Can I substitute a mug of tea for a glass of water?

wuggums47
wuggums47 Posts: 25 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I know that we're supposed to drink 8 glasses of water a day, but would it be equatable to drink 5 glasses of water and three mugs of tea instead? I'm a bit of a tea snob, so I don't put any milk or sugar in my tea, and I prefer green which is naturally low in tannins. You could think of the caffeine as a bad thing, or you could think of it as something to boost your metabolism instead. What do you think, is plain tea equatable to water for health?

Replies

  • chixabomb
    chixabomb Posts: 15 Member
    From what I've read, "water" can be many liquids. I drink at least 4 24oz water bottles a day, with a coffee in the morning and iced teas (loose leaf, fruit infusions, green/rooibos no milk or sweetners) in between and a hot tea after dinner. At least it makes my water not so boring. I say go for it, as long as you aren't thirsty.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Any liquids count as water.

    There are no scientific studies on how much liquid/ fluid you are supposed to drink --- the eight cups of 8 oz rule someone made up and everyone repeated it.
  • Daiako
    Daiako Posts: 12,545 Member
    Tagging for later
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    I guess everyone does it differently, but it count pop as pop, juice as juice, tea as tea and water as water.

    It's all liquid, but IMO, only water is water.
  • Fatandfifty3
    Fatandfifty3 Posts: 419 Member
    Yes. Just count the calories in the sugar and milk used.
  • arnostbilej
    arnostbilej Posts: 56
    Yes. Just count the calories in the sugar and milk used.

    Someone didn't read the OP ...
  • Fatandfifty3
    Fatandfifty3 Posts: 419 Member
    Yes. Just count the calories in the sugar and milk used.

    Someone didn't read the OP ...
    Oop! My bad. I'll rephrase my answer-

    Yes.
  • cheripugh1
    cheripugh1 Posts: 357 Member
    I know that we're supposed to drink 8 glasses of water a day, but would it be equatable to drink 5 glasses of water and three mugs of tea instead? I'm a bit of a tea snob, so I don't put any milk or sugar in my tea, and I prefer green which is naturally low in tannins. You could think of the caffeine as a bad thing, or you could think of it as something to boost your metabolism instead. What do you think, is plain tea equatable to water for health?

    The only problem is the caffeine, it dehydrates your body so kind of counterproductive to the purpose of drinking water to keep you hydrated. I count my tea as tea even the caffeine free. I do use a water flavor that is 'tea' to jazz up my ice water sometimes.
  • hyg99
    hyg99 Posts: 354 Member
    I log as what it is but agree liquid is liquid. I really struggle with water consumption. Unfortunately personally I dislike fruit, herbal, green teas etc and refuse to do stuff I don't like... (it's not sustainable and life's too short)
    I always think of the posters at work and in the gym about being hydrated makes your urine straw coloured.
  • Stacy_of_Oregon
    Stacy_of_Oregon Posts: 28 Member
    Tea needs water to brew it, so I think it's safe to say that you can count an 8 oz cup of green tea as an 8 oz glass of water.

    I have to admit that I'm not a purist - I add liquid Stevia and Torani Sugar-free Peach Syrup (both of which I count in my food diary) to my green tea.
  • misschoppo
    misschoppo Posts: 463 Member
    I drink lots of green tea & fruit/herbal teas and log them in my water total for the day along with plain water and flavoured no sugar waters and squash I drink. The only drinks I don't count in my water log are fizzy drinks
  • icrushit
    icrushit Posts: 773 Member
    Sure. Even coffee can hydrate you, as even though it has diuretic properties, you still lose less liquid from this effect than you take in. Green tea should be fine, but if drinking anything caffeinated you might want to factor in the diuretic effect and not treat a mug of a caffeinated drink as highly as a glass of water for hydration purposes.
  • refresh2
    refresh2 Posts: 1
    Anything with high amount of caffeine does NOT count as water. So for example a cup of coffee causes dehydration due to caffine so that would not count as water but a cup of green tea would.

    My comment is based on a nutritionist that I went to last year.
  • maidentl
    maidentl Posts: 3,203 Member
    Anything with high amount of caffeine does NOT count as water. So for example a cup of coffee causes dehydration due to caffine so that would not count as water but a cup of green tea would.

    My comment is based on a nutritionist that I went to last year.

    Your nutritionist is wrong. Studies have shown that the effects of the caffeine are more than offset by all of the water it's sitting in. Since all liquids are primarily made up of water, they count as water.
  • btc1987
    btc1987 Posts: 94 Member
    Anything with high amount of caffeine does NOT count as water. So for example a cup of coffee causes dehydration due to caffine so that would not count as water but a cup of green tea would.

    My comment is based on a nutritionist that I went to last year.

    Your nutritionist is wrong. Studies have shown that the effects of the caffeine are more than offset by all of the water it's sitting in. Since all liquids are primarily made up of water, they count as water.

    I'd be careful with the "all liquids" grouping. Alcohol dehydrates for example.

    http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/healthy-beverages
  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    I know that we're supposed to drink 8 glasses of water a day, but would it be equatable to drink 5 glasses of water and three mugs of tea instead? I'm a bit of a tea snob, so I don't put any milk or sugar in my tea, and I prefer green which is naturally low in tannins. You could think of the caffeine as a bad thing, or you could think of it as something to boost your metabolism instead. What do you think, is plain tea equatable to water for health?

    The only problem is the caffeine, it dehydrates your body so kind of counterproductive to the purpose of drinking water to keep you hydrated. I count my tea as tea even the caffeine free. I do use a water flavor that is 'tea' to jazz up my ice water sometimes.

    From the studies I have read, you don't need to worry about coffee and tea dehydrating you. It's fine. Drink what you like and don't worry about the water. I have a lot better things to do with my life than count glasses of water and spend half the day in the bathroom. I fully plan to live to a very old age at my present goal weight.
  • akillerqueen
    akillerqueen Posts: 6
    Three mugs of tea seems a bit excessive. I'd personally stick to one mug or two. I think tea is better than other liquids but if you're still feeling thirsty then grab water and not tea.
  • CindyMarcuzAdams
    CindyMarcuzAdams Posts: 4,007 Member
    Imho 8 8oz glasses of ...fluids... coffee tea juice what ever works for you.

    What works for me is for every 2 coffees I have I drink 500ml water. The best of both I guess. I get my coffee and my water.

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