What counts as water?

healthbug
healthbug Posts: 21
edited September 20 in Food and Nutrition
Do you guys consider water intake to be fluid with the nutritional value of water or is water intake strictly water? I ask because I drink a lot of plain hot tea. On average I'm taking in 64 oz of water a day and about 32 oz of tea. I've heard too much fluid is bad for you so the question is: Plain hot tea- water or not water?

Replies

  • EKarma
    EKarma Posts: 594 Member
    Test have shown that caffienated drinks do hydrate as well as water. Me personally... I do water and sometimes crystal light. That is a lot of tea though, maybe cut back just a little?...... :drinker:

    here is something about it from the mayo clinic site:

    It is true. Researchers used to believe that caffeinated drinks had a diuretic effect. This means that you would urinate more after drinking them, which could increase your risk of becoming dehydrated. Recent research shows that this is not true and that caffeine only has a diuretic effect if you consume large amounts of it — more than 500 to 600 milligrams (or 4 to 7 cups of coffee) a day.

    Still, caffeinated drinks can make you jittery, sleepless or anxious. Water is probably your best bet to stay hydrated. It's calorie-free, caffeine-free, inexpensive and readily available.
  • TheMotherAwesome
    TheMotherAwesome Posts: 174 Member
    Tea does not count as water. In fact, for every cup of tea you drink you should be tacking on another glass of water each day.
  • Zara11
    Zara11 Posts: 1,247 Member
    Tea does not count as water. In fact, for every cup of tea you drink you should be tacking on another glass of water each day.

    why?
  • TheMotherAwesome
    TheMotherAwesome Posts: 174 Member
    Tea does not count as water. In fact, for every cup of tea you drink you should be tacking on another glass of water each day.

    why?

    Because it's caffeinated. For every caffeinated beverage you consume, you should tack on an extra glass of water; they dehydrate you.
  • Zara11
    Zara11 Posts: 1,247 Member
    Tea does not count as water. In fact, for every cup of tea you drink you should be tacking on another glass of water each day.

    why?

    Because it's caffeinated. For every caffeinated beverage you consume, you should tack on an extra glass of water; they dehydrate you.


    But the post above said that's not true unless you have a LOT of it. Thus, up to 4ish cups of tea can be counted towards water intake, no?
  • TheMotherAwesome
    TheMotherAwesome Posts: 174 Member
    Tea does not count as water. In fact, for every cup of tea you drink you should be tacking on another glass of water each day.

    why?

    Because it's caffeinated. For every caffeinated beverage you consume, you should tack on an extra glass of water; they dehydrate you.


    But the post above said that's not true unless you have a LOT of it. Thus, up to 4ish cups of tea can be counted towards water intake, no?

    Yep. That's why I should read before I reply. :)
  • kerrilucko
    kerrilucko Posts: 3,852 Member
    all fluids count as water, unless they are caffinated. Some foods also contain large amounts of water. It sounds like you're doing fine.
  • HonestOmnivore
    HonestOmnivore Posts: 1,356 Member
    ON work days I count my hot green chai tea as water. I drink it without sugar or cream and it is low in caffeine - I take in about half my liquids through the green tea and the other half through water. Our home water is stinky well water and can be difficult to drink - I'll flavor it with a bit of crystal light (or some such thing) to help tone down the well water. I count that as water too.

    I've not found any kind of scientific study that shows our bodies can tell the difference between consumption of pure water and a bit of food, or a bit of food mixed into 12 oz. of water. If mixing in something helps me drink it, as long as I count any associated calories I believe I'm reaching the real goal, I'm hydrating myself :)

    Hope that helps!
  • TalonaCat
    TalonaCat Posts: 241
    Water > Tea > Soda

    I think soda is probably the caffeinated beverage people should be MOST concerned about. There's so much sugar and sodium in soda.

    I don't imagine tea is too bad, especially if it's green tea or herbal.
  • Zara11
    Zara11 Posts: 1,247 Member
    Tea does not count as water. In fact, for every cup of tea you drink you should be tacking on another glass of water each day.

    why?

    Because it's caffeinated. For every caffeinated beverage you consume, you should tack on an extra glass of water; they dehydrate you.


    But the post above said that's not true unless you have a LOT of it. Thus, up to 4ish cups of tea can be counted towards water intake, no?

    Yep. That's why I should read before I reply. :)

    Didn't know that about caffeinated beverages - so thanks for the water rule should I drink tons of crap or tea :)
  • tennisref
    tennisref Posts: 27
    ...
    I've not found any kind of scientific study that shows our bodies can tell the difference between consumption of pure water and a bit of food, or a bit of food mixed into 12 oz. of water. If mixing in something helps me drink it, as long as I count any associated calories I believe I'm reaching the real goal, I'm hydrating myself :)


    I am sitting here at the computer desk sipping on the last bit of Cranberry and White tea in my cup and thinking "does this count as water?". I found the caffeine debate interesting, and hadn't really been thinking too much about caffeine since I usually drink herbal tea or white tea (has the least caffeine). However, my concern is about any of the other nutrients in tea. Has anyone else noticed how little information is on tea packaging? For all the hype around the benefits of tea, the listed nutrients make it seem like flavored water!

    A long while ago, I was doing some web surfing about water intake. I wish that I could remember who wrote the article...anyway, the author claimed that it was best to drink pure water as that was the only thing that our kidneys didn't have to filter. So thank you, mstahl, for your common sense reflection on water, taken with food, versus food dissolved in water!
  • kwardklinck
    kwardklinck Posts: 1,601
    I just count water as water. It's no problem for me to drink alot of it though because my body craves it. Sometimes I put a little lemon juice in it. I guess it's just whatever your personal preference is. I require alot of fluid during the day. I usually have 5 bottles of water (2 cups each), 2 cups of coffee, 2 diet sodas, and one cup of milk per day.
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