Why doesn't all water count as water? I'm curious

zlottery

Hello everyone,

So, as of recent I've begun to regularly drink 8-12 cups of water a day. For the most part, I only count my decaf tea (that I drink with 1-2 truvias, and sometimes lemon) and the pure water that I drink. However, I wanna know why water in caffeinated beverages/in food doesn't count as water intake? I hear a lot of people say caffeine acts as a diuretic but I've read multiple studies now that have countered that idea (although I'm still not sure so I don't count it just for safe keeps). Plus, I eat oatmeal almost every day that I add a TON of water to, plus veggies like lettuce and cucumbers that are made up of mostly water anyway and why don't these count towards hydration?

AnvilHead

Like every thread about this topic (of which there have been many), I predict this will be a long and argumentative one. The answer is that they DO count. The diuretic effect of caffeine is minor and does not offset the liquid intake. I believe it's sarauk2sf who usually posts all the scientific studies which prove this - nevertheless, you'll have a dozen or more people tell you that only pure water with nothing else added counts as water.

You've got it right...keep doing what you're doing.

neanderthin

Yup, it all counts.

MostlyWater

i'm Mostly Water

tigersword

^ That you are.

BinaryPulsar

Like every thread about this topic (of which there have been many), I predict this will be a long and argumentative one. The answer is that they DO count. The diuretic effect of caffeine is minor and does not offset the liquid intake. I believe it's sarauk2sf who usually posts all the scientific studies which prove this - nevertheless, you'll have a dozen or more people tell you that only pure water with nothing else added counts as water.

You've got it right...keep doing what you're doing.

Yeah, all of this. It counts towards hydration. If it didn't, there would be a lot of people dying of dehydration. I don't have scientific studies to share, because this is all basic stuff I learned in Biology in college. I still personally drink a lot of water because I like water and I get thirsty a lot (so no one should feel like we are saying not to drink water). But, I also know that I am hydrated from green tea, milk and lots of other things that I drink. And I know lots of healthy people that are hydrated from sources that are not just plain water. Regardless of what is mixed into the water, it is still water in there.

gramacanada

I count everything liquid that goes in.
I agree with AnvilHead. Drinks with a diuretic effect don't pull out cup for cup.
Milk in cereal is liquid. Etc. Etc.

tigersword

For the record, beer also hydrates. :drinker: Unfortunately, bourbon doesn't... :grumble:

kimosabe1

Not to sure but the water with added caffeine is questionable to me so maybe I wouldn't add that one.......

Sarauk2sf

Like every thread about this topic (of which there have been many), I predict this will be a long and argumentative one. The answer is that they DO count. The diuretic effect of caffeine is minor and does not offset the liquid intake. I believe it's sarauk2sf who usually posts all the scientific studies which prove this - nevertheless, you'll have a dozen or more people tell you that only pure water with nothing else added counts as water.

You've got it right...keep doing what you're doing.

Hi :happy:

And yes, I agree with all the above, including the numerous posts saying that caffeine is a diuretic or dehydrating....which it is not. Here are a few studies, but will save some to post later as these will be ignored like always.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283 - any beverage counts

"beverages such as milk and juice are composed mostly of water. Even beer, wine and caffeinated beverages — such as coffee, tea or soda — can contribute"

"What you eat also provides a significant portion of your fluid needs. On average, food provides about 20 percent of total water intake."

http://www.jacn.org/content/19/5/591.short any beverage counts

"This preliminary study found no significant differences in the effect of various combinations of beverages on hydration status of healthy adult males. Advising people to disregard caffeinated beverages as part of the daily fluid intake is not substantiated by the results of this study."

and just for Tiger:

http://jap.physiology.org/content/83/4/1152.abstract? interesting one about alcohol post exercise and recovery

“There appears to be no difference in recovery from dehydration whether the rehydration beverage is alcohol free or contains up to 2% alcohol, but drinks containing 4% alcohol tend to delay the recovery process.”

kdeaux1959

I also count everything; Water is probably better... but few of us actually sit down and drink water like that-- I do always drink water when I do any aerobic activity... Other than that, I drink several things. Just make sure to count the calories in any caloric beverage. Hydration is the key; of course, I do drink quite a bit of liquids without thinking much about it... but I log it because it is there... I am sure I actually drink more than I post, however.

NaomiJFoster

Fruit can count too. Oranges, peaches, pineapple, etc. There is enough juice (liquid) naturally occurring in fruit to count as fluid intake. Soup counts. Milk counts. You have to log it as food in a meal also, and count the other calories and marconutrients in those things as well, but it certainly does count as fluid intake.

Coffee, tea, cola...it counts. Yeah, it's mildly diuretic, but that's pretty minimal compared to the amount of actual fluid you're taking in. Count it as 1/2 or 3/4 if you feel strongly about the dehydration aspect of it. But do count it.

FitBeto

Chemically altered drinks to not count as pure water,as they are altered chemically to include carbonation and other dehydrating elements.

Sarauk2sf

Fruit can count too. Oranges, peaches, pineapple, etc. There is enough juice (liquid) naturally occurring in fruit to count as fluid intake. Soup counts. Milk counts. You have to log it as food in a meal also, and count the other calories and marconutrients in those things as well, but it certainly does count as fluid intake.

Coffee, tea, cola...it counts. Yeah, it's mildly diuretic, but that's pretty minimal compared to the amount of actual fluid you're taking in. Count it as 1/2 or 3/4 if you feel strongly about the dehydration aspect of it. But do count it.

Yep: Nerding out here and posting a study for this as well:

http://www.jacn.org/content/26/suppl_5/592S.short food counts

"Various reports indicate that humans receive 20–25% of their daily water intake from food. Fruits, vegetables and other high-moisture foods, therefore, make an important contribution to total fluid intake."

AnvilHead

Chemically altered drinks to not count as pure water,as they are altered chemically to include carbonation and other dehydrating elements.

...and so it begins....

drmerc

does pudding count?

Sarauk2sf

Chemically altered drinks to not count as pure water,as they are altered chemically to include carbonation and other dehydrating elements.

Like what? Please expend. Are you saying fizzy water is not hydrating?

Sarauk2sf

does pudding count?

Yes - make sure you click that little ticker every time you eat some pudding

AnvilHead

does pudding count?

Not if you eat or snort the dry powdered mix.

baptiste565

does pudding count?

bump

Sarauk2sf

does pudding count?

Yes - make sure you click that little ticker every time you eat some pudding

u r joking when u say pudding counts? right

Yes and no. It will have a hydrating effect as there is some water. Am I suggesting to click the ticker?....I really hope you do not think I was being serious about that! However, there is actually no real point clicking the little ticker anyway, The 8 glasses of water requirement is a myth.

baptiste565

i am not sure if u guys r joking or not(not smart enough to see sarcasm). pudding does not hydrate enough to count as water

NaomiJFoster

Chemically altered drinks to not count as pure water,as they are altered chemically to include carbonation and other dehydrating elements.

Like what? Please expend. Are you saying fizzy water is not hydrating?

Is only Pure Water hydrating? That makes no sense whatsoever. Sure, plain water is important. But that doesn't negate the hydrating aspect of other fluids, or other sources.

baptiste565

does pudding count?

Yes - make sure you click that little ticker every time you eat some pudding

u r joking when u say pudding counts? right

Yes and no. It will have a hydrating effect as there is some water. Am I suggesting to click the ticker?....I really hope you do not think I was being serious about that! However, there is actually no real point clicking the little ticker anyway, The 8 glasses of water requirement is a myth.

yes, it will have some hydrating effects becuz there is some water in it. but it will probably cause a net dehydrating effect becuz of the water ur body will use to digest and metabolize the nutrients in the pudding.

Sarauk2sf

does pudding count?

Yes - make sure you click that little ticker every time you eat some pudding

u r joking when u say pudding counts? right

Yes and no. It will have a hydrating effect as there is some water. Am I suggesting to click the ticker?....I really hope you do not think I was being serious about that! However, there is actually no real point clicking the little ticker anyway, The 8 glasses of water requirement is a myth.

yes, it will have some hydrating effects becuz there is some water in it. but it will probably cause a net dehydrating effect becuz of the water ur body will use to digest and metabolize the nutrients in the pudding.

Did you not see the study I posted?

Wynterbourne

I don't know what their current guideline are, but years and years ago Weight Watchers suggested counting black coffee, diet soda and unsweetened tea as half its quantity as water. So a 12 oz can of diet soda was to be counted as 6 oz of water. I personally don't drink a lot of water, but that's just me and I still do fine. I don't really think all doctors agree 100% on water quantities and dieting.

Sarauk2sf

Chemically altered drinks to not count as pure water,as they are altered chemically to include carbonation and other dehydrating elements.

Like what? Please expend. Are you saying fizzy water is not hydrating?

Is only Pure Water hydrating? That makes no sense whatsoever. Sure, plain water is important. But that doesn't negate the hydrating aspect of other fluids, or other sources.

Yep. It makes no sense whatsoever and is incorrect.

baptiste565

vodka is hydrating. 80% alcohol 20% water. NOT!

AnvilHead

Did you not see the study I posted?

Hope you saved that phrase for copy and paste, Sara....I have a feeling you'll be using it again. And again. And again.... :bigsmile:

Sarauk2sf

vodka is hydrating. 80% alcohol 20% water. NOT!

Who said that - did you not see the other study I posted????

tigersword

vodka is hydrating. 80% alcohol 20% water. NOT!

Who said vodka was hydrating (besides you in this post?)