of my overall fluid intake for the day, but I find that for me, getting 8-10 cups of plain water makes me feel and function a lot better. When it's hot or I've had a big workout, of course I drink more, and on cooler days, I may drink less. I also pay attention of urine color, as others have mentioned - this is a great indicator for me as to whether or not I need more water.
This image was based on figuring if you're hydrated enough before a run.
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In what dose and context?
Excessive sodium is bad for many people. If you have high blood pressure....for starters....excessive sodium intake can make your problem worse.To say "Yeah...diet coke...go for it...drink 8 diet cokes a day"
Please show where anyone recommended getting all your hydration or even 8 cups of it exclusively from diet coke. Another strawman without context?0 -
Nobody is saying coffee doesn't hydrate you. If it contains water.....it obviously provides...water.
Well actually you did.coffee - No...it's a diuretic.I think some of you argue just to argue....instead of focusing on giving good advice
Nope. But after you've been here awhile, you get pretty d*mn sick of seeing quasi science, pseudo science, bro science and just plain misinformation being passed off as fact. After your original statement you back off on coffee but you still demonized it, and sugar, and sodium for no reason and provided no dose or context. Maybe instead of getting butthurt and pointing fingers, own up.
The poster was asking if coffee could replace water....I said no. Nowhere in there does it say coffee doesn't hydrate you. I said it has diuretic effects.
If you are going to argue that coffee doesn't act as a diuretic...I would be more than happy to post studies on the subject.
I demonized it?
lol
This coming from the same person telling people to judge hydration by the color of their urine....and you are sick of misinformation....
I think you may be a little delusional.0 -
In what dose...
People with high blood pressure are generally put on low sodium diets.
Take one physiology class to understand....then come back and argue your points.
If you have taken a physiology class....heck maybe your a doctor....you would know that excessive sodium increases water retention. This...in turn...can have negative impacts on people with high blood pressure.
Should I post studies on this as well?0 -
Nobody is saying coffee doesn't hydrate you. If it contains water.....it obviously provides...water.
Well actually you did.coffee - No...it's a diuretic.I think some of you argue just to argue....instead of focusing on giving good advice
Nope. But after you've been here awhile, you get pretty d*mn sick of seeing quasi science, pseudo science, bro science and just plain misinformation being passed off as fact. After your original statement you back off on coffee but you still demonized it, and sugar, and sodium for no reason and provided no dose or context. Maybe instead of getting butthurt and pointing fingers, own up.
The poster was asking if coffee could replace water....I said no. Nowhere in there does it say coffee doesn't hydrate you. I said it has diuretic effects.
So which is it? It hydrates you or it doesn't?? And you are calling me delusional?? :laugh:0 -
if it has caffeine and sugar NO
so does that mean that if someone drinks water with a slice of chocolate cake then that water also doesn't count?0 -
In what dose...
People with high blood pressure are generally put on low sodium diets.
Take one physiology class to understand....then come back and argue your points.
And what if you don't have high blood pressure? What if your blood pressure is normal and you effectively balance your electrolytes? And who said the OP has high blood pressure? Lots of faulty assumptions and insult hurling but little in the way of dose and context relative to the OPs question.0 -
Well let's see.
If you don't drink coffee often...as I stated in my original post....and you consume over 300mg of caffeine....it has been shown...through studies....to have diuretic effects.
So if it has a diuretic effect....you are not hydrating yourself as much as you would drinking plain water.
Again...for the 100th time...this is for people who DONT DRINK COFFEE OFTEN.
If you drink coffee FREQUENTLY......THE DIURETIC IMPACTS ARE LOWERED.
Maybe you'll read that part this time.
It's like talking to toddlers.0 -
......0
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Who said the OP doesn't have high blood pressure?
I am going to stick to my original opinion.
Don't replace your water intake with anything. Drink water...then drink your diet coke.
Balance is key.
With that...I am done here.0 -
Well let's see.
If you don't drink coffee often...as I stated in my original post....and you consume over 300mg of caffeine....it has been shown...through studies....to have diuretic effects.
So if it has a diuretic effect....you are not hydrating yourself as much as you would drinking plain water.
Again...for the 100th time...this is for people who DONT DRINK COFFEE OFTEN.
If you drink coffee FREQUENTLY......THE DIURETIC IMPACTS ARE LOWERED.
Maybe you'll read that part this time.
It's like talking to toddlers.
Well actually, talking to you is like talking to a toddler. Please show where anyone recommended getting most of your hydration from coffee. You really see to be unable to grasp this dose and context thing. Most people have a little coffee, Maybe a soda maybe not, maybe some juice maybe no. Tea or Ice Tea. You keep addressing this as though someone is going to drink only one liquid and give no context or dose. Maybe you need to work on your reading comprehension a little instead of getting all butt hurt because your nuggets of wisdom are being challenged.
Well it's been fun but got better things to do than spend anymore time arguing with a toddler.
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Who said the OP doesn't have high blood pressure?
I am going to stick to my original opinion.
Don't replace your water intake with anything. Drink water...then drink your diet coke.
Balance is key.
With that...I am done here.
Your "opinion". Worth what was paid for it.0 -
Well let's see.
If you don't drink coffee often...as I stated in my original post....and you consume over 300mg of caffeine....it has been shown...through studies....to have diuretic effects.
So if it has a diuretic effect....you are not hydrating yourself as much as you would drinking plain water.
Again...for the 100th time...this is for people who DONT DRINK COFFEE OFTEN.
If you drink coffee FREQUENTLY......THE DIURETIC IMPACTS ARE LOWERED.
Maybe you'll read that part this time.
It's like talking to toddlers.
Well actually, talking to you is like talking to a toddler. Please show where anyone recommended getting most of your hydration from coffee. You really see to be unable to grasp this dose and context thing. Most people have a little coffee, Maybe a soda maybe not, maybe some juice maybe no. Tea or Ice Tea. You keep addressing this as though someone is going to drink only one liquid and give no context or dose. Maybe you need to work on your reading comprehension a little instead of getting all butt hurt because your nuggets of wisdom are being challenged.
Well it's been fun but got better things to do than spend anymore time arguing with a toddler.
Cute kid. Probably better behaved that the above poster too. lol0 -
Hi everyone,
Wow! This turned controversial! I wasn't trying to implicate that I wanted to drink coffee solely in the place of water, but instead have days where I was lower on the water and higher on a mixture of coffee, tea, juice, soda etc. As much as I love coffee, I don't think I could have it all day! :P I suppose I should have framed my question as, "On my food diary, can I up my water intake when I drink coffee, tea, soda, juice, etc?" Sorry for the confusion! Thanks for the input thus far!
By the way -- I drank about 4 8 ounce cups of diet soda today, bringing me to approximately 100mg of sodium. Would this be considered high? Everything else I ate today was "clean" (dunno if I'm using the terminology right - I had fruits, rice, salad) and sodium free.0 -
Well let's see.
If you don't drink coffee often...as I stated in my original post....and you consume over 300mg of caffeine....it has been shown...through studies....to have diuretic effects.
So if it has a diuretic effect....you are not hydrating yourself as much as you would drinking plain water.
Again...for the 100th time...this is for people who DONT DRINK COFFEE OFTEN.
If you drink coffee FREQUENTLY......THE DIURETIC IMPACTS ARE LOWERED.
Maybe you'll read that part this time.
It's like talking to toddlers.
Well actually, talking to you is like talking to a toddler. Please show where anyone recommended getting most of your hydration from coffee. You really see to be unable to grasp this dose and context thing. Most people have a little coffee, Maybe a soda maybe not, maybe some juice maybe no. Tea or Ice Tea. You keep addressing this as though someone is going to drink only one liquid and give no context or dose. Maybe you need to work on your reading comprehension a little instead of getting all butt hurt because your nuggets of wisdom are being challenged.
Well it's been fun but got better things to do than spend anymore time arguing with a toddler.
Cute kid. Probably better behaved that the above poster too. lol
Lolz!!! :drinker:0 -
Who said the OP doesn't have high blood pressure?
I am going to stick to my original opinion.
Don't replace your water intake with anything. Drink water...then drink your diet coke.
Balance is key.
With that...I am done here.
If you ate more than 1400 calories you would be less grumpy.0 -
Hi everyone,
Wow! This turned controversial! I wasn't trying to implicate that I wanted to drink coffee solely in the place of water, but instead have days where I was lower on the water and higher on a mixture of coffee, tea, juice, soda etc. As much as I love coffee, I don't think I could have it all day! :P I suppose I should have framed my question as, "On my food diary, can I up my water intake when I drink coffee, tea, soda, juice, etc?" Sorry for the confusion! Thanks for the input thus far!
But do you have high blood pressure??? LOL
You are fine with what your doing and your preferences. :flowerforyou:0 -
Hi everyone,
Wow! This turned controversial! I wasn't trying to implicate that I wanted to drink coffee solely in the place of water, but instead have days where I was lower on the water and higher on a mixture of coffee, tea, juice, soda etc. As much as I love coffee, I don't think I could have it all day! :P I suppose I should have framed my question as, "On my food diary, can I up my water intake when I drink coffee, tea, soda, juice, etc?" Sorry for the confusion! Thanks for the input thus far!
But do you have high blood pressure??? LOL
You are fine with what your doing and your preferences. :flowerforyou:
Thanks! lol, no I don't have high blood pressure, but I do watch my sodium...only because my insides are like a sponge. But my pee is clear. So that's good news!0 -
Hi everyone,
Wow! This turned controversial! I wasn't trying to implicate that I wanted to drink coffee solely in the place of water, but instead have days where I was lower on the water and higher on a mixture of coffee, tea, juice, soda etc. As much as I love coffee, I don't think I could have it all day! :P I suppose I should have framed my question as, "On my food diary, can I up my water intake when I drink coffee, tea, soda, juice, etc?" Sorry for the confusion! Thanks for the input thus far!
By the way -- I drank about 4 8 ounce cups of diet soda today, bringing me to approximately 100mg of sodium. Would this be considered high? Everything else I ate today was "clean" (dunno if I'm using the terminology right - I had fruits, rice, salad) and sodium free.
Seriously, do not waste your time worrying about these things. Focus on getting a balanced diet with sufficient protein, fats, and fiber. Also, make sure that you're getting your workouts in. If you're thirsty or your pee starts to become darker yellow, drink a diet coke, or water, or tea. Move on. And yea, don't go crazy on the sodium, but then again, unless you have a health problem there really isn't any evidence to say you need to worry about it.0 -
Drinking water also increases urine output, your point?lol...
Yeah it's a great idea to judge by the color of your urine. Great idea!
Nobody is saying coffee doesn't hydrate you. If it contains water.....it obviously provides...water.
As I said......if you drink coffee regularly....the diuretic impacts are lowered.
Over 300mg of coffee for occasional drinkers has been shown...through studies....to increase urine output.
I think some of you argue just to argue....instead of focusing on giving good advice.
Drink gasoline for all I care....lol...I think that may hydrate you as well.
By the way...if your urine is dark...you are already dehydrated.0 -
I know the "scientific evidence" is basically inconclusive on diet sodas. But soda used to be an occasional treat -- now it's the major source of liquid for many, and it's definitely a major contributor to the declining health of the developed world. Why not just learn to drink water? The consensus on water being necessary for life is unanimous, right? Keep sodas, juice, and all that other crap as an occasional treat if you like the taste of it, but don't *replace* water with soda. Seems like a pretty dumb thing to do IMO.
It is not inconclusive re hydration.0 -
Just laying this out there...
The simple answer is that you can obtain fluids for hydration from beverages and food. It is not just plain water that hydrates you and caffeine is basically no more a diuretic than water is unless consumed in large quantities, and even then, the diuretic effect is minimal. You do obviously have to count the calories in your beverages/food.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283 - any beverage counts
"beverages such as milk and juice are composed mostly of water. Even beer, wine and caffeinated beverages — such as coffee, tea or soda — can contribute"
"What you eat also provides a significant portion of your fluid needs. On average, food provides about 20 percent of total water intake."
http://www.jacn.org/content/22/2/165.short - flavored water counts
"Inclusion of plain drinking water compared to exclusion of plain drinking water in the diet did not affect the markers of hydration used in this study."
http://www.jacn.org/content/19/5/591.short - any beverage counts
"This preliminary study found no significant differences in the effect of various combinations of beverages on hydration status of healthy adult males. Advising people to disregard caffeinated beverages as part of the daily fluid intake is not substantiated by the results of this study."
http://bjsportmed.com/content/40/5/406.abstract - sports drinks can hydrate more than plain water in some situations
"Ad libitum consumption of a CHO-E drink may be more effective than water in minimising fluid deficits and mean core temperature responses during tennis and other similar training in adolescent athletes."
http://www.jacn.org/content/26/suppl_5/592S.short - food counts
"Various reports indicate that humans receive 20–25% of their daily water intake from food. Fruits, vegetables and other high-moisture foods, therefore, make an important contribution to total fluid intake."
http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/12834577 - the diuretic effect of caffeine is minimal
"...nor does it cause significant dehydration or electrolyte imbalance during exercise."
http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/12187618 - the diuretic effect of caffeine is minimal
"The 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."
http://jap.physiology.org/content/83/4/1152.abstract? - interesting one about alcohol post exercise and recovery
“There appears to be no difference in recovery from dehydration whether the rehydration beverage is alcohol free or contains up to 2% alcohol, but drinks containing 4% alcohol tend to delay the recovery process.”0 -
So.....let's go over what we have covered here.
1) Some of you think urine color is a good indicator of hydration.
I disagree....but you are entitled to your opinion. The color of your urine is an indicator of one thing....the urine that was just in your bladder. I realize what you are all saying....but it's just not sound advice. That's just my opinion on this.
2) Drinking water increases urine output like a diuretic.
Right....but at the same time....not right. I mean I get what you are saying, but this is really not a good way of looking at it. A diuretic is going to force your body to use water in order to flush toxins out. So it isn't using the water to hydrate cells or create balance between ECF and ICF.
3) Increased sodium intake isn't that bad.
Many studies have shown that people generally exaggerate the implications of high sodium intake. However, I was just trying to give sound nutritional advice.
Drink more water than you do coffee, diet coke, and other products isn't bad advice. Nobody was saying you cannot drink these things. However, I believe you should focus on drinking as much water as you possibly can. There is nothing wrong with limiting the amount of caffeine and sodium you intake.
4) Generally WHACK advice
You all go around on these forums giving very general advice that fits your needs. I don't see any problem with me talking about the value of drinking water over coffee.
The OP was talking about drinking 8 glasses of water....and then drinking coffee and diet coke.....or using coffee and diet coke as part of the 8 recommended glasses.
Again...in my opinion...you drink the 8 glasses of water and go for the diet coke and coffee.
If you want to say....hey...drink all the damn coffee you want...and you'll be just as good....great...go for it. It's great to have your own views on things. I applaud you.
You can definitely disagree with any or all of this. Again, this is just my opinion.0 -
You're offering a lot of opinions, but not facts.
A diuretic increases urine output. That's all it does. Nothing to do with toxins, that's pseudoscience. Diuretics are used in the medical field to control water retention.
Urine color is a good indicator of hydration. In order for water to get into the bladder, it gets filtered through your kidneys. Light or clear urine means that excess water is in your urine. Excess water means water your body doesn't need, because you are hydrated. If you need the water for hydration purposes your body will retain it. The only real exception to this is if you chug a liter or two of water in a very short period, as the body can't absorb all of it.
For another fact, beer also hydrates, as there isn't enough alcohol in beer to counteract the hydrating effect of the water that makes up roughly 95% of beer. If beer dehydrated human beings, we never would've made it out of the Middle Ages. Humans in Europe pretty much consumed beer nearly exclusively to survive, as the water wasn't clean and safe to drink; alcohol is very good at killing bacteria.0 -
If diet soda is all you can stomach then fine it's like 98% water if not more heck you even get hydration from food. Light yellow pee means adequate hydration, along with pliant skin, and moist mucus membranes, also semi soft stools. Dehydration dark smelly ur ine , infrequent urination, hard compact stools, dry or skin that has lost some elasticity, dry mouth. Now I do drink a lot of water but I have a high salt intake and I enjoy ice cold water. I do think it helps curb appetite but diet soda also does the same and helps prevent me from drinking caloric drinks.0
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You're offering a lot of opinions, but not facts.
A diuretic increases urine output. That's all it does. Nothing to do with toxins, that's pseudoscience. Diuretics are used in the medical field to control water retention.
Urine color is a good indicator of hydration. In order for water to get into the bladder, it gets filtered through your kidneys. Light or clear urine means that excess water is in your urine. Excess water means water your body doesn't need, because you are hydrated. If you need the water for hydration purposes your body will retain
For another fact, beer also hydrates, as there isn't enough alcohol in beer to counteract the hydrating effect of the water that makes up roughly 95% of beer. If beer dehydrated human beings, we never would've made it out of the Middle Ages. Humans in Europe pretty much consumed beer nearly exclusively to survive, as the water wasn't clean and safe to drink; alcohol is very good at killing bacteria.
Mmmmm alcohol thank you liver and brain for propagating the species0 -
Boring guy is boring.0
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Nobody is saying coffee doesn't hydrate you. If it contains water.....it obviously provides...water.
Well actually you did.coffee - No...it's a diuretic.I think some of you argue just to argue....instead of focusing on giving good advice
Nope. But after you've been here awhile, you get pretty d*mn sick of seeing quasi science, pseudo science, bro science and just plain misinformation being passed off as fact. After your original statement you back off on coffee but you still demonized it, and sugar, and sodium for no reason and provided no dose or context. Maybe instead of getting butthurt and pointing fingers, own up.
The poster was asking if coffee could replace water....I said no. Nowhere in there does it say coffee doesn't hydrate you. I said it has diuretic effects.
If you are going to argue that coffee doesn't act as a diuretic...I would be more than happy to post studies on the subject.
I demonized it?
lol
This coming from the same person telling people to judge hydration by the color of their urine....and you are sick of misinformation....
I think you may be a little delusional.
Please do. I posted studies that show that the impact is negligible. Your turn.0 -
So.....let's go over what we have covered here.
1) Some of you think urine color is a good indicator of hydration.
I disagree....but you are entitled to your opinion. The color of your urine is an indicator of one thing....the urine that was just in your bladder. I realize what you are all saying....but it's just not sound advice. That's just my opinion on this.
2) Drinking water increases urine output like a diuretic.
Right....but at the same time....not right. I mean I get what you are saying, but this is really not a good way of looking at it. A diuretic is going to force your body to use water in order to flush toxins out. So it isn't using the water to hydrate cells or create balance between ECF and ICF.
3) Increased sodium intake isn't that bad.
Many studies have shown that people generally exaggerate the implications of high sodium intake. However, I was just trying to give sound nutritional advice.
Drink more water than you do coffee, diet coke, and other products isn't bad advice. Nobody was saying you cannot drink these things. However, I believe you should focus on drinking as much water as you possibly can. There is nothing wrong with limiting the amount of caffeine and sodium you intake.
4) Generally WHACK advice
You all go around on these forums giving very general advice that fits your needs. I don't see any problem with me talking about the value of drinking water over coffee.
The OP was talking about drinking 8 glasses of water....and then drinking coffee and diet coke.....or using coffee and diet coke as part of the 8 recommended glasses.
Again...in my opinion...you drink the 8 glasses of water and go for the diet coke and coffee.
If you want to say....hey...drink all the damn coffee you want...and you'll be just as good....great...go for it. It's great to have your own views on things. I applaud you.
You can definitely disagree with any or all of this. Again, this is just my opinion.
I though you were done per your prior post *shrugs*
You can give your opinion all you want, however, you may want to look at the actual facts around hydration. I have no idea who you are addressing this to, but it is a rather ridiculous statement based on the science behind hydration. Maybe you should look in the mirror when making accusations like that.
Oh, and the requirement for 8 glasses a day is a myth also.0 -
Just drink water your body will thank you for it.0
This discussion has been closed.
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