What counts as water?

luvthesuns
luvthesuns Posts: 1 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I hate drinking so much water but I do just to get my 8 cups/day. What else is out there that I can drink in place of water?
Thanks ahead of time!

Replies

  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    Any liquids. Foods that have a lot of water content. Don't make things more complicated than they need to be. If you're hydrated you're fine.
  • rosebarnalice
    rosebarnalice Posts: 3,488 Member
    Typically, any liquids that don't have caffeine--like coffee and sodas. Caffeine is a diuretic, so my doctor's rule of thumb is for every cup of coffee, drink an equivalent amount of water to make it up.

    And obviously, watch out for juices and anything that adds sugar to your diet. You'll still get plenty of hydration, but you may be getting a lot of unwanted calories, too!
  • JennyRATL
    JennyRATL Posts: 199 Member
    edited February 2017
    I find carbonated waters like La Croix a nice change-up.
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    edited February 2017
    All liquids basically. Even if they have caffeine (see article below - the thought that caffeine was incredibly dehydrating has been debunked). I don't personally think I'd count alcohol.

    But I'd count coffee, tea, water (obviously), pop, milk, juice, etc.
    You just might not see quite as much "water weight" loss when having other beverages, and of course, most other drinks have calories (which is one reason people recommend water, since it can make you feel temporarily full without adding calories to your diet).
    Even the water contained in food counts as water (though the 8 cups a day suggestions already accounts for this).

    http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0084154
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    luvthesuns wrote: »
    I hate drinking so much water but I do just to get my 8 cups/day. What else is out there that I can drink in place of water?
    Thanks ahead of time!

    Anything liquid, apart from booze
  • lilawolf
    lilawolf Posts: 1,690 Member
    Everything "counts" though I'd suggest making sure that at least 4 cups of it is non-caffeinated, sugar free, alcohol free like herbal tea, soda water (plain, squeeze of citrus, LaCroix etc) or actual water (plain or w a squeeze of citrus). I usually drink a litre of soda water with a lime every night when I get home. I have a soda stream so its easy and delicious.
  • CafeRacer808
    CafeRacer808 Posts: 2,396 Member
    rosebarnalice wrote: »
    Typically, any liquids that don't have caffeine--like coffee and sodas. Caffeine is a diuretic, so my doctor's rule of thumb is for every cup of coffee, drink an equivalent amount of water to make it up.

    And obviously, watch out for juices and anything that adds sugar to your diet. You'll still get plenty of hydration, but you may be getting a lot of unwanted calories, too!

    The general consensus amongst the scientific community is that the extremely high water content in coffee and tea far outweigh the diuretic effect of the caffeine in those drinks. So counting both coffee and tea towards your daily water intake is totally acceptable.
  • Emily3907
    Emily3907 Posts: 1,445 Member
    La Croix for the win! It is the only way I can get my liquid intake in for the day.
  • PaulaWallaDingDong
    PaulaWallaDingDong Posts: 4,648 Member
    The diuretic effects of caffiene are negligible if you're acclimated. The only marked difference is in adding caffiene when you weren't taking in any. If you have a coffee every morning, the coffee is water.
  • Jruzer
    Jruzer Posts: 3,502 Member
    OK, I know I'm being pedantic. But I have to suppress my flippant side when people say "any liquid". Yes, yes, I *know* they mean beverages. I understand.

    But flippant me says "Time to down a glass of refreshing mercury." Or, "I really could go for some ammonia right about now."

    Disclaimer: Don't drink mercury or ammonia. ;)
This discussion has been closed.

Categories