What all do you count as WATER?

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?

there are conflicting opinions on whether it hydrates you as well as water due to caffeine, sodium, carbonation, etc - but regardless, his claim was that ANYTHING liquid can be considered water. that's straight ridiculous.

so alcohol hydrates you now?

Yes, alcohol does unless it is hard liquor. Although, I am not sure how you jumped from lolz soda to alcohol. And there are really no conflicting views from a scientific perspective. I already showed some studies, but will repeat and add more. I would do more research if I were you if you are claiming that the statement made is ridiculous. If you would like to point me to studies or even articles from a reputable source that says otherwise I would be glad to have a look.

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/22/2/165.short - flavored plain water counts

"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 - 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://bjsportmed.com/content/40/5/406.abstract - sports drinks can hydrate more than plain water in some situations

"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 counts

"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."


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

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


http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/12187618 - the diuretic effect of caffeine is minimal

"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."


http://jap.physiology.org/content/83/4/1152.abstract? - interesting one about alcohol post exercise and recovery

“There appears to be no difference in recovery from dehydration whether the rehydration beverage is alcohol free or contains up to 2% alcohol, but drinks containing 4% alcohol tend to delay the recovery process.”

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?

there are conflicting opinions on whether it hydrates you as well as water due to caffeine, sodium, carbonation, etc - but regardless, his claim was that ANYTHING liquid can be considered water. that's straight ridiculous.

so alcohol hydrates you now?

Even Beer is hydrating. High proof alcohol is the only beverage that isn't. Consider the many cultures predating today's society that lived on beer and wine because of a lack of safe drinking water without drying up and turning to dust.

*note- not ANYTHING liquid. Honey and maple syrup are not hydrating, and not beverages, before we wander down that ridiculous path.

I only count water as water

I fill up a pitcher of water every AM and put in 1/4 cup lemon juice and a big TBS stevia and just leave it out, so it's not cold to drink. I make sure to drink the whole thing every day...this works well for me, and I drink "vitamin water zero" coffee and tea on top of that. I've read lemon water warm is good for weight loss.
Jennifer

I count water as water... If I squeeze a lemon wedge in it, I count that as water... If I add flavoring packets, I don't count that as water, I count that as koolaid

I have a place on my diary for Beverages other than water

I used to track my water intake religiously... I don't track it as stringently now...

Coffee is a diuretic and thus should not be counted as water.

Please read the posts above that cite actual science disproving this myth.

it's kind of interesting reading this all. I am a nurse. Fluid is fluid really. We give patients IV bags with dextrose, vitamins and medicine and that is considered hydration. I can't say it's not fluid, just because there are things added to it. IV bags with medicine is considered hydration. I think HYDRATION would be the key. We even have to count fluid in tube feeding and when we give people meds mixed in water. It's a fluid.

If I drink plain water vs water with crystal light in in, will there really be that big of a difference. I doubt it.

Caffeine, which is in coffee, is the diuretic. It doesn't make coffee an less of a fluid/water/hydration. The point is that caffeine causes you to PEE which makes you less HYDRATED. You want to stay hydrated so that is why some choose to not include that has their water intake.

I have found no good evidence at all to suggest that adding anything to water stops it having the same benefits as water.
You may still get some extra calories, stimulation or incredibly minor diuretic effects - but you'll have still had the benefit of a glass/mug of water.

I don't bother tracking water consumed because I'm confident I get enough or more than enough of it.

Exactly.
Doesn't mean it's a diuretic. I just hate the label of diuretic diuretic .... diuretic.
Try taking about 40mg of Lasix twice a day, (a loop diuretic)
Coffee ain't got nothing on that little white pill.

I count water as water.
All other drinks are counted as calories.

:yawn:

anything with water in it is water - k?

i guess what it comes down to, is do you count all your liquids as "water" AND log them as well? because obviously that's the important part given the caloric intake of most of these other beverages we're talking about.

and yes, as long as you're peeing a pale yellow to clear, you're hydrated enough. that's a good point.

Water is water.

I do count my iced tea as water since I drink it plain (I think sweet tea is an abomination). I mean I fill up a pitcher with water and add the teabags for 3 mins... does the water disappear? To be fair the only other thing I drink is coke zero and I do not count that but then again I rarely log water intake at all on this site anyway since I do not feel I am lacking.