Water

[Davebutters]

With the hot weather, I know it's important to drink water.

We are recommended to drink 8 glasses of water a day. Although I haven't been drinking glasses of water, I do drive drink quite a lot of coffee ( decaf ). Does tea & coffee count towards the recommended daily water intake ??

[Anon-E-Mouse]

According to 'Webmd' website tea and coffee do count (I should imagine anything made with water does), as does stuff for like watermelon which is, so they say, 90% water, plus other watery fruit and veg. I'm not a fan of plain water but, like you, drink decaf tea and coffee, plus dilute squash. Milk counts too.

If you want to have a read for yourself this is the link

webmd.com/parenting/feature...

Mouse 🐭

[bellylaugh]

Caffeinated tea and coffee act as diuretics so you get the water in value but also you'll expel a bit more fluid if you drink these so you'll need to take a bit more onboard to offset the diuretic effect.

[Anon-E-Mouse in reply to bellylaugh]

Hi bellylaugh

This is a direct quote from the WebMD site:

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.

So I guess 'you pays your money and takes your pick' as my old dad used to say 😃😃

[DartmoorDumpling Restart Feb 2024]

My partner can get attacks of gout if he gets too dehydrated, and I am therefore trying to wean him off coffee which he drinks constantly all day given the chance. Blackcurrant Fruit Tea is proving the best alternative and he also drinks black Lady Grey Tea which is not as bad as the coffee for dehydrating you.

In the hot weather, I personally like a chilled diet lemonade with a dash of fruit juice, but will drink tap water before a meal to help fill the space!

[Caz28]

Hi, I find I enjoy drinking water a lot more since I bought a filter jug, I aim for 6-8 glasses a day, plus I gave around 4 cups of tea and 2 coffee, I have diet decaffinated Coke (plus a tot of white rum!) in the evenings and take a bottle of still spring water to be with me which I drink throughout the night. So... I don't think I should get dehydrated 😊

[san_ray70 Maintainer in reply to Caz28]

Recently I have been drinking more water or low sugar juice, but consequently, where as I never had to go to the loo after bed, now I do, so I am trying to not drink too much of an evening, could be I just am getting older, I hope not.

[Zest Healthy BMI]

Hi Dave,

You've had some great answers already, but I also wanted to give you the link to the NHS Choices information about Water and drinks:

nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pa...

Lowcal