Does ("caffeine free") herbal tea count as water intake, or

yeah it's fine. It's not really pure water you need, but fluid in general (well as long as it's not alcohol ).

It totally counts as water! I use it to curb sweet cravings all the time, my favorites are Wild Sweet Orange from Tazo and True Blueberry from Celestial Seasonings.

absolutely. all water you drink counts as water intake. tea, coffee, kool-aid, etc. these are all just flavored waters. and on that note, most beverages have water in them. if you are trying to reach a certain goal (ie consume 8 cups of water a day) than yes, absolutely, you should count the tea/coffee.

So, does "caffeine free" herbal tea count as a glass of water? I realize that all tea has a minute amt of caffeine in it, whether or not it claims to be free....

I'm not going to weigh in on the water question (I think it should count but I'm not an expert) but about the tea itself....

Herbals don't contain any caffeine because they don't come from camellia sinensis (the tea plant). They are called "tisane" instead of tea because they are prepared the same way as tea but they come from different plant bases. If it's decaff tea, it will have trace amounts. If it's herbal and labeled "Caffeine Free," it should be totally caffeine free. Rooibos, or "red bush" tea is also caffeine free, as it is a tisane.

(My parents own a tea shop).

I've asked this question to a few doctors and researched it some. They all basically say that it needs to be pure water and the only additives that are okay are lemon or lime juice. The best explanation is basically that when it's not pure water it can be dehydrating as we see with caffeinated products or have sodium in it.

I personally don't count anything by straight water as apart of my daily intake. But more importantly I came to this decision by listening to my body. I know I haven't drank enough water now because I get headaches, and if I drink tea or anything other than water it doesn't go away. I also can now tell that I've had too much sodium because I actually feel dehydrated and see signs in my skin and crave water.

The final thing I look for is the color of my urine. If you are getting enough water it should be fairly clear. The darker it is the more water you need to be drinking.

I've asked this question to a few doctors and researched it some. They all basically say that it needs to be pure water and the only additives that are okay are lemon or lime juice. The best explanation is basically that when it's not pure water it can be dehydrating as we see with caffeinated products or have sodium in it.

I don't think you've been very rigorous in your research.

yes

I've been connected with two doctor supervised weight loss programs and both said that any decaffinated liquid counts towards water intake. ~

I am of the opinion that herbal teas would have a dual benefit. Many of the teas I drink are herbal mixes, only a couple have green tea in them. So, what does everyone think of teas with caffeine or sugar versus those without?

nevermind, i'm too tired to be posting on the internet today

nevermind, i'm too tired to be posting on the internet today

Before you edited your post, i was wondering the same thing.

you do whatever you like, bless your little heart.

OMG....WHAT is it with these 2 year old necromanced threads?

What I have learned is that once water has been mixed with any foreign ingredient, your body no longer can separate, absorb and use the water. It simply flushes it out. It might quench your immediate thirst but it wont hydrate your organs which is waters main purpose.

That being said, anytime you eat fresh fruits or vegetables, your body separates the water from the pulp and uses that water. If you juice or cook your fruits and vegetables it combines the water with the pulp and your body can no longer use that water and it can only use a portion of its nutrients. Therefore, if you eat a thick slice of watermelon that could be counted in your diary for calories, but also as a glass of water.

I suggest going back to wherever you learned this and asking for your money back. It is completely untrue.

As long as the drink does not contain caffeine (caffeine dehydrates!) and other added ingredients like milk/creamer, it should count towards your water intake.

I made herbal tea flavored water and enjoy drinking it. I make a glass of herbal tea (naturally decaffeinated) and mix it in cold water and then bottle it up in 20oz amounts. Basically, I am flavoring my water with herbal tea. Its fantastic and keeps me away from drinking the plain ol' water which is so uninteresting to drink when you don't really crave water (water tastes good only when you are thirsty).