Coffee as water?

No. I wouldn't count it. Coffee is a diuretic, so it causes to you to flush fluid out of your system because of the caffeine. So continue not to count it.

Do you drink it black?

From what I understand, anything with caffeine in it doesn't count as water.

No- count it as coffee. I've been told only count water as water. No juice, no tea, etc.

I have a special container for my water to count and dont count any other drinks as my water. Maybe I could but I choose not to.

No, don't count it as water. Log it in your diary though, black coffee has 2.5 calories per cup.

My doctor and my nutritionist both say it counts toward my daily fluid intake. As long as you do not add sugar and very little creamer, they say artifical sweetener is okay. I trust them completely because everything they have told me has proven to be true.

But, they did tell me to limit it to no more than 2-8 oz cups a day and try to cut back to one because caffeine suppresses the adrenal glands. Basically, caffeine is fake adrenaline and stops the natural production. Adrenaline is something we need to give us that get up and go feeling.

I actually read that for every oz of coffee you drink you have to drink the same amount of water on top of the 32oz. you are suppose to drink each day!

Yes, you can count black coffee, unsweetened tea, and other similar beverages as "water." It doesn't matter at all that it has calories. My nutritionist and doctor both told me you can count any liquid that hasn't been significantly altered, and the only difference between black coffee and water is that it the water is heated and strained through ground coffee beans first.

i wouldn't count it.
caffeine can dehydrate you

Not water, but is countable as daily fluid intake. Water is still the best, but not the only.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeinated-drinks/AN01661

I have not been counting the coffee I drink in the morning as part of my daily intake. Should I and if so, do I count it all? I usually drink 2 cups a day. Should I count 2 cups as 2 cups of water? Thanks!

I count my coffee as water. Tea as well.



Though I have a variety of reasons for this, the main driver was this article (and others that I can't cite at the moment)


http://ajpregu.physiology.org/content/283/5/R993.full


From the Abstract:

"Despite the seemingly ubiquitous admonition to “drink at least eight 8-oz glasses of water a day” (with an accompanying reminder that beverages containing caffeine and alcohol do not count), rigorous proof for this counsel appears to be lacking."

and

"This review sought to find the origin of this advice (called “8 × 8” for short) and to examine the scientific evidence, if any, that might support it. The search included not only electronic modes but also a cursory examination of the older literature that is not covered in electronic databases and, most importantly and fruitfully, extensive consultation with several nutritionists who specialize in the field of thirst and drinking fluids. No scientific studies were found in support of 8 × 8. "


The author concludes:

"Having found no evidence in support of 8 × 8 has placed me in the awkward position of having to prove a negative. It is conceivable that a further search will unearth work that disproves my conclusion, in support of which I have cited peer-reviewed publications. I hope, therefore, that anyone who knows of contrary scientific evidence will bring it to my attention. "



The author is on the staff at Dartmouth and, IIRC, has written a book on "nehprology" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephrology)

It's a thoughtful, carefully written, dogma-free article that includes 100 footnotes as well as links to other articles.


I don't know if he touches on the issue of caffeine being a diuretic (i haven't read the article in some time). If not, I'll share my understanding from doing some research. The amount of coffee that one ingests from coffee (a few cups a day) has a slight diuretic effect. After consuming coffee for about a week, there is no significant diuretic effect. That comports with the idea of the body working to bring about "stasis" - keeping things in balance.

My diet is unusual - I eat a lot of salad so my body gets a lot of water there but I pretty much only drink water in the evening or when I'm thirsty.

And do I drink "enough" water? There's no indication that I don't. I've been losing weight very quickly and regularly, and I void regularly and in sufficient volume to lose, at times, two pounds between pre- and post-voiding weigh-ins.

This was something I wanted to ask.... I guess next step is google...

I found this...

http://www.livestrong.com/article/466085-can-you-substiture-green-tea-for-the-8-glasses-of-water-a-day/

From the link that tapaul50 just shared:

"Your body needs a certain amount of fluid a day to replenish water lost through normal body function. While some beverage choices are healthier than others, your body uses the fluid to meet its needs, regardless of the source. Up to 20 percent of the liquid your body uses comes from food sources, such as fruits and vegetables. However, beverages such as water, milk, coffee and tea provide the other 80 percent."