What counts as water?

chrischinchilla

Water is the only thing that counts as water. Coffee, tea, Gatorade, soda...all of these things have water in them, but they DO NOT count as going towards your 8 cups of water per day. For that, you need straight, pure water. That info is from fitness experts and my college chemistry teacher.

LelliAmi

yes, they count as water. i don't count anything like juice, milk or soda unless i have a lot of it that day, then it equals one glass for me. i count water with crystal lite or my slimquick fatburner in it as a regular glass, as well as tea and instant coffee...anything that's basically 99% water.

ps: Women's Health magazine says that tea, coffee and other beverages count towards your 8 glasses a day!!!!

HauteP1nk

I only count water as water.

Tea, coffee, pop...all diuretics. For every cup of tea, coffee or pop you need to drink 2 extra glasses of water.

godricshollow

I count tea as water - don't drink water but drink a crap load of tea and since that is a cup of hot water with a teabag in it, I believe it counts as water.

I used to do this until I started heaping in the spoons of sugar into my tea I know it's still hydrating me and all but I log it as a fluid rather than part of my water intake. Tea is a godsend!

mistersmithsbox

My problem with crystal light is that it's filled with artificial sugars, is NOT calorie free, has artificial colors and is packed with vitamin c (which can cause megadosing).[Aspartame isn't healthy. ODing on vitamin c can cause excess uric acid in the body, diarrhea, and a reliance on such a high level of VC. Why would you want artifical colors at all? Trix are bad; why isn't neon red CL fruit punch?] If all you want from water is hydration then rock out. If you're looking for the other benefits of water, cutting back on your CL might be beneficial.

pucenavel

So, if only pure water is water, then if I have a gallon of water and add food coloring to it, it's no longer water?

Oh, it is?

Then why isn't tea? Oh, because less than 1% of it is something else? Shouldn't you say that it's 99% water, so instead of 12 ounces of water, I can only count it as 11.88 ounces of water.

Milk, being (let's assume) 95% water and 5% something else cannot count as water? I'll buy that it can't be counted as 100% water, but it certainly can be counted as 'some' water. That's just simple logic. What other parts of its makeup might reduce the benefits of water? The fat, a little sodium, calcium? OK, let's say that the fat reduces the "purity effect" by some amount, as does the sodium and calcium. Even after that the 95% water would still be probably 80% or more.

I can buy that alcohol might have enough negatives as to complete negate the "water-ness" of the water, but I can't buy that 75 or so milligrams of caffeine in a cup of coffee entirely negates the "water-ness". A cup of coffee has some equivalent benefit to pure water.

This is science people. If it contains water and does not contain enough of other elements to negate the body's response to the water, it will count as water to at least some percentage of the overall. It's that simple.

grrrlface

I count anything apart from alcohol and fruit juices. I know people that don't drink plain water and it doesn't affect how much weight they lose or their hydration levels. Anything that hydrates you counts in my book, tea, diet pop, full fat pop, squash... You just have to add calories too!

pucenavel

For every cup of tea, coffee or pop you need to drink 2 extra glasses of water.

Do you ever leave the bathroom?

leslielt

H2O, tap water, bottled water, water out of a catcus...
tea? no
coffee? no
soda? no
urine? why would you want to even go there

3laine75

i think only water - try it hot - cold water makes me hungry.

Bikini_Bound150

Uh, no, milk doesn't count as water either...... >:\

But yes, water with flavoring counts (to me anyway). Some people can't stand just water so slice up some lemons or oranges to put in your water. Crystal Light is delicious. Anything without too much sugar.

killagb

So, if only pure water is water, then if I have a gallon of water and add food coloring to it, it's no longer water?

Oh, it is?

Then why isn't tea? Oh, because less than 1% of it is something else? Shouldn't you say that it's 99% water, so instead of 12 ounces of water, I can only count it as 11.88 ounces of water.

Milk, being (let's assume) 95% water and 5% something else cannot count as water? I'll buy that it can't be counted as 100% water, but it certainly can be counted as 'some' water. That's just simple logic. What other parts of its makeup might reduce the benefits of water? The fat, a little sodium, calcium? OK, let's say that the fat reduces the "purity effect" by some amount, as does the sodium and calcium. Even after that the 95% water would still be probably 80% or more.

I can buy that alcohol might have enough negatives as to complete negate the "water-ness" of the water, but I can't buy that 75 or so milligrams of caffeine in a cup of coffee entirely negates the "water-ness". A cup of coffee has some equivalent benefit to pure water.

This is science people. If it contains water and does not contain enough of other elements to negate the body's response to the water, it will count as water to at least some percentage of the overall. It's that simple.

This is factual.

leslielt

http://www.livestrong.com/article/464140-is-drinking-tea-equivalent-to-water/

charlesb22

try fresh mint in your water! fresh breath and not as boring as plain old water


(that said, I actually love drinking plain water and prefer it to anything flavoured)

inagadda1976

Any non caffeinated liquid counts as water in its entirety, caffeinated counts half of its oz ( because caffeint dehydrates)

970Mikaela1

Water counts as water

WickedMouse

Count Water as... Water
Count Juice as Juice
Count Tea as Tea
Count Coffee as Coffee

Why are you trying to make excuses to yourself on NOT drinking water. Don't like water? Fine, don't log the liquids you drink as water. Water is Water is Water. Plain and simple!

savage22hp

http://www.livestrong.com/article/464140-is-drinking-tea-equivalent-to-water/

THIS
Hydrate- yes , same as water- no

Athena413

Basically all liquids (besides alcohol) count. So, water, tea, juice, milk, etc, etc, etc

Seriously? I don't know where you got that from, but pretty sure juice and milk definitely don't count as water...

Tea and coffee, maybe. Adding Crystal Light is fine, if you want all that unnatural stuff in your body, and it would still count as water, but for the most part, I think water is the only thing that counts as water.

tsh0ck

So, if only pure water is water, then if I have a gallon of water and add food coloring to it, it's no longer water?

Oh, it is?

Then why isn't tea? Oh, because less than 1% of it is something else? Shouldn't you say that it's 99% water, so instead of 12 ounces of water, I can only count it as 11.88 ounces of water.

Milk, being (let's assume) 95% water and 5% something else cannot count as water? I'll buy that it can't be counted as 100% water, but it certainly can be counted as 'some' water. That's just simple logic. What other parts of its makeup might reduce the benefits of water? The fat, a little sodium, calcium? OK, let's say that the fat reduces the "purity effect" by some amount, as does the sodium and calcium. Even after that the 95% water would still be probably 80% or more.

I can buy that alcohol might have enough negatives as to complete negate the "water-ness" of the water, but I can't buy that 75 or so milligrams of caffeine in a cup of coffee entirely negates the "water-ness". A cup of coffee has some equivalent benefit to pure water.

This is science people. If it contains water and does not contain enough of other elements to negate the body's response to the water, it will count as water to at least some percentage of the overall. It's that simple.

This is factual.

don't you two bring facts into this!

thejen75

I only count water as water.

H2o, and H2o ONLY.

dubois75

I myself only count water as water. Occasionally, i will have a crystal light fitness packet in my 32oz but maybe once a week. What you can do is, cut up fruit and add it to your water, for more natural flavor. I just heard from a co-worker today, that tea counts, but only if you drink it plain.

polkie05

Water equals as water. Don't count other fluids.

eashelton53

Drink Water!!!! Gotta count water as water only.

amoffatt

I use Mio in my water, no additional calories, sodium, ect... its just to add flavor and in my opinion counts as MY water intake. I haven't sabotaged my diet yet by doing this....:bigsmile: :bigsmile:

pisces59

I only count water and list any drinks in my calorie count when I cheat with a soda.

sherryk5133

Does the Wal-Mart "Clear American" Zero Calorie Sparkling Water count as water? Input Please...

savage22hp

Does the Wal-Mart "Clear American" Zero Calorie Sparkling Water count as water? Input Please...

Check this link out :
http://www.livestrong.com/article/313171-health-risks-of-carbonated-water/

There are other issues with drinking carbonated water also , I wouldn't use it for 64 ounces per day every day

thankyou4thevenom

While I only count water as water. You do not have to drink 8 glasses of water a day. It's a myth.

You need the equivalent of 8 cups of water a day on average, from any source. These sources can be pure water/tea/coffee/juice/soda/milk/fruit/veg etc. It does NOT have to be pure neat water!

http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/13/myth-eight-glasses-water-day

http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2008/07/wellness-water-8x8-myth.html

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/12/08/the-myth-behind-drinking-8-glasses-of-water-a-day/


As for coffee being a diuretic, so many people just spout that word as a reason, without actually understanding what "diuretic" means.

di·u·ret·ic (d-rtk)
adj.
Tending to increase the discharge of urine.
n.
A substance or drug that tends to increase the discharge of urine.

Neat water is also a diuretic. The diuretic effect of caffeine is far, far outweighed by the actual water in the tea/coffee. Also, regular consumers of caffeinated beverages will build up a tolerance to said effect, eventually reaching the point where caffeinated drinks provide practically the same amount of hydration as a cup of neat water will.


http://www.divinecaroline.com/22178/46361-coffee-makes-dehydrated-say-what

http://worldofcaffeine.com/2011/06/14/caffeine-does-not-dehydrate/

http://advance.uconn.edu/2002/020722/02072207.htm

http://nomoredirtylooks.com/2011/04/surprise-caffeinated-tea-does-not-dehydrate-you/

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/health/nutrition/04real.html

http://www.sharecare.com/question/does-caffeine-dehydrate-not

http://www.artofdrink.com/2009/12/caffeine-in-coffee-does-not-increase-dehydration-during-hangovers.php

http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cancer/nutrition/questions/do-caffeinated-beverages-cause-dehydration.htm

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=5552790&page=1#.TrQWc0O5_oo

thankyou4thevenom

Does the Wal-Mart "Clear American" Zero Calorie Sparkling Water count as water? Input Please...

Check this link out :
http://www.livestrong.com/article/313171-health-risks-of-carbonated-water/

There are other issues with drinking carbonated water also , I wouldn't use it for 64 ounces per day every day

Scaremongering in that article.
The calcium loss has been dis-proven in countless studies. They don't even have any evidence to back it up in that article.
As far as the acidity goes it is pretty much the same for your teeth as any other acidic drink (like orange juice).
And salt, just like any other drink, read the label. Pick the one that doesn't have salt in it.

Also why are you trying to drink 64oz a day when it's completely unnecessary?