Herbal Tea vs. Water

I also drink a fair amount of herbal, decaf tea each day for exactly the same reason (in a medical office that is freezing). I don't count it towards my water intake thought because I figure that since tea is a diuretic I should still drink my set amount of water (if not more) on top of it to keep myself balanced. Hope this helps, and I am curious to see what everyone else does!

I've been told by my doctor......... nope! :flowerforyou:

Tea is tea, and water is water ............. :drinker:

im with you... water is the only thing i count for water....:bigsmile:

HYDRATION: Does it Always Have to be Water?

Whether you’re an elite athlete, an avid exerciser, or more the
spectator type, there’s one common fact: you can’t live long
without water. Your body needs enough water to carry out
many vital body functions and help you perform at your best.
That’s why it’s so important to stay hydrated both on and off
the field, says fitness expert, author and celebrity trainer,
Kathy Kaehler. “Proper hydration keeps our bodies running
the way they’re supposed to,” she says.

Read on to learn the ins and outs of hydration, as well as
some surprising facts about caffeine and hydration.

Fulfilling Daily Water Needs

Being hydrated means the water you consume from beverages
and foods is in balance with the water your body loses from
perspiration, respiration, elimination and other body processes.
The term “water” can mean more than just plain drinking water
in this case. It includes other liquids such as milk, fruit juices,
sports drinks, and watery foods such as fruits and vegetables,
and even beverages such as soft drinks, coffee, and tea. The
Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends a daily water intake of
91 ounces for healthy women and 125 ounces for healthy
men. Water needs increase with factors such as strenuous
physical activity, hot and cold temperature extremes, and
being ill with fever, diarrhea or vomiting. About 80% of water
intake comes from beverages and about 20% comes from foods.

Surprising Facts about Caffeine and Hydration

You may be surprised to learn that caffeinated beverages are
not dehydrating, as is commonly believed. A 2004 report from
the IOM concluded that caffeine-containing beverages such as
regular coffee, tea and soft drinks contribute to total daily water
intake, similar to beverages without caffeine. Although caffeine
has a mild diuretic effect, it does not generally contribute to
dehydration because the fluid in the beverage itself cancels out
any fluid loss from the body. In fact, all beverages have a mild
diuretic effect, even water.


(FYI - water is most commonly recommended because it does not have any calories - but juices have water - it's just that they usually contain a fair amount of sugar as well - but if you drank a bunch of juice you would fulfill you fluid intake - but you would probably start to put on weight!).

If I were you I would count it toward your daily water intake. I feel that it consists mainly of water so water it is just with a little extra stuff.

Herbal tea is different from the true tea such as green, black or white tea. Depending on what herbs the "tea" is made from it may have no caffeine at all.

And you don't add sweeteners so that is even better.

You don't want to drown yourself in water either because that can upset your electrolyte balance just as bad as not having enough water.

HTH,
Demetria