Does Your Daily Tea And Coffee Count As Essential Water Intake? | Thirsty Work (2024)

FAQs

Does Your Daily Tea And Coffee Count As Essential Water Intake? | Thirsty Work? ›

Coffee and tea also count in your tally. Many used to believe that they were dehydrating, but that myth has been debunked. The diuretic effect does not offset hydration.

Some coffees will have a higher caffeine level than others, and obviously more than tea. But the diuretic effect is fairly low in most people, similar to tea. As both tea and coffee do count as water intake, the level of caffeine contained in both drinks shouldn't have any dehydrating effects.

In short: no. In the water-versus-tea battle, water still wins. Because water doesn't contain caffeine, sugar, or other additives, it's the purest form of hydration. If you're a regular tea drinker, you can continue drinking tea and it will contribute to your overall hydration level.

So even though tea does have some caffeine in it and even though caffeine does dehydrate, it is only a small amount of caffeine. Tea is a drink, like water, that can keep you hydrated.

Milk has been found to be more hydrating than water or sports drinks due to its source of protein, carbohydrates, calcium, and electrolytes. If you can't drink milk, try almond, soy, or coconut milk to help hydrate; these are all fortified with extra nutrients.

Diuretic Effect: Some teas, especially those containing caffeine, can have a mild diuretic effect, meaning they may increase urine production. This can contribute to fluid loss and potentially lead to dehydration if not balanced with sufficient water intake.

Daily fluid intake

The Eatwell Guide recommends that people should aim to drink 6 to 8 cups or glasses of fluid a day. Water, lower-fat milk and sugar-free drinks, including tea and coffee, all count. You may need to drink more fluids if you're: pregnant or breastfeeding.

Do caffeinated drinks like Coca‑Cola count towards my recommended daily water intake? Yes. Sparkling soft drinks, including reduced and no sugar, no calorie options, contain between 85% and 99% water, which means they can help quench thirst and count towards your recommended daily fluid intake. Did you know?

And don't overlook the role that fruits, vegetables, broths, soups, and stews can play in your daily hydration goals. Some of the most water-heavy choices include melons like cantaloupe and watermelon; berries such as strawberries; and leafy greens like spinach, cucumbers, and zucchini, King says.

Herbal Teas

Hibiscus, rose or chamomile are great options because they're caffeine-free and will have less diuretic effects. “All herbal teas are great for hydration,” Giovanni says. “The main thing to look for is that it's a decaffeinated tea – a tea like black tea, for instance, wouldn't be hydrating.”

What is the healthiest tea? ›

Green Tea is often considered one of the healthiest tea options. To produce green tea, leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant are steamed or pan fried and dried. The tea leaves aren't exposed to air and so they don't oxidize, and the green hue remains.

Tea is a low-caffeine drink, so the diuretic effect is minimal. On the whole, tea gives your body much more water than it causes your body to lose. So drinking hot tea or iced tea helps to hydrate your body overall.

Urine Color

“Typically if your urine is a pale straw-yellow, it means you're well hydrated. If it becomes a little too yellow, it means you should drink some water.” Here's what your pee color could indicate: Clear or pale straw-yellow: You're a water all-star, keep up the good work.

Sip water throughout the day, instead of gulping down a lot at one time. Unless you're exercising, don't carry a large water bottle. It may tempt you to drink too much at once. If you're waking up to urinate more than twice a night, drink most of your liquids during the waking hours.

Tea. For us, the best alternative to water is tea. Yes, we may be biased, but a delicious cup of tea will always hit the hydration spot. A cup of tea counts towards your daily fluid intake (even the caffeinated versions) and is packed full of antioxidants.

Studies have found that both tea and coffee offer similar hydrating properties when consumed in moderation. Drinking a moderate amount of tea daily is unlikely to disrupt hydration levels, and can instead play a role in staying hydrated.

Key takeaways: The caffeine in coffee has diuretic effects, meaning it causes your body to pass more urine. But these effects are too mild to cause dehydration, especially if you're a regular coffee drinker. There's a lot of water in coffee, so it may even be hydrating for some people.

For example, many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon and spinach, are almost 100% water by weight. In addition, beverages such as milk, juice and herbal teas are composed mostly of water. Even caffeinated drinks — such as coffee and soda — can contribute to your daily water intake.

soft drink, cordial, fruit juice • tea, coffee • milk, milkshakes, thick shakes • ice, iceblocks • cream, ice-cream, custard, yoghurt • jelly • soup, gravy, sauces • alcohol. You should also count foods with a high fluid content that are consumed in large amounts e.g. porridge, pasta, rice or fruit.