Ok to count other drinks towards water goal?

Limebird

When I was doing weight watchers, I think they let me count coffee was water and also green tea as water. Is it acceptable to count other non sugar containing drinks towards the cups of water goal? To be clear I do log them individually per meal. But I also count a cup of green tea as a cup of water. Is it acceptable?

Achrya

Sure. The water is still water, it's just flavored.

I log milk, pop, water, tea, coffee, and protein shakes as water. They all provide hydration so...why not?

jshay295

I only count pure water as water. I definitely would not count coffee, tea, or other caffeinated beverages since they do the opposite of water, and dehydrate you.

QuietBloom

I only count pure water as water. I definitely would not count coffee, tea, or other caffeinated beverages since they do the opposite of water, and dehydrate you.

Not true. Their diuretic effect is very slight. They may be counted as water.

FredDoyle

I only count pure water as water. I definitely would not count coffee, tea, or other caffeinated beverages since they do the opposite of water, and dehydrate you.

No, they don't. That's an old myth.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21450118

pipcd34

I only count water as water. I don't count milk as water because it has calorie content, I count. That with the meal that I'm having

jshay295

Sorry , seems I was misinformed .However the fact remains when you are drinking coffee , tea, or juice, you aren't drinking water. You're drinking coffee, tea, or juice. :S I mean if that is how you want to track your food, by all means go for it. I just like to look back and see 'Oh, i drank x amount of cups of water today' and not get in confused with juice or pop that I had that day as well.

jshay295

I get water is a part of these things ...it just seems silly to me to count it as pure water :S

Achrya

I get water is a part of these things ...it just seems silly to me to count it as pure water :S

Because...? If I measure out two cups of water it's still two cups of water no matter what I mix in. It's just flavored.

I mean, if I eat protein powder and chase it with water that's fine to count but if I mix them in a cup it doesn't count? Why?

Achrya

I only count water as water. I don't count milk as water because it has calorie content, I count. That with the meal that I'm having

You can do both. I log milk for it's calories AND click the little water class. They're not mutually exclusive.

jshay295

I'm not on these forums to argue, he had a question and I gave my answer. That's all I was doing. I'm sorry if this came off as offensive in some way:S Have a good/day/night everyone & happy logging.

meca85

When I was pregnant, for some reason this topic came up regarding decaf coffee.
And she (my doctor) explained that in order for me to drink 1 cup of coffee, I would have to drink 2 cups (twice the amount) of pure water to stay properly hydrated as coffee dehydrates you.

So if your watching what you're eating and exercising, coffee would just counteract your effort and your better off drinking plain water or infused water.

Your body is composed of water of and needs it, "water is water no matter what you mix in it" is just silly because if I mix Kool-Aid i've just negated the benefit of water by adding sugar and other junk and therefore my body and organs won't benefit from "water"

Achrya

When I was pregnant, for some reason this topic came up regarding decaf coffee.
And she explained that in order for me to drink 1 cup of coffee, I would have to drink 2 cups (twice the amount) of pure water to stay properly hydrated as coffee dehydrates you.

So if your watching what you're eating and exercising, coffee would just counteract your effort and your better off drinking plain water or infused water.

Your body is composed of water of and needs it, "water is water no matter what you mix in it" is just silly because if I mix Kool-Aid i've just negated the benefit of water by adding sugar and other junk and therefore my body and organs won't benefit from "water"

...oh.

Otterluv

When I was pregnant, for some reason this topic came up regarding decaf coffee.
And she explained that in order for me to drink 1 cup of coffee, I would have to drink 2 cups (twice the amount) of pure water to stay properly hydrated as coffee dehydrates you.

So if your watching what you're eating and exercising, coffee would just counteract your effort and your better off drinking plain water or infused water.

Your body is composed of water of and needs it, "water is water no matter what you mix in it" is just silly because if I mix Kool-Aid i've just negated the benefit of water by adding sugar and other junk and therefore my body and organs won't benefit from "water"

:laugh:













NO

PikaKnight

When I was pregnant, for some reason this topic came up regarding decaf coffee.
And she explained that in order for me to drink 1 cup of coffee, I would have to drink 2 cups (twice the amount) of pure water to stay properly hydrated as coffee dehydrates you.

So if your watching what you're eating and exercising, coffee would just counteract your effort and your better off drinking plain water or infused water.

Your body is composed of water of and needs it, "water is water no matter what you mix in it" is just silly because if I mix Kool-Aid i've just negated the benefit of water by adding sugar and other junk and therefore my body and organs won't benefit from "water"

Who is "she"? And no..lmao. Kool aid doesn't negate anything. A substance when mixed with water doesn't just evaporate the water out magically just because it got mixed in.

Otterluv

Serious answer: OP, the point of logging water is to make sure that you are staying hydrated. Therefore, drinks that hydrate you can be counted. This includes things like juice, coffee, whatever. Those are just water with other things mixed in, anyway. What do you think happens when you drink water with your food? We don't have a separate area in our digestive system that keeps water "pure", it's all just mixed in together.


Seriously, don't worry about it. I don't even log water at all, and seem to still be alive and whatnot. Just drink some stuff and you'll be fine.

970Mikaela1

I get water is a part of these things ...it just seems silly to me to count it as pure water :S

Because...? If I measure out two cups of water it's still two cups of water no matter what I mix in. It's just flavored.

I mean, if I eat protein powder and chase it with water that's fine to count but if I mix them in a cup it doesn't count? Why?

Best answer ever.

meca85

Haha sorry, i just edited, she* is my doctor*

But the sugars in Kool-Aid (or other mix) and would probably defeat the purpose of drinking water.
When I use water/ice for my smoothies, the addition of the ingredients in my smoothies dont defeat the purpose of water, but i don't usually count it either as a glass of water.
I have a huge 32oz sippy cup and just make sure i have at least two of those during the day of watrr alone.

But that was my doctor's view regarding coffee, and thart's my opinion of other mixes.

raneylfrick

I never log my coffee. I always feel absolutely parched after drinking it, so it just doesn't make sense to me. I don't drink anything other than water or coffee, so I couldn't say for anything else.

PikaKnight

Haha sorry, i just edited, she* is my doctor*

But the sugars in Kool-Aid (or other mix) and would probably defeat the purpose of drinking water.
When I use water/ice for my smoothies, the addition of the ingredients in my smoothies dont defeat the purpose of water, but i don't usually count it either as a glass of water.
I have a huge 32oz sippy cup and just make sure i have at least two of those during the day of watrr alone.

But that was my doctor's view regarding coffee, and thart's my opinion of other mixes.

How does it "defeat" the purpose of drinking water? The purpose of drinking anything is to get hydrated, whether it be plain water, kool aide, gatorade, or putting that mio stuff in it or even tea. Adding anything into the water doesn't make it not water.

I bet if someone where to drink gallons of kool aide, the effect and chances of water toxicity would still be present or a possibility regardless of the additive because....water is still a part of the equation.

Ophidion

Kool-Aid is cool just stay away from the cheaper Flavor Aid.....Jonestown Massacre!

Too soon?

ashleyblossom1

I get water is a part of these things ...it just seems silly to me to count it as pure water :S

Because...? If I measure out two cups of water it's still two cups of water no matter what I mix in. It's just flavored.

I mean, if I eat protein powder and chase it with water that's fine to count but if I mix them in a cup it doesn't count? Why?

So you are pretty much saying everything that has water in it counts? So since soda is carbonated water with high fructose corn syrup in it,, it still counts as water? Juice with water in it is water. So theoretically you never really have to drink plain water cause everything that is liquid is water?...... ok thanks for the info :huh:

Achrya

I get water is a part of these things ...it just seems silly to me to count it as pure water :S

Because...? If I measure out two cups of water it's still two cups of water no matter what I mix in. It's just flavored.

I mean, if I eat protein powder and chase it with water that's fine to count but if I mix them in a cup it doesn't count? Why?

So you are pretty much saying everything that has water in it counts? So since soda is carbonated water with high fructose corn syrup in it,, it still counts as water? Juice with water in it is water. So theoretically you never really have to drink plain water cause everything that is liquid is water?...... ok thanks for the info :huh:

Yes. I sometimes don't drink actual water for days but my urine remains the same pale yellow/near clear color it is when I drink five bottles of water, which means I am no less hydrated while not drinking actual 'water'. You also get hydration from food, btw, but that's understandably harder to quantify than the water in a cup of coffee.

Always happy to spread some information around. *sips ginger ale*

Achrya

Haha sorry, i just edited, she* is my doctor*

But the sugars in Kool-Aid (or other mix) and would probably defeat the purpose of drinking water.
When I use water/ice for my smoothies, the addition of the ingredients in my smoothies dont defeat the purpose of water, but i don't usually count it either as a glass of water.
I have a huge 32oz sippy cup and just make sure i have at least two of those during the day of watrr alone.

But that was my doctor's view regarding coffee, and thart's my opinion of other mixes.

What exactly do you think it is that sugar does to water to make it not water?

Ophidion

CyberEd312

So this whole time Gatorade has been selling us a bill of goods!! How dare they claim there product is full of electrolyte and hydrates you!! Oh the Shame!!! lol

OP count your water whether it be by itself, in coffee, in kool aid, in tea, in gatorade, etc, etc....... It is still water anyway you look at it..... Best of Luck

ashleyblossom1

I get water is a part of these things ...it just seems silly to me to count it as pure water :S

Because...? If I measure out two cups of water it's still two cups of water no matter what I mix in. It's just flavored.

I mean, if I eat protein powder and chase it with water that's fine to count but if I mix them in a cup it doesn't count? Why?

So you are pretty much saying everything that has water in it counts? So since soda is carbonated water with high fructose corn syrup in it,, it still counts as water? Juice with water in it is water. So theoretically you never really have to drink plain water cause everything that is liquid is water?...... ok thanks for the info :huh:

Yes. I sometimes don't drink actual water for days but my urine remains the same pale yellow/near clear color it is when I drink five bottles of water, which means I am no less hydrated while not drinking actual 'water'. You also get hydration from food, btw, but that's understandably harder to quantify than the water in a cup of coffee.

Always happy to spread some information around. *sips ginger ale*

So you pretty much just told everyone they never have to drink pure water again.... Soda all the time. Good luck with that.

ihad

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/ihad/view/mfp-101-water-water-everywhere-609347

Otterluv

I get water is a part of these things ...it just seems silly to me to count it as pure water :S

Because...? If I measure out two cups of water it's still two cups of water no matter what I mix in. It's just flavored.

I mean, if I eat protein powder and chase it with water that's fine to count but if I mix them in a cup it doesn't count? Why?

So you are pretty much saying everything that has water in it counts? So since soda is carbonated water with high fructose corn syrup in it,, it still counts as water? Juice with water in it is water. So theoretically you never really have to drink plain water cause everything that is liquid is water?...... ok thanks for the info :huh:

Yes. I sometimes don't drink actual water for days but my urine remains the same pale yellow/near clear color it is when I drink five bottles of water, which means I am no less hydrated while not drinking actual 'water'. You also get hydration from food, btw, but that's understandably harder to quantify than the water in a cup of coffee.

Always happy to spread some information around. *sips ginger ale*

Yep. Well, except that I actually like water, so I drink it. Well, and it doesn't have the calories in it that soda does (I'd rather save those for chocolate, priorities people).

Lettee4

everyone always fights about this topic. i personally think of tea, coffee and cordial as counting towards water. but i try and drink 2 litres of plain water a day also.

if i drink a litre of cordial how much water have i drank?
if i shot a shotglass of straight cordial and then drink a litre of water how much water have i drank?

JenGlam7

I only count pure water as water. I definitely would not count coffee, tea, or other caffeinated beverages since they do the opposite of water, and dehydrate you.

very much agreed