Dispelling the Water Myths..
alyssamiller77
Posts: 891 Member
So we've had countless threads to the effect of "Can I count X as water" on this board lately. Each and every time I cringe as I read answers like "Only water is water" and "Once you put something in it, it's not water", "Only if it doesn't have Caffeine in it because caffeine will dehydrate you", or the infamous "Diet Soda makes you fatter". So little actual fact is actually understood by some folks that I figured I'd try one more time to educate the good folks here on some of the facts that have been twisted into outright fallacy. I won't even get into how each of us decide to log our drinks, that's up to you. But here are some facts to consider:
Myth 1: "Your body need X cups of pure water per day".
Research on this topic is pretty straight forward. Your body does indeed need water to survive. There are varying studies on exactly how much and of course like everything, much of it depends on each person's body. The most common consensus seems to be 8 cups per day. Now, what people keep missing the boat on here is that everything you eat or drink contains water. Your body doesn't care how it gets the water it just needs water. So as it digests that pear you ate, that soda you drank or that soup you just sipped up, your body absorbs the water that is contained in those foods and drinks and uses it like it uses all water you take in. Additionally, mixing a drink mix into water does not suddenly turn the water into some other substance, it merely means it is now water that is combined with other substances. It's still water so plan accordingly.
Myth 2: "Caffeine will dehydrate you"
This is a common one that stems from some credible research. However, one must actually read the research to understand what is being said rather than follow the media's misleading conclusions that caffeine dehydrates you. The research on this topic finds that Caffeine does have diuretic properties (i.e. it makes you pee more). This is why people have latched onto it as something that will dehydrate you. HOWEVER, the research finds that it has diuretic properties ONLY when administered in doses that significantly exceed the body's current tolerance and over time the body will develop a tolerance to the increase and the diuretic properties cease (unless the dose is increased even more). It takes large concentrations of caffeine, much greater than those in a can of Mt. Dew, to see the diuretic properties of caffeine affect the body. So if you have a diet coke each day, it's not going to dehydrate you. If you only drink diet coke every day (as some people i know do), you're not going to become dehydrated, your body will make sure of that.
Myth 3: "Diet sodas make you fat"
UGH, this myth is directly a result of the media latching onto a research topic without reading the conclusions. Numerous studies have setup and followed two groups of people. One who drank only diet soda and one who didn't drink any. They found that the second group actually gained less weight than the first. However, in four separate studies I've read on this topic, the researchers all came to the same conclusion. Those drinking the diet soda tended to eat more calories in a day, likely because they knew they were drinking diet soda and felt they were then able to consume more. Add to that people's propensity to underestimate their own intake and it leads to more weight gain. Not one study I've read to date has ever concluded that some property of diet soda directly leads to you gaining weight.
So there you have it folks, I hope you find it informational. Obviously I'm not a doctor or expert, just someone who has done a lot of research on this topic and is tired of reading mis-understood regurgitations of the facts.
Myth 1: "Your body need X cups of pure water per day".
Research on this topic is pretty straight forward. Your body does indeed need water to survive. There are varying studies on exactly how much and of course like everything, much of it depends on each person's body. The most common consensus seems to be 8 cups per day. Now, what people keep missing the boat on here is that everything you eat or drink contains water. Your body doesn't care how it gets the water it just needs water. So as it digests that pear you ate, that soda you drank or that soup you just sipped up, your body absorbs the water that is contained in those foods and drinks and uses it like it uses all water you take in. Additionally, mixing a drink mix into water does not suddenly turn the water into some other substance, it merely means it is now water that is combined with other substances. It's still water so plan accordingly.
Myth 2: "Caffeine will dehydrate you"
This is a common one that stems from some credible research. However, one must actually read the research to understand what is being said rather than follow the media's misleading conclusions that caffeine dehydrates you. The research on this topic finds that Caffeine does have diuretic properties (i.e. it makes you pee more). This is why people have latched onto it as something that will dehydrate you. HOWEVER, the research finds that it has diuretic properties ONLY when administered in doses that significantly exceed the body's current tolerance and over time the body will develop a tolerance to the increase and the diuretic properties cease (unless the dose is increased even more). It takes large concentrations of caffeine, much greater than those in a can of Mt. Dew, to see the diuretic properties of caffeine affect the body. So if you have a diet coke each day, it's not going to dehydrate you. If you only drink diet coke every day (as some people i know do), you're not going to become dehydrated, your body will make sure of that.
Myth 3: "Diet sodas make you fat"
UGH, this myth is directly a result of the media latching onto a research topic without reading the conclusions. Numerous studies have setup and followed two groups of people. One who drank only diet soda and one who didn't drink any. They found that the second group actually gained less weight than the first. However, in four separate studies I've read on this topic, the researchers all came to the same conclusion. Those drinking the diet soda tended to eat more calories in a day, likely because they knew they were drinking diet soda and felt they were then able to consume more. Add to that people's propensity to underestimate their own intake and it leads to more weight gain. Not one study I've read to date has ever concluded that some property of diet soda directly leads to you gaining weight.
So there you have it folks, I hope you find it informational. Obviously I'm not a doctor or expert, just someone who has done a lot of research on this topic and is tired of reading mis-understood regurgitations of the facts.
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Replies
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Thank you!
I am so sick of people telling me that my protein shakes, crystal light, coffee etc. don't count as "water".
I track them if they have calories and count them in my fluids... they should rename that silly button "fluids" instead of water!0 -
thanks for this! I count all fluids consumed in my water. I don't count soup though, probably because i don't like "soupy" soup. More like stew. if they have calories or sodium, i count them (like my diet pepsi).0
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Sure you'll get some push back from the die hard 8 glasses a day myth followers. But good info! Totally in agreement.0
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So we've had countless threads to the effect of "Can I count X as water" on this board lately. Each and every time I cringe as I read answers like "Only water is water" and "Once you put something in it, it's not water", "Only if it doesn't have Caffeine in it because caffeine will dehydrate you", or the infamous "Diet Soda makes you fatter". So little actual fact is actually understood by some folks that I figured I'd try one more time to educate the good folks here on some of the facts that have been twisted into outright fallacy. I won't even get into how each of us decide to log our drinks, that's up to you. But here are some facts to consider:
Myth 1: "Your body need X cups of pure water per day".
Research on this topic is pretty straight forward. Your body does indeed need water to survive. There are varying studies on exactly how much and of course like everything, much of it depends on each person's body. The most common consensus seems to be 8 cups per day. Now, what people keep missing the boat on here is that everything you eat or drink contains water. Your body doesn't care how it gets the water it just needs water. So as it digests that pear you ate, that soda you drank or that soup you just sipped up, your body absorbs the water that is contained in those foods and drinks and uses it like it uses all water you take in. Additionally, mixing a drink mix into water does not suddenly turn the water into some other substance, it merely means it is now water that is combined with other substances. It's still water so plan accordingly.
Myth 2: "Caffeine will dehydrate you"
This is a common one that stems from some credible research. However, one must actually read the research to understand what is being said rather than follow the media's misleading conclusions that caffeine dehydrates you. The research on this topic finds that Caffeine does have diuretic properties (i.e. it makes you pee more). This is why people have latched onto it as something that will dehydrate you. HOWEVER, the research finds that it has diuretic properties ONLY when administered in doses that significantly exceed the body's current tolerance and over time the body will develop a tolerance to the increase and the diuretic properties cease (unless the dose is increased even more). It takes large concentrations of caffeine, much greater than those in a can of Mt. Dew, to see the diuretic properties of caffeine affect the body. So if you have a diet coke each day, it's not going to dehydrate you. If you only drink diet coke every day (as some people i know do), you're not going to become dehydrated, your body will make sure of that.
Myth 3: "Diet sodas make you fat"
UGH, this myth is directly a result of the media latching onto a research topic without reading the conclusions. Numerous studies have setup and followed two groups of people. One who drank only diet soda and one who didn't drink any. They found that the second group actually gained less weight than the first. However, in four separate studies I've read on this topic, the researchers all came to the same conclusion. Those drinking the diet soda tended to eat more calories in a day, likely because they knew they were drinking diet soda and felt they were then able to consume more. Add to that people's propensity to underestimate their own intake and it leads to more weight gain. Not one study I've read to date has ever concluded that some property of diet soda directly leads to you gaining weight.
So there you have it folks, I hope you find it informational. Obviously I'm not a doctor or expert, just someone who has done a lot of research on this topic and is tired of reading mis-understood regurgitations of the facts.
You answered the "Diet sodas make you fat" in your own freakin' explanation.
"Those drinking the diet soda tended to eat more calories in a day, likely because they knew they were drinking diet soda and felt they were then able to consume more. Add to that people's propensity to underestimate their own intake and it leads to more weight gain. "
That in turn, makes them fat.
Leave the research and opinions to people who're qualified.0 -
Great post!0
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Nice to know about the pop.0
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I think myths like this are simply generated from fear mongering by companies trying to sell a product. In this case; bottled water companies.
Really when it comes down to it, the point is how much water you bring in is in direct relationship to the nutrients your also bringing in. If you are drinking high sodium beverages or alcoholic beverages often you are actually causing water retention and or dehydration through the consumption of those compounds. You have to be careful when you make statements like that because certain drinks do in fact make you dehydrated and or cause other reactions to your system. If someone reads this and says well alcohol has water in it, that is actually counter productive to what water is suppose to do.
The problem is I do not think that people truly understand that water is in just about everything. Water composes us just as much as it composes fruits, vegetables and all other sorts of foods.0 -
Thank you!
I am so sick of people telling me that my protein shakes, crystal light, coffee etc. don't count as "water".
I track them if they have calories and count them in my fluids... they should rename that silly button "fluids" instead of water!
Will you have my babies?
Great post Inter!
My faith in forums is being restored!0 -
:yawn:0
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I agree, although it is possible to stay hydrated from drinks other then water. I still would rather drink water for that is what my body really wants.0
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I agree with everything you say except the diet sodas. Research I have read says drinking diet soda that uses apartame can lead to people craving sweets more often than not. And I have experienced it myself since I stopped drinking diet coke, I don't crave sweets as often. That could be a factor as to why the diet drinkers did gain more weight than non diet drinkers. I also find after I stopped drinking diet coke those things that are sweet do not taste good to me anymore. So I'm sure there is research supporting anything you can think of but thats my experience and I thought I would share.0
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Just adding on to your myths-
A world leading dermatologist (Dr Howard Murad) also said on a UK TV programme yesterday that drinking lots of water (as most people bang on about) gets rid of water in the body e.g water retention etc, but can also have a negative effect on the skin causing it have less of a natural glow.
http://www.itv.com/lorraine/health/dr-howards-skin-clinic/0 -
Hey Mackeric,
Read it again. Diet soda does NOT make one gain weight. Eating additional calories does.
If someone thinks they can eat more because they drank diet soda, then that's their own fault. Not the fault of the soda.
You are equating cause and effect here. Related, but not the same.0 -
This is great info, cause I'm a big coffee drinker and lately I've been wondering about my water intake. On days when I intensely workout, I know I get way more than 8 glasses.0
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Thank you!! I have been worrying that I am not drinking enough water...even though I keep a cup of ice water at my desk all day, I just can never remember how many times I have filled it up!0
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Where exactly does vodka play into this?0
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Thanks! Great info! I was pretty much along those same lines of thinking...but then I sometimes start to wonder when you hear so much in the media. It's great to have it broken down to basics! Water is water!!!0
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I drink A LOT of diet coke. More than most on this board and have for a long time. I have never had any trouble losing weight or exercising while drinking this amount. Diet soda has no calories and does not cause weight gain on it's own.0
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Where exactly does vodka play into this?
Vodka is play. Who cares after that!
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So we've had countless threads to the effect of "Can I count X as water" on this board lately. Each and every time I cringe as I read answers like "Only water is water" and "Once you put something in it, it's not water", "Only if it doesn't have Caffeine in it because caffeine will dehydrate you", or the infamous "Diet Soda makes you fatter". So little actual fact is actually understood by some folks that I figured I'd try one more time to educate the good folks here on some of the facts that have been twisted into outright fallacy. I won't even get into how each of us decide to log our drinks, that's up to you. But here are some facts to consider:
Myth 1: "Your body need X cups of pure water per day".
Research on this topic is pretty straight forward. Your body does indeed need water to survive. There are varying studies on exactly how much and of course like everything, much of it depends on each person's body. The most common consensus seems to be 8 cups per day. Now, what people keep missing the boat on here is that everything you eat or drink contains water. Your body doesn't care how it gets the water it just needs water. So as it digests that pear you ate, that soda you drank or that soup you just sipped up, your body absorbs the water that is contained in those foods and drinks and uses it like it uses all water you take in. Additionally, mixing a drink mix into water does not suddenly turn the water into some other substance, it merely means it is now water that is combined with other substances. It's still water so plan accordingly.
Myth 2: "Caffeine will dehydrate you"
This is a common one that stems from some credible research. However, one must actually read the research to understand what is being said rather than follow the media's misleading conclusions that caffeine dehydrates you. The research on this topic finds that Caffeine does have diuretic properties (i.e. it makes you pee more). This is why people have latched onto it as something that will dehydrate you. HOWEVER, the research finds that it has diuretic properties ONLY when administered in doses that significantly exceed the body's current tolerance and over time the body will develop a tolerance to the increase and the diuretic properties cease (unless the dose is increased even more). It takes large concentrations of caffeine, much greater than those in a can of Mt. Dew, to see the diuretic properties of caffeine affect the body. So if you have a diet coke each day, it's not going to dehydrate you. If you only drink diet coke every day (as some people i know do), you're not going to become dehydrated, your body will make sure of that.
Myth 3: "Diet sodas make you fat"
UGH, this myth is directly a result of the media latching onto a research topic without reading the conclusions. Numerous studies have setup and followed two groups of people. One who drank only diet soda and one who didn't drink any. They found that the second group actually gained less weight than the first. However, in four separate studies I've read on this topic, the researchers all came to the same conclusion. Those drinking the diet soda tended to eat more calories in a day, likely because they knew they were drinking diet soda and felt they were then able to consume more. Add to that people's propensity to underestimate their own intake and it leads to more weight gain. Not one study I've read to date has ever concluded that some property of diet soda directly leads to you gaining weight.
So there you have it folks, I hope you find it informational. Obviously I'm not a doctor or expert, just someone who has done a lot of research on this topic and is tired of reading mis-understood regurgitations of the facts.
You answered the "Diet sodas make you fat" in your own freakin' explanation.
"Those drinking the diet soda tended to eat more calories in a day, likely because they knew they were drinking diet soda and felt they were then able to consume more. Add to that people's propensity to underestimate their own intake and it leads to more weight gain. "
That in turn, makes them fat.
Leave the research and opinions to people who're qualified.
What he said was correct the fact the people ate more was the reason for weight gain not the soda.
Great post, totally agree on all points!0 -
This is worth a read... http://www.livestrong.com/article/320519-diet-drinks-the-liver/0
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Great post Intechpc - I drink a LOT of tea (milk no sugar) and have had all sorts of helpful comments in my working life re: caffeine, dehydration etc. I also drink Diet Coke...the only time I drink water is at the gym because it's the only thing available. Haven't changed these habits and I'm 2 stone lighter than this time last year.0
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Not only will diet drinks make you fat but toupees and wigs make you bald. A friend of my friend of my brother noticed that every person with a toupee or wig had problems growing hair but the fake hair companies don't want you to know this! Plus fake hair gives you lupus. And MS. And some other stuff too because our heads evolved to have REAL HAIR, not FAKE hair. Our heads don't know what to do with fake hair so it makes our scalp TOXIC.0
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Very interesting... thanks for posting0
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Not only will diet drinks make you fat but toupees and wigs make you bald. A friend of my friend of my brother noticed that every person with a toupee or wig had problems growing hair but the fake hair companies don't want you to know this! Plus fake hair gives you lupus. And MS. And some other stuff too because our heads evolved to have REAL HAIR, not FAKE hair. Our heads don't know what to do with fake hair so it makes our scalp TOXIC.
LOL! That made my day.0 -
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I agree with everything you say except the diet sodas. Research I have read says drinking diet soda that uses apartame can lead to people craving sweets more often than not. And I have experienced it myself since I stopped drinking diet coke, I don't crave sweets as often. That could be a factor as to why the diet drinkers did gain more weight than non diet drinkers. I also find after I stopped drinking diet coke those things that are sweet do not taste good to me anymore. So I'm sure there is research supporting anything you can think of but thats my experience and I thought I would share.
You're spot on here, and I have read that research and don't mean to ignore it. I didn't get into that whole thing though because it is only a very few select diet drinks that are affected and even in those cases it's not the drink itself that makes you fat. It's eating more calories that makes you fat. This is however very good information to share as well.
Let me make the general disclaimer, I'm not suggesting that drinking only diet Coke every day is healthy or unhealthy. My point here is to discuss things in terms of how they affect your water intake. If I recall the numbers correctly there's something like 11.8 oz of pure water in each can of diet coke. So my point is when you drink a can you are legitimately drinking 11.8 oz of water. Now there are other health reasons why one may choose not to drink Coke (sodium and acidic ph being two of them). I'm also not suggesting that we should really try to sit down and log the amount of water in all of the foods we ate each day. But if you're a little short on your water intake but ate a bunch of fruits like grapefruit, grapes and oranges that day, you've probably more than made your quota for the day.0 -
So we've had countless threads to the effect of "Can I count X as water" on this board lately. Each and every time I cringe as I read answers like "Only water is water" and "Once you put something in it, it's not water", "Only if it doesn't have Caffeine in it because caffeine will dehydrate you", or the infamous "Diet Soda makes you fatter". So little actual fact is actually understood by some folks that I figured I'd try one more time to educate the good folks here on some of the facts that have been twisted into outright fallacy. I won't even get into how each of us decide to log our drinks, that's up to you. But here are some facts to consider:
Myth 1: "Your body need X cups of pure water per day".
Research on this topic is pretty straight forward. Your body does indeed need water to survive. There are varying studies on exactly how much and of course like everything, much of it depends on each person's body. The most common consensus seems to be 8 cups per day. Now, what people keep missing the boat on here is that everything you eat or drink contains water. Your body doesn't care how it gets the water it just needs water. So as it digests that pear you ate, that soda you drank or that soup you just sipped up, your body absorbs the water that is contained in those foods and drinks and uses it like it uses all water you take in. Additionally, mixing a drink mix into water does not suddenly turn the water into some other substance, it merely means it is now water that is combined with other substances. It's still water so plan accordingly.
Myth 2: "Caffeine will dehydrate you"
This is a common one that stems from some credible research. However, one must actually read the research to understand what is being said rather than follow the media's misleading conclusions that caffeine dehydrates you. The research on this topic finds that Caffeine does have diuretic properties (i.e. it makes you pee more). This is why people have latched onto it as something that will dehydrate you. HOWEVER, the research finds that it has diuretic properties ONLY when administered in doses that significantly exceed the body's current tolerance and over time the body will develop a tolerance to the increase and the diuretic properties cease (unless the dose is increased even more). It takes large concentrations of caffeine, much greater than those in a can of Mt. Dew, to see the diuretic properties of caffeine affect the body. So if you have a diet coke each day, it's not going to dehydrate you. If you only drink diet coke every day (as some people i know do), you're not going to become dehydrated, your body will make sure of that.
Myth 3: "Diet sodas make you fat"
UGH, this myth is directly a result of the media latching onto a research topic without reading the conclusions. Numerous studies have setup and followed two groups of people. One who drank only diet soda and one who didn't drink any. They found that the second group actually gained less weight than the first. However, in four separate studies I've read on this topic, the researchers all came to the same conclusion. Those drinking the diet soda tended to eat more calories in a day, likely because they knew they were drinking diet soda and felt they were then able to consume more. Add to that people's propensity to underestimate their own intake and it leads to more weight gain. Not one study I've read to date has ever concluded that some property of diet soda directly leads to you gaining weight.
So there you have it folks, I hope you find it informational. Obviously I'm not a doctor or expert, just someone who has done a lot of research on this topic and is tired of reading mis-understood regurgitations of the facts.
You answered the "Diet sodas make you fat" in your own freakin' explanation.
"Those drinking the diet soda tended to eat more calories in a day, likely because they knew they were drinking diet soda and felt they were then able to consume more. Add to that people's propensity to underestimate their own intake and it leads to more weight gain. "
That in turn, makes them fat.
Leave the research and opinions to people who're qualified.
wow rude much0 -
I don't remember where but I did read about how our liver processes such as caffeine and alcohol using water. I could have quoted wrong, but something like this would cause dehyadration or "hang over" if you will.0
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Thanks for taking the time to put up this post. I have read much of what you posted and agree that most people need to be a little more flexible on how they count thier water consumption.
But watch out, you are probably going to have to give a yellow card for dissent.0
This discussion has been closed.
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