Water intake, Does Tea count and Coffee???

Marysize10

If there is anything else in water it has to go through the stomach to be digested before it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Water on its own gets absorbed straight away and so you get hydrated straight away. If you are thirsty it means you are already on your way to dehydration. Water is our no. 1 friend.

agthorn

If there is anything else in water it has to go through the stomach to be digested before it is absorbed into the bloodstream.

No, not really. Your body is quite efficient at extracting water from anything you consume.

And thanks, johnross1968, for reviving a year old thread *again* that I had hoped had finally been put to rest. Strong work.

breezanemom

http://www.discovergoodnutrition.com/2012/09/plain-water-get-your-8-glasses-a-day/

Great article on whether or not tea and coffee count towards your water intake.

SPOILER ALERT - they do.

johnross1968

Your Welcome. :P

SherryTeach

I just wish that the "experts" who read something somewhere or heard things who knows where would not give out wrong information. It is so harmful. Everything with water in it, which includes all your food, counts toward your hydration. Coffee and tea are not going to make you dehydrated.

I don't understand why some people make a whole hobby out of drinking water.

JoJo__Fit

Water is water

Tea, or adding fruit into your water does not count as water

pjlove1

lol these "only water is water" ones are an arrogant lot. if you're really honest with yourselves, there's no such thing as pure water. all water sources are contaminated with something. but i digress..

anyway, yeah, you're right. water is water - regardless of whether it contains dark or clear contaminants.

mahanaibu

ROFL!!! :As I understand it, coffee is a dehydrator. Tea, not so much....but thinking about drinking the cup of hot water and then sucking the little tea bag... Over the top!! You are so funny!

The thing that makes coffee "dehydrate" (which it doesn't actually do) is caffeine. Some teas have more caffeine than coffee.

the coffee dehydration myth is just that.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=5552790

mahanaibu

The idea of the water is hydration. All non-calorie liquids count as water. and really, juices could, too, if you wanted to go that route.

rml_16

Water is water

Tea, or adding fruit into your water does not count as water

Why not?

RllyGudTweetr

The idea of the water is hydration. All non-calorie liquids count as water. and really, juices could, too, if you wanted to go that route.

Juices do count. Heck, if you read the origin study for the whole "8 glasses a day" thing (written way back in 1945, incidentally), they concluded that the water present in foods counts toward your hydration as well. Basically, anything that isn't brine or strongly alcoholic.

LouLouLemons

I also wondered the same thing and found this on WebMD......Coffee and tea also count in your tally. Many used to believe that they were dehydrating, but that myth has been debunked. The diuretic effect does not offset hydration.

poma91

"Only water is water" - Everyone who doesn't have an elementary-school-level understanding of chemistry.

following this logic people shouldn't count water with cucumber, mint leaves, lemon and other stuff in ti as well so... NO...LMAO

Katahna

Some people need to learn about a topic before making themselves look like an idiot, honestly.

But yes, any educated person will tell you it does count towards your water intake, just because it's mixed with something doesn't mean it's not H2O, if that were true then having a glass of water with your dinner is no different, and you'll just die from dehydration unless you only drink water on an empty stomach.

It's good to consume the right amount of H2O, but drinking tea and coffee to do that is a little counter productive unless it has no additives like sugar and milk.

I personally count each cup of green tea that I have as a cup of water, because it is exactly that...

bravebird2013

According to WEBMD, tea counts as water see below:

What Counts as Water?
Fruits are an excellent source for water. Watermelon is 90% water, so it ranks highest on the list. Oranges, grapefruit, and melons like cantaloupe and honeydew are also strong contenders.

Vegetables, though not as full of water as fruit, can also provide a nutrient-rich water source. Stick with celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, and Romaine lettuce.

There are plenty of hidden sources of water in your diet, says White. If you want to tap into these foods, reach for oatmeal, yogurt, soup, and smoothies.

Besides guzzling water, milk is a top choice to refuel. Sodas, even diet ones, get a bad rap for lacking nutritional value, but they can still be hydrating. Juices and sports drinks are also hydrating -- you can lower the sugar content by diluting them with water.

Coffee and tea also count in your tally. Many used to believe that they were dehydrating, but that myth has been debunked. The diuretic effect does not offset hydration.

Alcohol is a huge dehydrator, says White. You should try to limit your intake, but if you are going to raise a glass, aim for at least a one-to-one ratio with water.

If you don't like the taste of plain water, White suggests adding lemon to it. Or test out your own concoction, like sparkling water with raspberries with a sprig of mint.

:drinker:

Heliconia

Well...

Pretend you are drinking a hot cup of water, and when you are done you suck on a tea bag for 10 minutes...
There you can add the tea... and still add the water to your water count...

Your body is keeping perfect tabs on your WOE (and drinking) no matter what you report to MFP....

Heliconia

So funny. You are so right.

Ehaynor

To all who think it does not count, please read this:

http://www.discovergoodnutrition.com/2012/09/plain-water-get-your-8-glasses-a-day/

Water is BETTER for you than any other things, however, your body still recognizes them as water-based fluids. Alcohol is really the only thing that will have negative-hydration effects. Even pop, though not good for you, your body recognizes as fluid, and can hydrate to an extent.

As far as coffee/tea, it would best count if you consume them plain.

jgnatca

@mollymcguire70 and @JoJo__Fit are wrong. All liquids hydrate. WebMD does a good job explaining why the mildly diuretic effects of coffee and tea don't negate the hydrating effects of these pleasurable hot drinks.

Heck there are animals that get all their water from the foods they eat, never sipping water at all.

The only water to avoid drinking is seawater as that WILL dehydrate.

Hornsby

Necro!!!! Rawr!!!