Does drinking caffeine free tea count towards water intake

YogaJim108
YogaJim108 Posts: 30 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I have a hard time getting my 8 glasses of water in a day especially in the winter time. I do like drinking tea though. Do you consider that to be part of your water intake if it is caffeine free tea?

Replies

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,369 Member
    You'll hear all sorts of opinions that only water counts, which is false. Food accounts for about 20% towards hydration, go from there. Caffeine drinks also count because the effect of caffeine on the body doesn't discount the water to a very high degree.....don't complicate it.....I barely drink water and I hydrate just fine.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    You'll hear all sorts of opinions that only water counts, which is false. Food accounts for about 20% towards hydration, go from there. Caffeine drinks also count because the effect of caffeine on the body doesn't discount the water to a very high degree.....don't complicate it.....I barely drink water and I hydrate just fine.
    ^This. Although I drink lots of water.
  • KombuchaCat
    KombuchaCat Posts: 834 Member
    I would count tea, maybe not coffee...but I have nothing scientific to base that opinion on. I feel hydrated when I drink tea but dehydrated when I drink coffee...
  • yogicarl
    yogicarl Posts: 1,260 Member
    I would count tea, maybe not coffee...but I have nothing scientific to base that opinion on. I feel hydrated when I drink tea but dehydrated when I drink coffee...

    Same here. I know if you drink coffee and it dehydrates you by say 20% of the cup's contents then 80% has still gone towards hydration, if you see what I mean, I seem to urinate more after a cup of coffee compared to a cup of tea. Sorry if that's Too Much Info!

    Even decaff coffee is a diuretic for me.
  • GuyIncognito123
    GuyIncognito123 Posts: 263 Member
    Coffee, tea, cola - they all count.

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

    IMO, too much emphasis is placed on getting in your 8 glasses per day. If you're thirsty, drink something. If you're peeing lots, stop drinking fluids. It really is that simple.
  • NancieFeatherston
    NancieFeatherston Posts: 52 Member
    Personally, no I don't count it as water... because I add sugar and milk. It is not doing what plain old water does so I count it as calories, and water is water. I have a hard time with water, the only way I get in the winter is with hot water and lemon or lime juice squeezed in. Do it the way you want...
  • yogicarl
    yogicarl Posts: 1,260 Member
    Coffee, tea, cola - they all count.

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

    IMO, too much emphasis is placed on getting in your 8 glasses per day. If you're thirsty, drink something. If you're peeing lots, stop drinking fluids. It really is that simple.

    I agree, though I do notice if I drink a glass of dilute juice it tends to stay put, whereas if I drink a cup of coffee I am going for a pee in the next 10 minutes and it is around the volume I have just drunk, so there must be something acting as an irritant or something. It isn't the caffeine as I get the same effect from decaff.
  • davert123
    davert123 Posts: 1,568 Member
    You'll hear all sorts of opinions that only water counts, which is false. Food accounts for about 20% towards hydration, go from there. Caffeine drinks also count because the effect of caffeine on the body doesn't discount the water to a very high degree.....don't complicate it.....I barely drink water and I hydrate just fine.

    This is science based rather than opinion based. I would listen to this.
  • GuyIncognito123
    GuyIncognito123 Posts: 263 Member
    Coffee, tea, cola - they all count.

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

    IMO, too much emphasis is placed on getting in your 8 glasses per day. If you're thirsty, drink something. If you're peeing lots, stop drinking fluids. It really is that simple.

    I agree, though I do notice if I drink a glass of dilute juice it tends to stay put, whereas if I drink a cup of coffee I am going for a pee in the next 10 minutes and it is around the volume I have just drunk, so there must be something acting as an irritant or something. It isn't the caffeine as I get the same effect from decaff.

    I think when you urinate you only go down to your bladder being half full. The caffeine would stimulate these muscles causing your bladder to empty further. At this point, the excess urine isn't bring produced, it's being released. I think if your bladder is constantly being completely empty then you open yourself to bladder infections.

    Perhaps the best method is going by colour. Too dark - add water. Too clear, too much water.
  • Capt_Inzane
    Capt_Inzane Posts: 733 Member
    I just use a single serving tea bag in my approximately 20oz cup then reuse that same teabag throughout the day. I don't care if it's caffeine free or whatever water is water.

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