Coffee as water intake?

LazyGuy91
LazyGuy91 Posts: 171 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Does anyone else track coffee (black, no sugar) as water intake? Or do most people track it separately?
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Replies

  • ChrisMundie
    ChrisMundie Posts: 18 Member
    Caffeine actually dehydrates you as it is a diuretic, so you should actually be drinking another 2 cups of water for every 8oz. of black coffee you drink.
  • RealMarkD
    RealMarkD Posts: 92 Member
    I track it separately because of the caffeine and that I sweeten it. For me, water is water, and anything else gets logged as whatever it is (coffee, tea, beer, whatever).
  • links_slayer
    links_slayer Posts: 1,151 Member
    here we go again.....

    what's next - is a calorie really a calorie?

    unless you spell it w-a-t-e-r why would you log it as water?
  • RealMarkD
    RealMarkD Posts: 92 Member
    unless you spell it w-a-t-e-r why would you log it as water?

    This.
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    What Counts as Water?

    Fruits are an excellent source for water. Watermelon is 90% water, so it ranks highest on the list. Oranges, grapefruit, and melons like cantaloupe and honeydew are also strong contenders.

    Vegetables, though not as full of water as fruit, can also provide a nutrient-rich water source. Stick with celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, and Romaine lettuce.

    There are plenty of hidden sources of water in your diet, says White. If you want to tap into these foods, reach for oatmeal, yogurt, soup, and smoothies.

    Besides guzzling water, milk is a top choice to refuel. Sodas, even diet ones, get a bad rap for lacking nutritional value, but they can still be hydrating. Juices and sports drinks are also hydrating -- you can lower the sugar content by diluting them with water.

    Coffee and tea also count in your tally. Many used to believe that they were dehydrating, but that myth has been debunked. The diuretic effect does not offset hydration.

    http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/healthy-beverages

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11022872

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19774754

    ___________________________________________________________________________________________

    In short, yes, you can count your coffee towards your fluid totals.
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    Caffeine actually dehydrates you as it is a diuretic, so you should actually be drinking another 2 cups of water for every 8oz. of black coffee you drink.

    Not true.

    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeinated-drinks/AN01661
  • willdob3
    willdob3 Posts: 640 Member
    I don't track my beverages; they are all zero calorie. I have a good habit of drink plenty of water (about a gallon per day, not including coffee/tea) and I drink coffee & tea in moderation so they are not a problem.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    I only log water as water.

    I do log other drinks, even black coffee or unsweetened tea, partly because I track my potassium and it's in both of those, and partly so I can keep track of my overall fluid intake for the day in addition to plain ol' water.
  • ZRx4
    ZRx4 Posts: 158 Member
    Lol!
  • ZRx4
    ZRx4 Posts: 158 Member
    here we go again.....

    what's next - is a calorie really a calorie?

    unless you spell it w-a-t-e-r why would you log it as water?

    Lol!
  • wannabhealthy50
    wannabhealthy50 Posts: 67 Member
    Coffee, if it contains caffeine, works as a diuretic and therefore should not be counted toward your fluid intake.
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    Coffee, if it contains caffeine, works as a diuretic and therefore should not be counted toward your fluid intake.

    Not true.

    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeinated-drinks/AN01661
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    Does anyone else track coffee (black, no sugar) as water intake? Or do most people track it separately?

    I don't track either because it's pointless and unrelated to weight loss. Most of my hydration is the water in beverages, like most of the population. In my case hot beverages unsweetened and without milk. The rest is from water in my food.
  • mitchiemo
    mitchiemo Posts: 61 Member
    Nope! I just let thirst dictate how much to drink because you can drink too much - the body is a great thing!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24464774
  • xmysterix
    xmysterix Posts: 114 Member
    Lettuce counts, apples count, coffees count, sodas even count, though that's probably not the best choice. Humans need 1-2L total h20 consumption through any means over the course of a day. Water is "best" because it's free, calorie-free, and theoretically pure hydration (though some sure isn't!).

    I don't track water, but I always have a drink going. Often decaf iced tea *shrug* or coffee which just happens to be what I like. I tend to drink plain filtered water in the car (to avoid drive-thru stops) and during/after workouts.
  • supplemama
    supplemama Posts: 1,956 Member
    Why not just drink water and count it as...water?
  • mitchiemo
    mitchiemo Posts: 61 Member
    Why not just drink water and count it as...water?

    Probably because he thinks water is a bit boring.
  • mitchiemo
    mitchiemo Posts: 61 Member
    here we go again.....

    what's next - is a calorie really a calorie?

    unless you spell it w-a-t-e-r why would you log it as water?

    Sounds like you been on this website a bit too long lol!
  • karllundy
    karllundy Posts: 1,490 Member
    I only log water as water.

    I do log other drinks, even black coffee or unsweetened tea, partly because I track my potassium and it's in both of those, and partly so I can keep track of my overall fluid intake for the day in addition to plain ol' water.

    Yep, this. Water is water, the rest is hydrating, but not water.
  • KeViN_v2pt0
    KeViN_v2pt0 Posts: 375 Member
    I eat steak and log it as chicken. Sure, why not.
  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    Caffeine actually dehydrates you as it is a diuretic, so you should actually be drinking another 2 cups of water for every 8oz. of black coffee you drink.

    This is untrue.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15467100

    Rehydration with a caffeinated beverage during the nonexercise periods of 3 consecutive days of 2-a-day practices.
  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    here we go again.....

    what's next - is a calorie really a calorie?

    unless you spell it w-a-t-e-r why would you log it as water?

    Because it's functionally equivalent?
  • SailorKnightWing
    SailorKnightWing Posts: 875 Member
    I don't log any water because I know when I'm hydrated or when I'm not.

    But let me put it to you this way: when you add Crystal Lite to water, does it suddenly stop being water? Does adding lemon to water make it any less water? Should you eat the packet of Crystal Lite or the lemon slice first before drinking the water so it still counts as water? Doesn't that sound ridiculous?

    Most humans need to ingest around 700mg of caffeine before experiencing any diuretic effect. That's seven cups of coffee. If you want to log water, log your coffee as water.

    Edited because I donked up my bolding.
  • sabified
    sabified Posts: 1,035 Member
    Caffeine actually dehydrates you as it is a diuretic, so you should actually be drinking another 2 cups of water for every 8oz. of black coffee you drink.

    This has been disproven... my only link to prove it is google.com though, lol.

    That being said though, I used to include the tea's/coffees I drank in my daily water, and though I was hitting the 8/day it didn't give the full benefits of drinking plain water. I don't know abt internally, but my skin and hair got much better after I started cutting out the coffees. Now I only have a couple cups max, if that (I was a total coffee fiend) and I count half the amt towards water. So if I just have 1 cup, don't count it- if I have 2 will count as 1.
  • running_shoe
    running_shoe Posts: 180 Member
    No! Coffee is the opposite of water. For every 6 oz cup of coffee you drink, you need to drink 12 oz of water just to bring you back square from a hydration standpoint. Coffee is a diuretic and causes dehydration!!!
  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    No! Coffee is the opposite of water. For every 6 oz cup of coffee you drink, you need to drink 12 oz of water just to bring you back square from a hydration standpoint. Coffee is a diuretic and causes dehydration!!!

    lulz
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    No! Coffee is the opposite of water. For every 6 oz cup of coffee you drink, you need to drink 12 oz of water just to bring you back square from a hydration standpoint. Coffee is a diuretic and causes dehydration!!!

    Untrue. Plz read previous posts. Bottom line: It counts towards your water.
  • smmadsen
    smmadsen Posts: 39 Member
    First of all you have to understand they are asking you to track your FLUID intake.

    I am sure it is easier to put water because that is universal.

    Yes, water is the best thing for your body but what counts is are you drinking enough FLUIDS each day?

    Most Health Care Specialist will tell you that you can count up to 1/2 of your FLUID intake in other beverages.

    This means coffee, tea, soda, diet soda, OJ, milk, and you get the point....can be counted up to 1/2 of your FLUID intake.

    So, if you normally drink 8 servings of FLUID then 4 servings can be something other than water.

    As with anything, you want to monitor if you feel you are getting enough FLUIDS to stay hydrated. If you choose to drink caffeinated beverages, which is fine, then just make sure you drink enough water to counteract the dehydrating effect it has.

    I know this will shock the ones who only see things as black and white.

    So............................ drink your coffee with pride knowing you can count this as a FLUID! :-)
  • angelamangus1
    angelamangus1 Posts: 164 Member
    Caffeine actually dehydrates you as it is a diuretic, so you should actually be drinking another 2 cups of water for every 8oz. of black coffee you drink.

    This!
  • wild_wild_life
    wild_wild_life Posts: 1,334 Member
    Caffeine actually dehydrates you as it is a diuretic, so you should actually be drinking another 2 cups of water for every 8oz. of black coffee you drink.

    This!

    I feel like I'm in the twilight zone. Is it even worth correcting this if it keeps being repeated?

    To the OP -- coffee is made of water.

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