Water Consumption and What Qualifies as Water?

lachesissss

So today I experienced a conundrum of sorts regarding my water consumption. I am a habitual tea drinker, and today managed to consume a requisite 8 glasses, not of water, but of tea. More to the point teabags steeped in hot water, no added sweetener. Water being a large component of the tea that I drink/drank/drunk... whatever. Currently, because I have sipped 64 oz of water in a span of about 8 hours, I feel more than adequately hydrated. In fact, I suspect my kidneys are floating somewhere in body cavity, gently sloshing about in all of the tea. Steeping in the juices, as it were. But, alas, I was wondering if they actually count as water? Should I go to my food diary and gleefully click the upward arrows so that my glass rises above half full to almost brimming? So that I can find acceptance that only a person who has a truly and properly hydrated food diary can?

I am just confused about if my tea counts as water, because if I drink anymore liquid right now, I surely will become intoxicated on.... something. These things happen... right?

odusgolp

Mayo is water AND dairy. Fact. I read it on the internets.

Lilpixie39

I know you're suppose to get half your body weight in water a day.But I know if drinking tea is counted as water intake or not.

infamousmk

I just drink beer instead. It's mostly water, too.

lachesissss

Mayo is water AND dairy. Fact. I read it on the internets.

Well thank god for them internets!

PaulW2MD

Does said tea have any booze/hooch/whiskey in it?

WilliamsPeggy

I don't count tea as water.

drmerc

Anything that I put in a glass I count as water

odusgolp

I just drink beer instead. It's mostly water, too.

This is why we get along so well

tageekly

Don't click that glass in your diary just yet.

Each glass of tea counts as 0.35 of a glass of water, until you've reached the 4th glass of tea, then it's 0.55. So, do the math on that.

GuybrushThreepw00d

I am just confused about if my tea counts as water, because if I drink anymore liquid right now, I surely will become intoxicated on.... something. These things happen... right?

It counts....
Supposedly, if you're used to tea/coffee then a cup of coffee counts as a cup of water. If you're not then it just counts as 1/2 a cup.
I tend to round my water-coffee numbers down just to be on the safe side.

sunsnstatheart

Oh waiter! Please, can we have a new topic? This one is old and worn.

Before posting a topic, consider using the search function.

MireyGal76

OP: I like your mug in your profile pic. It's udderly fantastic.

concordancia

Even if it was straight water, the 8 8ounce glass thing is just a mnemonic, not a scientific guideline. It was easy to remember, so it got spread around.

Tea is fine. Some will tell you your body needs straight water (it will get mixed with whatever is in your stomach anyway), that caffeinated drinks are diuretics (everything short of concentrated energy drinks and JOLT provide more water than they take out), some that it must be half your weight in ounces (it sure would help me lose weight - the restrooms are at the far end of the building from my office), others that it must be from Tibetan springs...

The only thing that is important is that your urine is light yellow (some say clear - I have had too much if it is clear all day, it is almost as unsettling as being slightly dehydrated). If you overindulge, grab a banana and put sprinkle it with salt (I usually add nuts, and a few dark chocolate chips, but those are for flavor, not nutrition) or find another way of rebalancing your electrolytes.


ETA: see, they told you all those things before I finished typing!

Nikki_XC

To me, water is water.
I don't include tea, coffee etc into my daily intake. They get logged, but not as my water.

babyshekamoo

Don't click that glass in your diary just yet.

Each glass of tea counts as 0.35 of a glass of water, until you've reached the 4th glass of tea, then it's 0.55. So, do the math on that.

Where does this come from? I have never heard it before.

odusgolp

OP: I like your mug in your profile pic. It's udderly fantastic.

Agreed. I'd love a mug like that. It would go well with my Wisconsin t-shirts. "Come Smell our Dairy Air!"

loneworg

dont worry so much about it. as long your pee is pale (light colored) that pretty much your hydrated. dont get me wrong drinking water is good for you but the whole 8 glasses thing have been proven a myth.

Danni1585

You can count tea and coffee as long as it is decaf apparently. I think herbal tea is fine but someone else will be better qualified to say really as I dont drink it

aadutton

You'll get lots of different answers here. From "ONLY water counts as water and you MUST drink an ounce for every pound of body weight!" to "eh, water consumption really isn't all that important." You're better off doing internet research outside of a message board or asking your doctor. Or just try to drink a reasonable amount of good ol water and don't worry about it. Honestly, this topic has been beat to death and there's no consensus.

stephross88

Water is water. Not juice, tea, milk, soda, coffee, wine, etc. End of story.

rduhlir

I count anything not super sugary water. I don't count the one soda i have a week, but I do count my coffee, any natural juices I drink, milk, etc...

As an earlier poster said, just judge your pee. I don't drink 8 glasses of only water a day and my pee is still light yellow. Your body will tell you what it needs.

lucasriggs

Mayo is water AND dairy. Fact. I read it on the internets.

I know your joking but things like milk is mainly water so should count towards it.
Mayonnaise is of course like 80% vegetable oil(unless your get the very low calories one which is presumably 50%+ water).

EatClean_WashUrNuts

KenosFeoh

Even if it was straight water, the 8 8ounce glass thing is just a mnemonic, not a scientific guideline. It was easy to remember, so it got spread around.

This is simply not true. 64 ounces is an estimate based on how much water the average person loses through urine, sweat, evaporation through the skin, respiration, digestive processes, etc.

Water is not the only way to replace these fluids, but it's the best way I think.

hellraisedfire

dont worry so much about it. as long your pee is pale (light colored) that pretty much your hydrated. dont get me wrong drinking water is good for you but the whole 8 glasses thing have been proven a myth.

I agree with this, if I drink eight glasses of water a day I actually get sick to my stomach.

firstsip

I only drink water from the ocean because it's in its most unprocessed form.

tageekly

Don't click that glass in your diary just yet.

Each glass of tea counts as 0.35 of a glass of water, until you've reached the 4th glass of tea, then it's 0.55. So, do the math on that.

Where does this come from? I have never heard it before.

My brain. Cooked special in the snark region. :laugh:

Not to be taken as real advice.

cmcollins001

Anything that I put in a glass I count as water

<insert your own funny .gif here. The one I selected was too large and to be honest, I'm too lazy to resize it. It was funny. You can quote and insert your lolz>

lucasriggs

there's no consensus.

Actually there pretty much is in the scientific community, although MFP and science doesn't generally mix.

miqisha

I log only straight water as water...I however make a note in my food notes as to how many cups of tea I drank that day.