What counts as “water”?
witchaywoman81
Posts: 280 Member
Years ago, “they” used to say that you should drink a certain number of cups/Oz a day of pure water (i.e. coffee, tea, pop, etc don’t count). Is that still the conventional wisdom? Do you count “other” beverages toward your water intake?
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Whether you decide to count them or not, your body uses coffee, tea, and soda to help meet your overall need for hydration just as it uses water (and the liquid in foods).15
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I count all liquids, unless there is alcohol contained within. Mmmm, margaritas...8
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I use my urine color as a hydration barometer more than any recommendations floating around. I haven't done extensive research regarding what constitutes "water" that counts for a daily value but I know there are conflicting opinions regarding caffeinated beverages, artificially sweetened beverages, etc.
I also do usually count my cups of "water" during the week since it's easy to do when I'm at my computer, much less diligent about it at home/on weekends. I do count pretty much anything liquid since the majority of most beverages are water.11 -
I only count water as water. I log coffee, tea, la Croix, etc. but only in "calories" not as water. I think it's always good to go for your goal of literal water and let extras be add-ons.14
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just stay hydrated...that's all that matters. The color of your urine will tell you.11
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If your plan is to treat your hydration like a video game that must be played on "hard mode" to prove you're serious, then sure, do it the hard way. Score yourself zero points for drinking any liquid that you actually enjoy drinking. You do you.
If you've got more reasonable priorities in your life and just want to be healthily hydrated, then just get enough thirst-quenching liquids so you're not thirsty and you pee with reasonable frequency and lightish color.
It's not that hard.20 -
If, when reading the nutrition data label, I see the word "water" listed as the first ingredient, I count it as water. (Even if I don't track or log my water intake - I monitor my pee color). This applies to soda (diet or otherwise), sparkling flavored waters (ohh, there's that word again), teas, coffees, etc.6
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If your plan is to treat your hydration like a video game that must be played on "hard mode" to prove you're serious, then sure, do it the hard way. Score yourself zero points for drinking any liquid that you actually enjoy drinking. You do you.
If you've got more reasonable priorities in your life and just want to be healthily hydrated, then just get enough thirst-quenching liquids so you're not thirsty and you pee with reasonable frequency and lightish color.
It's not that hard.
So, if racking up video game points helps OP reach her goals, what's the problem with that?!?
To each their own. You do you, boo.11 -
There is not problem AT ALL w racking up video game points. I absolutely manage my health on a points system.
My point is that if you want a high score (good health) why the eff would you do it on an arbitrary "hard mode"? Why rule out ways of earning points just because they're too easy to earn?
If a liquid quenches your thirst, it's hydrating. Don't score yourself down for enjoying the liquid, unless you like making it hard just to make it hard because your priorities are weird.10 -
There is not problem AT ALL w racking up video game points. I absolutely manage my health on a points system.
My point is that if you want a high score (good health) why the eff would you do it on an arbitrary "hard mode"? Why rule out ways of earning points just because they're too easy to earn?
If a liquid quenches your thirst, it's hydrating. Don't score yourself down for enjoying the liquid, unless you like making it hard just to make it hard because your priorities are weird.
First, OP never said she wouldn't count other liquids. She asked a simple question.
You went full *kitten*-mode, making it sound like she was stupid for even asking.
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There is not problem AT ALL w racking up video game points. I absolutely manage my health on a points system.
My point is that if you want a high score (good health) why the eff would you do it on an arbitrary "hard mode"? Why rule out ways of earning points just because they're too easy to earn?
If a liquid quenches your thirst, it's hydrating. Don't score yourself down for enjoying the liquid, unless you like making it hard just to make it hard because your priorities are weird.
Why do you care?
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There is not problem AT ALL w racking up video game points. I absolutely manage my health on a points system.
My point is that if you want a high score (good health) why the eff would you do it on an arbitrary "hard mode"? Why rule out ways of earning points just because they're too easy to earn?
If a liquid quenches your thirst, it's hydrating. Don't score yourself down for enjoying the liquid, unless you like making it hard just to make it hard because your priorities are weird.
Why do you care?
Um, why do YOU? SAUCE FOR EVERYONE7 -
I count clear, pure water as water... or water with lemon, and just add the lemon calories. If I am drinking protein water, I log it under beverages.6
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If I didn't count my tea as water I wouldn't drink any at all... I justify this solely on the fact it is water until I put the tea bag in...10
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Our bodies have adapted to a remarkable level and self regulate rather well to suit today's demands. Hydration typically only becomes a concern with physical activity. The suggestion of drinking 8 cups of water/day have little to no scientific foundation.
I have established a simple routine around this. I drink 16 oz of water ~30 mins prior to meals as a means to manage hunger and stay hydrated. I also exercise ~60 mins/day and just ensure my urine is clear to straw colored.2 -
I count tea, lacroix, and mix in powders as water. I don't drink them as my sole source of hydration. But if I'm getting tired of plain ol water I'll spice it up a little with some flavor. I never get dehydrated that way.3
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I count water as water & say if I drink a Gatorade I log that under a snack just because it has 140 calories. And regardless if I drink or eat something with a calorie, a calorie is a calorie.2
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catebonarrigo wrote: »If I didn't count my tea as water I wouldn't drink any at all... I justify this solely on the fact it is water until I put the tea bag in...
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All liquid counts, including the water content of food.6
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Agree with those saying all water counts, that said, would the guidelines assume everyone was eating freeze dried food every meal? Also there's no way I'm working out how much water is in everything. So yeah, tea/coffee even soda, assuming your happy to calculate diuretic effect too... For those of us who don't find water a punishment or think we're going to heaven for being righteous H2O purerists (try a long term low carb diet to reset the taste buds, even a couple of weeks aggressive dieting with a fasting component), recording by glass (hi-ball ~ 250ml).
Carbon filter all my water which tastes much better than tap, keep a carafe in the chiller and add lemon.4 -
There is not problem AT ALL w racking up video game points. I absolutely manage my health on a points system.
My point is that if you want a high score (good health) why the eff would you do it on an arbitrary "hard mode"? Why rule out ways of earning points just because they're too easy to earn?
If a liquid quenches your thirst, it's hydrating. Don't score yourself down for enjoying the liquid, unless you like making it hard just to make it hard because your priorities are weird.
Good thought, but I have found that if I don’t track my water, I don’t drink enough. I have a lot going on and it’s so easy to ignore thirst signals or even mistake them for hunger signals. So I was trying to get a sense of whether people count things other than pure water as water. Just trying to get perspective.
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witchaywoman81 wrote: »There is not problem AT ALL w racking up video game points. I absolutely manage my health on a points system.
My point is that if you want a high score (good health) why the eff would you do it on an arbitrary "hard mode"? Why rule out ways of earning points just because they're too easy to earn?
If a liquid quenches your thirst, it's hydrating. Don't score yourself down for enjoying the liquid, unless you like making it hard just to make it hard because your priorities are weird.
Good thought, but I have found that if I don’t track my water, I don’t drink enough. I have a lot going on and it’s so easy to ignore thirst signals or even mistake them for hunger signals. So I was trying to get a sense of whether people count things other than pure water as water. Just trying to get perspective.
I logged my two cups of coffee this morning under my water intake (as well as logging the calories for the milk in the coffee). I logged the 12 ounces of Diet Coke with my lunch as water intake. I logged the 8 oz. of skim milk I drank with my protein bar as water intake (as well as logging the calories for it in my diary). I also logged the 5 glasses of water I’ve drank throughout the day as water intake.
Different people choose to do it differently. It doesn’t really matter how you log it because your body will consider it as hydration whether it’s in your log or not.6 -
I don't normally "count" my water, I just drink when I am so inclined (for temperature regulation, for thirst, for flavor, to wash down dry things, etc.), but currently I am as part of an activity that counts toward a wellness program for work.
Things I have counted as water today: coffee, diet soda, plain water, V8. I also log the black coffee (for the potassium) and the V8 in my food diary. I usually log diet soda in my food diary when I drink it with a meal, so when I look back I don't wonder if I forget to log some drink that had calories, since I usually have something to drink with a meal. If I just sip on some diet soda between meals, I don't usually bother putting it in my food log.
I don't really get the suggestion that some of the posts seem to be making that if you log a drink with calories in your food log, you can't also track it as water. The fact that it has calories doesn't stop it from providing hydration.4 -
michaelludgate31 wrote: »Agree with those saying all water counts, that said, would the guidelines assume everyone was eating freeze dried food every meal? Also there's no way I'm working out how much water is in everything. So yeah, tea/coffee even soda, assuming your happy to calculate diuretic effect too... For those of us who don't find water a punishment or think we're going to heaven for being righteous H2O purerists (try a long term low carb diet to reset the taste buds, even a couple of weeks aggressive dieting with a fasting component), recording by glass (hi-ball ~ 250ml).
Carbon filter all my water which tastes much better than tap, keep a carafe in the chiller and add lemon.
The hydration effect in those drinks still greatly outweighs the diuretic effect
OP, count them as water if you want. They're still 99% water. I don't track my intake, I just go by my urine color to make sure I'm drinking enough.6 -
What about the diuretic effect of tea for someone who drinks 4-5L of tea a day, regular Lipton black tea. That's how much i drink every day, and i still need to drink regular plain water to help with water retention in my legs. If i don't also drink a couple Litres of water alongside then i get indents in my calves/ankles, just all round water retention, plus i have trouble going to the loo if i dont get enough regular water.
I get that adding a tea bag to water doesn't magically cancel out that water, could this possibly be the case for the average person who drinks 1-2 cups a day, not someone like me who drinks tea all day long?4 -
Forgot to add.. I pee at least 2 times an hour. It's like it goes in and comes straight back out again. This doesnt happen when i drink water, and no tea.1
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witchaywoman81 wrote: »Years ago, “they” used to say that you should drink a certain number of cups/Oz a day of pure water (i.e. coffee, tea, pop, etc don’t count). Is that still the conventional wisdom? Do you count “other” beverages toward your water intake?
I only count plain water as water. Other liquids I record along with my meals.2 -
Christine_72 wrote: »Forgot to add.. I pee at least 2 times an hour. It's like it goes in and comes straight back out again. This doesnt happen when i drink water, and no tea.
Weird. I find that regardless of the liquid I drink, particularly in larger quantities, it tends to come right back out.0 -
I count water as water.
Liquid in other types of beverages as well as foods helps to keep you hydrated as well, but when it comes to my 64oz per day, that is a strict water goal for me. Otherwise, KOKO as long as you are hydrated and your urine color shows that as well, I'm sure you are fine.2
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