Water intake - does it include tea and juice?

YaGigi
YaGigi Posts: 817 Member
in Food and Nutrition
That's kind of silly question. I did the search but could not find an answer. :)
Should I count all the liquids I drink or just water? I drink juices and lots of tea. In a morning I have one big cup of coffee with skim milk and splenta. Should I count it too?

Thanks in advance! :)
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Replies

  • lambertj
    lambertj Posts: 675 Member
    Sorry only water counts as water. Anything with caffeine is a diuretic and doesn't count and juice is full of sugar. To get 8 glasses, drink two as soon as you wake up when you're most thirsty, 6 through the course of the day is easy.
  • afgivens4
    afgivens4 Posts: 117
    COUNT EVERYTHING

    Water is Water only. Everything else is extra and should be counted. You will be surprised at how much all the extras add up in calories.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    I'm amazed you didn't find any threads on this! :smile:

    For the purposes of hydrating your body, yes tea and juice "count". Some people choose to only count plain water, but tea and juice will still hydrate you, regardless.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    Sorry only water counts as water. Anything with caffeine is a diuretic and doesn't count and juice is full of sugar. To get 8 glasses, drink two as soon as you wake up when you're most thirsty, 6 through the course of the day is easy.
    Drinks with caffeine in will still hydrate you. Drinks with sugar in will still hydrate you. The water doesn't stop being water just because you add sugar. After all, it doesn't stop counting as sugar just because you add water, does it?

    http://ukpmc.ac.uk/abstract/MED/12187618/
    http://ukpmc.ac.uk/abstract/MED/12834577
    http://www.jacn.org/content/19/5/591.short
  • Moosycakes
    Moosycakes Posts: 258 Member
    I think that unsweetened herb tea would count as water, but juice doesn't count because it's fruit, and coffee doesn't count because it has milk in it... water has no calories. Juice and coffee does.
    Also, water is much, much better than you than coffee. And I love my coffee ;D

    I say just count water/water with a small amount of something added, eg. a slice of lemon in the jug, or a herbal teabag.

    Good luck with your future water intake! :)
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member
    the whole concept of 'eight glasses of water a day' is a bit of a misdirect. Your body needs liquid to function, but it can get a large part of this liquid from food sources, fruits etc. You could probably get all the liquid you need from food without ever drinking a glass of anything.

    But in terms of MFP counting glasses, it states 8 glasses of water. If you want to be pedantic, this should not include tea, coffee, juice of anything. But in reality, any liquid will do for hydration, in any form and in any reasonable quantity.

    I drink mostly tea. and wine. and beer.
  • DeMarraDontStop
    DeMarraDontStop Posts: 342 Member
    Personally I only count water as water even with my tea intake.
  • BlackTimber
    BlackTimber Posts: 230 Member
    I think that unsweetened herb tea would count as water, but juice doesn't count because it's fruit, and coffee doesn't count because it has milk in it... water has no calories. Juice and coffee does.
    Also, water is much, much better than you than coffee. And I love my coffee ;D

    I say just count water/water with a small amount of something added, eg. a slice of lemon in the jug, or a herbal teabag.

    Good luck with your future water intake! :)

    I would never put something as foul as milk in my coffee:) And coffee is actually pretty good for you.
  • Moosycakes
    Moosycakes Posts: 258 Member
    I think that unsweetened herb tea would count as water, but juice doesn't count because it's fruit, and coffee doesn't count because it has milk in it... water has no calories. Juice and coffee does.
    Also, water is much, much better than you than coffee. And I love my coffee ;D

    I say just count water/water with a small amount of something added, eg. a slice of lemon in the jug, or a herbal teabag.

    Good luck with your future water intake! :)

    I would never put something as foul as milk in my coffee:) And coffee is actually pretty good for you.

    Hmm... caffeine is a drug. I do like milk in my coffee, but then, I'm not exactly a purist xD
  • KayLgee
    KayLgee Posts: 136 Member
    I only count pure water, my rule of thumb is that my pee should always be clear and fragrance free :laugh:
  • YaGigi
    YaGigi Posts: 817 Member
    Thank you for the answers, guys!

    Oh my! It seems I don't get any water... I drink maybe 2 glasses of pure water at work but other than that I drink something else....
    Like I always mix water with mint and lime, and keep it in my fridge. I drink a glass of this mint/lime water in the morning while taking my vitamins. I also take it to gym.
    And also drink mostly green tea with lemon.
    But almost never drink just the water. :(
  • YaGigi
    YaGigi Posts: 817 Member
    I think that unsweetened herb tea would count as water, but juice doesn't count because it's fruit, and coffee doesn't count because it has milk in it... water has no calories. Juice and coffee does.
    Also, water is much, much better than you than coffee. And I love my coffee ;D

    I say just count water/water with a small amount of something added, eg. a slice of lemon in the jug, or a herbal teabag.

    Good luck with your future water intake! :)

    I would never put something as foul as milk in my coffee:) And coffee is actually pretty good for you.

    Lol, I looooove coffee with milk :D I have half coffee half milk most of the time. :D
  • sgarrard01
    sgarrard01 Posts: 213 Member
    Sorry only water counts as water. Anything with caffeine is a diuretic and doesn't count and juice is full of sugar. To get 8 glasses, drink two as soon as you wake up when you're most thirsty, 6 through the course of the day is easy.
    Drinks with caffeine in will still hydrate you. Drinks with sugar in will still hydrate you. The water doesn't stop being water just because you add sugar. After all, it doesn't stop counting as sugar just because you add water, does it?

    http://ukpmc.ac.uk/abstract/MED/12187618/
    http://ukpmc.ac.uk/abstract/MED/12834577
    http://www.jacn.org/content/19/5/591.short

    LISTEN TO THIS PERSON.... She's right!
  • Moosycakes
    Moosycakes Posts: 258 Member
    Thank you for the answers, guys!

    Oh my! It seems I don't get any water... I drink maybe 2 glasses of pure water at work but other than that I drink something else....
    Like I always mix water with mint and lime, and keep it in my fridge. I drink a glass of this mint/lime water in the morning while taking my vitamins. I also take it to gym.
    And also drink mostly green tea with lemon.
    But almost never drink just the water. :(

    I think that mint/lime water and green tea with lemon count as water, because they are a large percentage water.
  • want2belean
    want2belean Posts: 124 Member
    I was told by an areobic instructer years ago tea is conseiderd as part of your water intake. I suppose "Mooseycakes" its all in how you look at it. Of course sugery drinks are not good for you, but in my opinion don't count sugery drinks if you are not trying to loose wieght. I have never drank 8 glasses of water a day, I don't know if I can consume that much, maybe in the sumertime I may be able to do more than 2 or 3. But I am never that darn thirsty.
  • watcheronthewall
    watcheronthewall Posts: 104
    Yes it all counts and so does your food. Latest guidelines are that you don't need to drinks pints of water but that your quota comes from food and beverages aswell. The only thing you don't include is booze!
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    I think that unsweetened herb tea would count as water, but juice doesn't count because it's fruit, and coffee doesn't count because it has milk in it... water has no calories. Juice and coffee does.
    Also, water is much, much better than you than coffee. And I love my coffee ;D

    I say just count water/water with a small amount of something added, eg. a slice of lemon in the jug, or a herbal teabag.

    Good luck with your future water intake! :)

    I would never put something as foul as milk in my coffee:) And coffee is actually pretty good for you.

    Lol, I looooove coffee with milk :D I have half coffee half milk most of the time. :D

    I mostly stopped drinking coffee because I just don't like it without milk, and milk has sooooo many calories!!!:sad: :brokenheart:
  • crimznrose
    crimznrose Posts: 282 Member
    I personally count my coffee & tea as water intake, but not anything sugary (i.e. juiice or creamer). Coffee & tea are basically "flavored" water, despite the caffeine presence.
  • TheViperMan
    TheViperMan Posts: 235 Member
    YES! I hate it when people try to tell me that a juice or coffee doesn't "count" as water. Lemmings...

    The primary ingredient - even in soda - is water. And I occassionally add Mio flavorings to my water or even make my own Sodastream sodas at home, which starts off by filling a bottle with WATER!

    It's the OTHER stuff in your sodas especially and juices that aren't as good for you. A doctor told me lately that even orange juice really isn't very healthy because of all the sugar added to it - you're better off just eating an orange.

    I still strongly believe that we can take in TOO much water (unless there's some unique health condition that requires excess water). If we drink too much, too quickly, we flush out all the vitamins and minerals that our body hasn't had time to absorb yet.

    And I had a personal trainer tell me that coffee actually is good for you because the caffeine helps ward off hunger while bumping your metabolism. Just don't add TOO much sugar/milk.
  • wild_wild_life
    wild_wild_life Posts: 1,334 Member
    I am really surprised at some of these responses. There is nothing magical about water, and adding sugar, tea leaves, coffee, etc. does not change the fact that you just drank x amount of water. The diuretic effect of caffeine is not that significant and does not negate all the fluid you drank.

    The point behind the 8 glasses a day rule is to stay hydrated. It doesn't have to be pure, unadulterated water -- if it's fluid, it hydrates you!
  • coliema
    coliema Posts: 7,646 Member
    I agree with everyone else who has said that water is water. I never count tea, juice, soda, etc. Because it's not water just because it has water in it.
  • nikilis
    nikilis Posts: 2,305 Member
    LIVESTRONG!

    Appropriate Fluid Sources
    If you're not a devoted water drinker, you may wonder if other liquids count toward your daily fluid needs or if only water should be consumed for adequate hydration. While water is healthy and commonly recommended, other liquids serve the same purpose. In other words, juices, milk, caffeinated beverages, herbal tea and even soups can appropriately count toward your daily fluid needs and should be considered when calculating fluid intake.


    http://www.livestrong.com/article/446217-how-much-fluid-intake-do-you-need-in-a-day/
  • EdTheGinge
    EdTheGinge Posts: 1,616 Member
    Pure water only is how I do it
  • SheilaG1963
    SheilaG1963 Posts: 298 Member
    I count only water, tea with sweetener and the ice I eat as water. I track my soda and hardly ever drink juice because of the outrageous amount of calories in some of it.

    Everyone is going to have a different opinion and the main objective is to stay hydrated. There are a thousand different threads on a thousand websites and they all say something different!
  • tyrantduck
    tyrantduck Posts: 387 Member
    I only count actual water towards my daily intake. This includes the bottle of sparkling water I drink on a daily basis (which is sugar/calorie free). I don't count my sugar/calorie free energy drinks, coffee, etc. as water. Just makes more sense to me.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Not a silly question but as usual some really silly answers!
    Water is water - just H20. No pixey dust or black magic.
    Your body doesn't really care how you take in water or whether there is anything added to it.

    "8 glasses a day" is just a marketing type phrase and about as scientific as "speed kills" for road safety.
  • sistersyd
    sistersyd Posts: 30 Member
    Yes, All - only water is water, but there are programs (like WW) that say black coffee and unsweetened tea (things with no calories) don't need to be counted, but they are NOT water. If you are putting sugar or milk/cream in your coffee or tea, you need to count it - it adds up quickly!!
  • YaGigi
    YaGigi Posts: 817 Member
    LIVESTRONG!

    Appropriate Fluid Sources
    If you're not a devoted water drinker, you may wonder if other liquids count toward your daily fluid needs or if only water should be consumed for adequate hydration. While water is healthy and commonly recommended, other liquids serve the same purpose. In other words, juices, milk, caffeinated beverages, herbal tea and even soups can appropriately count toward your daily fluid needs and should be considered when calculating fluid intake.


    http://www.livestrong.com/article/446217-how-much-fluid-intake-do-you-need-in-a-day/

    OK, Love this answer!

    Thanks!
  • YaGigi
    YaGigi Posts: 817 Member
    I follow a diet my doctor prescribed me.

    It's basically a low carbs diet and no food after 6 pm. Liquids are also limited after 6 pm, not more than 30% of daily liquids . And this post 6 pm liquid should be fat free and sugar free.
  • keni88
    keni88 Posts: 22
    gotta love some of these answers.

    by some of the logic on here, adding mince to my rice stops it being carbs!?

    no matter what you add to your water, nothing bonds with it on a molecular level, which is the level your body absorbs it at! no matter what you ad its filtered out.

    and have to also agree with the comments of taking in too much water, and flushing out your body minerals and vitamins, having a negative effect!

    8 pints a day is the same as 'your 5 a day' its a rough estimate dependent on lifestyle.

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