Tea..Water..Tea..Water...

RockKelly

I am an avid Unsweet Iced Tea drinker. On a typical day I will drink 1 to 2 large McDonalds teas. Half the cup is usually ice and alot of times I end up adding more ice later. Do any of you iced tea drinkers count that as part of your daily water consumption?

marycmeadows

I don't count anything with caffeine as water, because caffeine is a diuretic.

busyblkgirl

I only count water as water. If it's altered in any way, then to me it's no longer water.

RunChristyRun

I only count my water as water consumed. I do count any other beverages that I drink as a part of my meals.

leslisa

Water is water, tea is tea. I drink a ton of both everyday.

hesgro2

Any fluid can really count. There are numerous studies out there to support that your body needs fluid for hydration, and that your body is well equipped to extract the necessary amounts from the foods and beverages you already consume. I've included a good article from Scientific American, but there are also a ton of scientific journal articles out there as well if you want to go digging.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=eight-glasses-water-per-day

annanaana

If it's caffeinated, it doesn't count.

If you have a hard time drinking plain water, try some unsweetened, uncaffeinated herbal or Rooibos teas. Stash makes some really good ones. (Licorice spice is my favourite! Keeps the sweet cravings down too.)

ambitioniscritical

Any fluid can really count. There are numerous studies out there to support that your body needs fluid for hydration, and that your body is well equipped to extract the necessary amounts from the foods and beverages you already consume. I've included a good article from Scientific American, but there are also a ton of scientific journal articles out there as well if you want to go digging.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=eight-glasses-water-per-day

Exactly. Although obviously plain water is the best hydration-wise, most caffeinated drinks don't contain enough caffeine for the diuretic effects to outweigh the hydrating effects. Although you lose a little more than you would if it was just plain water, it's not really significant. Even low alcohol beers (yuck!) are more hydrating than dehydrating.
Within reason obviously. I'm not suggesting that drinking 6 cans of Monster is gonna hydrate you :P

leslisa

Even low alcohol beers (yuck!) are more hydrating than dehydrating.

These I can avoid. They taste like cr*p. Where's my Guiness!!