Question:
Which beverages count towards our water intake

Hi all -- I am aware that coffee (or any caffeinated beverages, I assume) count towards our water intake, and that indeed, if I have a cup of coffee, I need to drink twice that in water to make up for it. I'm also aware that crystal light and decaf tea count towards our water intake. Does caffeine-free, clear soda (which my doctor allows)? Does diet snapple? Thanks.    — Tamara K. (posted on November 28, 2002)

November 28, 2002
Anything without caffeine counts towards water intake. I've read where some people's surgeons insist that only non-caloric liquids count, but this doesn't make sense. Your body doesn't say "oh, this has calories, so I'm not going to use the available liquid for hydration." Be aware, however, that 16 oz. of diet Snapple tea contains 42 mg of caffeine (a can of Coke has 56 mg--a cup of coffee, about 100 mg).
   — Roxanne M.

November 28, 2002
Anything that is not caffeinated, sugar-containing or not, protein-laden or not, counts ounce-for-ounce as water intake. However, sugary drinks will of course count as calories (if you are counting calories), they supply very little in the way of nutrition, and can make you dump if you have an RNY. Protein drinks are double-goodness; they count towards your protein (a minimum of 60 grams a day should be consumed, no more than 30 grams at a time) AND they count towards your water.<p>Personally, I work to get in three liters (about 100 oz) of water a day NOT counting the liter or so that I drink at the gym. This keeps everything working right; no constipation, no dizziness, great weight loss. :-) At 14.5 months out, I've lost 104% of my excess weight, going from 310 pounds to 128 pounds at 5'4". Good luck!<p>P.S. There is a large study that shows that post-RNY folks who drink soda tend to keep off less of their excess weight than those who never drink carbonated beverages. I personally restrict my carbonated beverages to 1 or less per day and let it go mostly flat before I drink it. I want to keep things tilted in my favor as much as possible, because I do not ever want to regain more than 10%.
   — Julia Z.

November 28, 2002
Per my dietician, the two previous posters are correct.....but I want to offer one more bit of info. When you drink anything with caffeine in it, it counts toward your fluid intake; however, only 1/2 the amount. So if you drink 16 oz. of caffeinated tea, only 8 oz. count toward fluid intake.
   — Lynette B.

November 28, 2002
I have been very successful at WLS.(163 lbs) I did just what my DR said! I did not try to cut cornors. People on this web site try to give the best advice they can, but like all of us we only hear what we want. Drink WATER!!! It will increase your metabolisim and purge your system. Water will help your bodyheal and MAY reduce sagging skin. Not fluids but water. One of the respondants to this question said the body doesn't separate caloric fluids from non. It has a much easier time using water (immedaite osmosis) than separating the sugars and protien (calories) from caloric liquids. Good Lux
   — Robert L.