What all do you count as WATER?

13

Replies

  • fizzletto
    fizzletto Posts: 252 Member
    I don't drink plain water if I can help it. Hate the taste. I add sugar-free cordial to water, or I have cups of green tea/herbal tea/fruit tea (without milk or sugar), or diet sodas, or black coffees, or fat free milk. As long as I get 6+ glasses of fluid a day (doesn't matter what kind of fluid) then I'm hydrated and happy. (Of course, if I drink anything that has calories in it, I log those calories, but I still also log it as another glass of fluid)
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    anything with caffeine is a diuretic and makes you LOSE water so best NOT to count them as water. Start chugging the water, babes! If it tastes gross, get a filter, flavour with zero calorie lemon juice, and you can count decaf teas and coffee as water.

    x

    Totally wrong.

    You can obtain fluids for hydration from beverages and food. It is not just plain water that hydrates you and caffeine is basically no more a diuretic than water is unless consumed in large quantities, and even then, the diuretic effect is minimal.


    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."


    http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/12834577 - the diuretic effect of caffeine is minimal

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


    OP: you can count anything you want in the ticker, but water is not the only thing that hydrates you.

    Additionally, there's no such thing as zero-calorie lemon juice.
  • Ramberta
    Ramberta Posts: 1,312 Member
    I have heard that consuming MORE than 8 oz of water at one time is wasteful (i.e. it'll go straight through you) because that is the maximum your body can absorb all at once. Perhaps that's where the myth of having to have 8 separate cups per day came about.

    In an average day I don't count my cups of water, but I probably have at least 8. My rule of thumb is, if it's been more than two hours since your last drink-- whatever it is, juice, tea, even diet soda-- drink some more of it, or preferably grab some water. A few mouthfuls every hour or two will keep you hydrated and feeling great. Once you start drinking lots of water, it's hard to stop! I get headaches when I go too long without water.
  • DontStopB_Leakin
    DontStopB_Leakin Posts: 3,863 Member
    anything with caffeine is a diuretic and makes you LOSE water so best NOT to count them as water. Start chugging the water, babes! If it tastes gross, get a filter, flavour with zero calorie lemon juice, and you can count decaf teas and coffee as water.

    x

    Totally wrong.

    You can obtain fluids for hydration from beverages and food. It is not just plain water that hydrates you and caffeine is basically no more a diuretic than water is unless consumed in large quantities, and even then, the diuretic effect is minimal.


    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."


    http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/12834577 - the diuretic effect of caffeine is minimal

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


    OP: you can count anything you want in the ticker, but water is not the only thing that hydrates you.
    BOOM! Science!

    Sara is 110% right. I rarely drink straight water, except during and after workouts, and I'm plenty hydrated.
  • WinnerVictorious
    WinnerVictorious Posts: 4,733 Member
    I have heard that consuming MORE than 8 oz of water at one time is wasteful (i.e. it'll go straight through you) because that is the maximum your body can absorb all at once. Perhaps that's where the myth of having to have 8 separate cups per day came about.

    In an average day I don't count my cups of water, but I probably have at least 8. My rule of thumb is, if it's been more than two hours since your last drink-- whatever it is, juice, tea, even diet soda-- drink some more of it, or preferably grab some water. A few mouthfuls every hour or two will keep you hydrated and feeling great. Once you start drinking lots of water, it's hard to stop! I get headaches when I go too long without water.

    i drink when i'm thirsty. i don't monitor my daily intake of liquids. that strategy has worked just fine for the past 45 years. :bigsmile:
  • kmorganlfc
    kmorganlfc Posts: 115 Member
    Our bodies are fantastic machines that can extract water from whatever it is mixed with to be used for hydration. It is such a special machine that even a biproduct of cell function can be reused to help with the efficiency of those cells i.e. a biproduct of burning glucose is....wait for it....water!!!

    Glucose + Oxygen = Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy

    C6H12O6 + 6O2 = 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy

    (This isn't evidence for the human body being 100% efficient, which would be absurd, but it does demonstrate how we can get water in ways we don't always think about).

    Arguing with people who believe that there isn't any water in anything else but water is similar to arguing with people who believe the moon is made of cheese. The distinction between water and coffee, for example, is made in peoples' brains, not by their bodies. However, people are free to log their consumption in whatever ways they chose, if it helps them achieve whatever goals they are after. But if a person idiosyncratically chooses to not log coffee as water, then tries to convince others that this is a scientifically correct position, then they are wrong for doing so. Because it is NOT a scientifically correct position.
  • etoiles_argentees
    etoiles_argentees Posts: 2,827 Member
    Didn't Jesus turn water into wine? :huh:
  • gddrdld
    gddrdld Posts: 464 Member
    There actually isn't much (or any) scientific evidence that we all need to be chugging water all day long. At least half of the water we need to stay hydrated comes from the water content of food, particularly if we are eating lots of fruit and vegetables. The water in all other drinks is also hydrating. As others have said, as long as you aren't thirsty and your urine is pale, you are fine. I grew up in a generation in which adults weren't lugging giant bottles around in public all the time. We were all fine.

    Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! ^^This.
  • shanmackie
    shanmackie Posts: 194 Member
    Water. I do still count water if I add dehydrated coconut water to it, but I add the packet separately as calories too. I don't count anything else but water. Don't count coffee, it works in the reverse direction. Just add it as coffee in your food log.
  • WinnerVictorious
    WinnerVictorious Posts: 4,733 Member
    Water. I do still count water if I add dehydrated coconut water to it, but I add the packet separately as calories too. I don't count anything else but water. Don't count coffee, it works in the reverse direction. Just add it as coffee in your food log.

    log the water as water
    log the coconut as calories
    log the coffee as water
    log the coffee as calories
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    There actually isn't much (or any) scientific evidence that we all need to be chugging water all day long. At least half of the water we need to stay hydrated comes from the water content of food, particularly if we are eating lots of fruit and vegetables. The water in all other drinks is also hydrating. As others have said, as long as you aren't thirsty and your urine is pale, you are fine. I grew up in a generation in which adults weren't lugging giant bottles around in public all the time. We were all fine.

    Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! ^^This.

    We should also consider the fact that our grandparents were not guzzling giant bottles of soda all day either...
  • sdumma
    sdumma Posts: 126 Member
    I count water as water
    I count tea as water
    I count coffee as 1/2 water
    I know coffee and tea has a lot of controversy regarding this. I have read more often than not that the amount caffeine dehydrates you isn't enough to cancel out the water in it.
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member
    i cant believe this thread has this many posts.

    just drink water. not a hard concept, nor is it difficult.

    any hydration you get from other drinks should just be a bonus.
  • JessWolf1002
    JessWolf1002 Posts: 82 Member
    Peanut butter and vodka

    ^this!!
  • louiselebeau
    louiselebeau Posts: 220 Member
    Water

    ^ yep
  • knwitall
    knwitall Posts: 420 Member
    Water

    THIS! ^^^^
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    water, coconut water, fruit and/or vegetable juice, milk, tea, coffee, egg nog, soda, whatever i drink really...
  • Jenne1979
    Jenne1979 Posts: 29 Member
    Water and herbal tea
  • Mads1997
    Mads1997 Posts: 1,494 Member
    I only count water as water
  • HypersonicFitNess
    HypersonicFitNess Posts: 1,219 Member
    Water
  • supplemama
    supplemama Posts: 1,956 Member
    I just count water as water. Simple :smile:
  • loneworg
    loneworg Posts: 342 Member
    Peanut butter and vodka
    You had me at peanut butter and vodka
  • coffee_rocks
    coffee_rocks Posts: 275 Member
    I don't count, but if I did, anything liquid. My stomach and small intestine can figure it out.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    I count anything non alcoholic, or caffeinated because I thought the key was hydration and these both dehydrate you.

    So water, herbal teas hot or cold, weight loss shakes, juices, diet sodas if they are caffeine free, diet drinks like packet mix, decaf.
  • hausofnichele
    hausofnichele Posts: 531 Member
    I count water and tea because I drink it plain.
  • Robin_Bin
    Robin_Bin Posts: 1,046 Member
    Depends on why you're counting. I've collected information, alternatives and references:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Robin_Bin/view/water-265761
  • Goodbye_Thunder_Thighs
    Goodbye_Thunder_Thighs Posts: 91
    Water

    I don't track my water though. I drink 2x 1.5L water bottles during the day(more depending on the weather) and 1 while working out. Any other drink gets added to my food intake
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I don't count, but if I did, anything liquid. My stomach and small intestine can figure it out.

    ^^this
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member
    I don't count, but if I did, anything liquid. My stomach and small intestine can figure it out.

    lol soda =/= water
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I don't count, but if I did, anything liquid. My stomach and small intestine can figure it out.

    lol soda =/= water

    Why lol out of interest? Are you saying that it does not hydrate you?

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