LymeNet Flash: What exactly counts as "water"?

This is topic What exactly counts as "water"? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by Melanie Reber (Member # 3707) on :

I have read conflicting answers to this question many times...

so, I am looking for a definitive answer, if anyone has it [Smile]

What beverages can count toward our "water" intake?

For instance...

does ice tea count?
crystal light?
does everything else that has a water base count?

It isn't that I dont like water mind you...
but now that summer has arrived, and with that, Iced Tea season...

It would be lovely to know that I am fullfilling my water intake with a nice tall cold glass of fresh brewed tea and lemon wedges.

Thanks in advance,
Melanie

Posted by Christine202 (Member # 6158) on :

I would say from experience that water is the only thing that counts as water,,,,

the others you mentioned are full of added stuff that does not allow your body to properly hydrate and absorb

I drink 3 liters of water a day with added electrolites as well as 1/4 tsp of celtic sea salt to every liter for good hydration.

Posted by david1097 (Member # 3662) on :

The body metbolizes H2O the rest of the stuff is extra.

As long as the drink has mostly H2O in it (not 200 proof booze for example) it will be absorbed by the body. I am sure that some aditives will reduce the absorption and if you sweating a lot can even make you sick but as long as ther is lot of water then it really just water.

Have you tried the demin re-ozmosis bottled water like Dasani. They actually taste OK. I see than than are now adding a little bit of flavor to them then these takste OK also.

Still nothing beats a cabonated drink like diet pepsi for stripping the slimmy gun from the mouth.

At least that The way i think it works.

Posted by trueblue (Member # 7348) on :

Melanie,
I may be wrong but I believe caffeine takes away from the water total, being a diuretic. (you might have to drink extra to compensate) Decaf tea might be better than high octane. The same for herbals.

I may also be wrong on this part but I think lemon in the tea makes it easier to hold onto. (well, that's anecdotal, I seem to have to pee less if I have lemon in my tea, lol.)

Although, water contained in food counts toward daily fluid intake.

There's always the possibility I made this whole thing up, too. [Razz]

Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :

Melanie,
Just as a casual reminder, the water goes "UNDER" the canoe , and it makes it boyuant. Except for the triple heavies in MY boat. You only have light weight's in your boat cuz it has slipped your memor.
Next refresher course on water IS follow the "VEE". See how much(little) I can retain???
Everything else in the cooler is for 'drinking', which is a waste of water so may as well just drink margiritia's(sp).
Set back and 'enjoy' the ride.The scenerery and enjoy the great, wonderful, stupendous,once in never "often' enough company!!!
I actually enjoy rocks in my water , OR water on the rocks!!!
Bring on the water, rocks, scenery, and the "COMPANY" and I am a happy camper/aka floater. And the food isnt bad there either, uless you dont like fresh organic beef burgers and top cut of sirloin steak.ribeye, and of course the trusty dusty T-Bone steak. Anybody allergic to said items or have 'other' preferences, Now would be the time to announce same!!! Now here in THIS state it is a golden rule that you eat over 80 billion tons of dirt every day. It sure beats the alternative of eatting under that weight of dirt. We "CAN" vote on the most adored and favorite cook for a camp time idol of the pots and pans!!!At his command we can volunteer several helpers to wash the dishes for the 'next go round'. In 3 or 4 more hours!!!!@
Anyway, nobody moves too far and too fast. All we have to assure that everywon is completely satisfied and content in 'what everyone and each of us experienced the most profitable, most rested, most enjoyed time together ever imaginable

So Melanie, glad, so VERY glad you brought up the water topic and see what a strange demented man can twist it into??? Talk about a fine twist too.
Bring water, lots of water, drink tons of water and rasise the creek level a 'wee' bit and gently increase water level/tempature at same time. In my former life I would have done same, only with beer vs water on rocks!!!
re all ourselves that whn we leave that we had maximum water and crusiene experents

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

don....I know what you're talking about ... but I'm sure others are going to think you've totally LOST IT after reading your treastise [sp]!!! [Eek!]

Melanie....Yes, caffeine dehydrates you...so go easy on that.

I think the best answer is Water is Water...just my humble opinion....which may not be worth much!

Posted by Soleilpie (Member # 8481) on :

Since caffeine is a diuretic, I would try to drink an extra glass of water to replace the loss of water. So, a glass of water for every glass of tea.

Posted by trueblue (Member # 7348) on :

Then there's also the conundrum(sp?) of water being a diuretic, itself. Drinking too much will also dehydrate you. Adding lemon or alternating with other beverages also works.

Glad I could help with the confusion. [Big Grin]

`

`

`

quote:
originally posted by just don:

At his command we can volunteer several helpers to wash the dishes for the 'next go round'

Ah, glad I'm not a him, I don't cook, but don't mind dishes. [Cool]

Posted by bpeck (Member # 3235) on :

Going purely by definition?

Water intake:
When a nutritionist talkes about drinking water- they mean WATER. Not water substitutes like ice tea- snow cones, soft drinks milk coffee etc.

Fluid intake:
Everything would count if you were talking about FLUID intake- i.e. as for someone with kidney failure, who had to resitrict FLUIDS.

Barb

Posted by dcook60 (Member # 5579) on :

i wondered about this issue for years and years. within the last 2 years or so, i read studies which pretty much DEBUNKED the idea that liquid in tea/coffee/soda does not count as WATER.

OF COURSE it does. no-brainer. this study indicated that caffeine is NOT dehydrating you; it does make you empty your bladder fast, of course.

i can't find the study (of course; lymebrain). but believe what you want, and push the plain water, if you like, but please be sure it is purified in some way, and NOT CHLORINATED CITY H20, if you are going to drink a lot of it. dianne

Posted by alliebridge (Member # 9103) on :

I read that same study that said if you are a habitual caffeine drinker, say coffee every morning, your body adapts to the daily caffeine intake, and it does not have the same dehydrating effect on your body as someone who rarely drinks it.

This means you could count the cup or two of coffee or iced tea to your total water intake, according to "them".

Posted by mlkeen (Member # 1260) on :

If you are trying to reduce stress to your immune system you might be consuming very limited amounts of caffine, sugar(booze is in this group), artifical sweateners and perhaps milk. This makes water WATER.

Water quality is another issue and thread-

Mel

Posted by Melanie Reber (Member # 3707) on :

Thank you each for your replies! You each make a very good argument for what does and does not count as ``water''. (this is exactly why I have been confused...and still am to some degree [Smile]

)

I can see the difference between fluid intake and water intake. I suppose I was referring more to the old standard ``8 glasses of water'' thing.

Plus I do know that we should be guzzling even more than the standard with these illnesses...so, I was trying to decipher what would count toward that total.

I guess I will just keep trying to drink the standard 8 of pure water and allow any extra to be other water based beverages.

Thanks everyone! I do appreciate you!
M

Posted by snowflake (Member # 8950) on :

Don you are hilarious!!!!

I know exactly what you are talking about - the Lyme Float. What is the date and place? Send me a pm. Tell me all about it! I would love to have a 'wee' old time.

ARE there FREAKING TICKS??? Do you really camp because I can't deal with ticks.

Posted by alliebridge (Member # 9103) on :

You can drink too much water.

By that I mean, over the last few days I felt really thirsty, couldn't quench my thirst. So I drank a few extra glasses of water than my normal--I started getting bloated!

It's like my body can't metabolize(for lack of a better word)all of the water that I consumed so it's just storing it around my middle.

So I think 8 glasses or about that should be the maximum(at least for me).

Luckily, my strong thirst has subsided(what was that about?).

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