Does only water count as water?

RunningTowardsFit
RunningTowardsFit Posts: 81
edited January 6 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi friends,
This may seem like a silly question, but do you only count water as water in your cup counting on the food diary? I have had 5 cups of pure water today and then 3 cups of powerade zero. Should I count this as water or just as another liquid?

Thanks for your input.
«1

Replies

  • bms34b
    bms34b Posts: 401 Member
    Everybody does this differently, but I think about it in terms of hydration. Caffeine is a diuretic, i.e. making you pee a lot and dehydrating, but some teas that are caffeine-free don't do this. I'd log the gatorade as water, but that's just me.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/814368-water-intake-does-tea-count-and-coffee?hl=water

    Pages and pages of people's thoughts on what is water and what isn't water. A whole days reading on the subject.
  • dayone987
    dayone987 Posts: 645 Member
    Studies have shown that the diuretic effect is minimal. Your body can take the H2O in food and drink and use it for hydration.
  • NaomiJFoster
    NaomiJFoster Posts: 1,450 Member
    Liquid is liquid is liquid. Even juicy fruits count as fluid intake. Soup counts. Milk counts. Coffee, tea, soda count (but don't make those your only source of fluids). Fruit, Fruit juices and Sports drinks count (and will actually help you retain more fluids because of the electrolytes).
  • amnsetie
    amnsetie Posts: 666 Member
    http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/12/08/the-myth-behind-drinking-8-glasses-of-water-a-day/

    all liquid counts to your "8 glasses"
  • gabbysabs
    gabbysabs Posts: 11
    Only water. Otherwise your body has to metabolize the other stuff you mix it with. Also, if you drink soda, you should add an oz of water for every oz of soda you drink. You can do it other ways, but you are only cheating yourself.
  • ScatteredThoughts
    ScatteredThoughts Posts: 3,562 Member
    Also, if you drink soda, you should add an oz of water for every oz of soda you drink.

    Why would that be the case?
  • biddy249
    biddy249 Posts: 76 Member
    I would not count sports drinks, carbonated beverages, tea, etc... toward your fluids, only pure water. I personally would stay away from all the above due to the sugar and empty calories they contain. When you drink pure water you have no hidden calories or additives to worry about.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/814368-water-intake-does-tea-count-and-coffee?hl=water

    Pages and pages of people's thoughts on what is water and what isn't water. A whole days reading on the subject.
    ...and this thread's already headed that direction. Much of the same misinformation and dogma.

    OP - your body draws hydration from just about any liquid you drink, the moisture content of the food you eat, etc. It doesn't have a separate compartment labeled "pure water only", nor does adding other ingredients to water "magically" make the water disappear or change into something else. It's still water and it still hydrates you.
  • baptiste565
    baptiste565 Posts: 590 Member
    water is water(H20). anything that is not H2O is not water. water is a type of liquid. u dont need water to live u need liquid. ur body can break down most liquids and hydrate ur body. water is the best liquid for hydration.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    I still don't understand the importance of logging water (except to make the virtual cup spill on the monitor).


    ETA: That said, if I *was* logging water, I would log water as water. My body, however, may not make this same distinction.
  • twinketta
    twinketta Posts: 2,130 Member
    Hi, it looks like you are new on here and I hope you get some constructive advice?

    My opinion (and you can take it or leave it) it is just my opinion.

    Water is in most of the foods you eat, but drinking fluids is much better.

    Sometimes you can feel hungry, for me, mid morning going on lunch time and drinking some fluids helps (try to go sugar free, water is great)
  • Brunner26_2
    Brunner26_2 Posts: 1,152
    water is water(H20). anything that is not H2O is not water. water is a type of liquid. u dont need water to live u need liquid. ur body can break down most liquids and hydrate ur body. water is the liquid for hydration.

    Uh.... you need water to live. No other liquid hydrates you. Juices, coffee, and any other drink hydrate you because they're almost entirely water.
  • bridgelene
    bridgelene Posts: 358 Member
    Just make sure you drink enough that your pee is pale yellow, and you're fine.

    (I generally only log water as water, but occasionally I add a propel zero packet to my water and will log it as water, but put the packet in as a snack. Like, maybe 2x/week.)
  • kazza2cats
    kazza2cats Posts: 87 Member
    I add only pure water to the water cup and any other drinks to drinks.................Simples :drinker:
  • dsjohndrow
    dsjohndrow Posts: 1,820 Member
    The whole water thing is sort of crazy. First of all, lots of fruits and veggies have water - it's real water so it counts for something. Just because you mix something with water to make some sort of juice doesn't make the water turn into something else. Tea is a good example. Tonight I am drinking a pot of green tea with my Chinese meal; it's about 4 cups. I think it counts. This mor5njing I had 3 cups of coffee. Some say it's a diuretic and therefore is doesn't count. To each his own.
  • Railr0aderTony
    Railr0aderTony Posts: 6,803 Member
    DeadHorse.gif

    ^^^^This.

    Hydration does not have to be plain water
  • shutterbug282
    shutterbug282 Posts: 588 Member
    If I have my Earl Grey tea and have no milk in it then I will count that as part of my water intake. :)
  • gaylynn35
    gaylynn35 Posts: 854 Member
    IMO, only water counts as water!
  • clarkeje1
    clarkeje1 Posts: 1,627 Member
    yes only water plain
  • AnnaNoel_21
    AnnaNoel_21 Posts: 96 Member
    I've never thought about it like this, but makes sense ... I make homemade tea. I would log that as water bc there is so much water and ice in it just flavored. As well as I use mio and other brands of flavoring to add in my water. As far as sodas and other things I wouldn't log as water bc all the excessive additives. But that's just me :)
  • Mutant13
    Mutant13 Posts: 2,485 Member
    I count peanut butter as water
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    If you are asking what hydrates you - basically any drink and the water in foods do.


    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283

    "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/22/2/165.short

    "Inclusion of plain drinking water compared to exclusion of plain drinking water in the diet did not affect the markers of hydration used in this study."

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

    "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."

    http://bjsportmed.com/content/40/5/406.abstract (sports drinks)

    "Ad libitum consumption of a CHO-E drink may be more effective than water in minimising fluid deficits and mean core temperature responses during tennis and other similar training in adolescent athletes."

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

    "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."
    The diuretic effect of caffeine is minimal

    http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/12834577 (caffeine)

    "...nor does it cause significant dehydration or electrolyte imbalance during exercise."

    http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/12187618 (caffeine)

    "The literature indicates that caffeine consumption stimulates a mild diuresis similar to water, but there is no evidence of a fluid-electrolyte imbalance that is detrimental to exercise performance or health"

    " Investigations comparing caffeine (100-680 mg) to water or placebo seldom found a statistical difference in urine volume."
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    ^ /thread. Great post, Sara!
  • Fairysoul
    Fairysoul Posts: 1,361 Member
    I only count water as water, but thats just me!!
  • iuew
    iuew Posts: 624 Member
    your body counts all water as water, whether it's water, juice, soda, lettuce, and so on.

    if it has caffeine or alcohol in it, one has to take into account that those are diuretics, and will cause you to expel some of the water.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    If you are asking what hydrates you - basically any drink and the water in foods do.


    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283

    "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/22/2/165.short

    "Inclusion of plain drinking water compared to exclusion of plain drinking water in the diet did not affect the markers of hydration used in this study."

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

    "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."

    http://bjsportmed.com/content/40/5/406.abstract (sports drinks)

    "Ad libitum consumption of a CHO-E drink may be more effective than water in minimising fluid deficits and mean core temperature responses during tennis and other similar training in adolescent athletes."

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

    "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."
    The diuretic effect of caffeine is minimal

    http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/12834577 (caffeine)

    "...nor does it cause significant dehydration or electrolyte imbalance during exercise."

    http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/12187618 (caffeine)

    "The literature indicates that caffeine consumption stimulates a mild diuresis similar to water, but there is no evidence of a fluid-electrolyte imbalance that is detrimental to exercise performance or health"

    " Investigations comparing caffeine (100-680 mg) to water or placebo seldom found a statistical difference in urine volume."

    Quoting and boldfacing so people actually read it.
  • Laddiegirl
    Laddiegirl Posts: 382 Member
    I don't get into the debates about diaretics and whatnot. For my records to keep me on track I only log water as water that way I'm sure I'm getting at least my 8 glasses of just water. I count all the other stuff (soda, tea, coffee, juice, Vitaminwater) as something I log with food since it usually has some calories. I'm sure it all counts in some way toward my water count, but it is just extra after the 8 glasses.

    Again, this is just what works for me!
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    What a new and interesting topic
  • Lift_This_
    Lift_This_ Posts: 2,756 Member
    What a new and interesting topic

    wait, should i include my lettuce and celery consumption in my water totals?
This discussion has been closed.

Categories