Water Drinks And Your Health
It’s easy to overlook, but choosing healthier drinks is a key part of getting a balanced diet.
Many soft drinks, including instant powdered drinks and hot chocolate, are high in sugar.
Food and drinks that are high in sugar are often high in calories, and having too many calories can make you more likely to gain weight.
Some energy drinks are high in both sugar and caffeine. Checking the nutrition labels on soft drinks such as fruit juices and fizzy drinks can help you make healthier choices.
The Eatwell Guide says we should 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.
Water As An Alternative
Drinking water is a very sensible alternative if you want to keep your energy level under control. Coffee causes an energy peak, followed by an inevitable trough that makes us inclined to take even more coffee. Water leaves the regulation of your energy level to your body so that you are not completely empty at the end of the day.
Choose to drink water from a water dispenser connected to the water main. Thats sustainable and refreshing and even sparkling if you wish. With made blue youre also contributing to access to clean water for all.
What Else Counts As Water
The reason we need water is to keep us hydrated, but there are other hydrating liquids and foods in addition to H2O.
In a nutshell, the CDC explains: Although daily fluid intake can come from food and beverages, plain drinking water is one good way of getting fluids as it has zero calories.
Water is the most basic beverage to stay hydrated and keep it simple without drinking extra calories, but there are other ways to get the fluid intake you need for survival.
Coffee and tea both can count towards staying hydrated, but so do milk, juice, and most beverages. Keep in mind these drinks tend to be higher in sugar and calories.
If you dont like the taste of plain water, try adding in natural flavorings, such as a sprig of mint or a slice of lemon, says Jordan.
Some fruits and vegetables are also particularly hydrating, she adds. Watermelon is 90% water and makes a refreshing snack. Other hydrating fruits include oranges, grapefruits, and strawberries.
On the veggie side, celery, tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce are some water-rich options.
The takeaway? Drink plenty of plain water every day, but other beverages, such as coffee and tea, also hydrate .
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Tea Vs Water For Hydration: Which Is Better
Wondering which one helps you stay hydrated better between water and tea? This comparison between tea vs. water for hydration will give you a complete, insightful answer.
If you want to survive, you need to stay hydrated. But how much water should you drink a day? And is it possible to swab water with other liquids such as tea or juices?
Tea appears in the form of water itself. But unlike water, the purest form of hydration, tea may contain caffeine, which contradicts your hydrating system. Learn more about the difference between tea vs. water for hydration and how to stay hydrated the right way.
Potential Health Benefits Of Tea
Not only is tea hydrating and tasty, making it a good alternative to water, but the available nutrients and minerals can contribute to your overall health.
While drinking tea on its own is not a solution or cure for any health condition, it can be easily integrated into a healthy diet. Here are a few important health benefits of tea.
Lower Cholesterol
Black tea contains theaflavins and thearubigins , which have health benefits for your body. One study found that they help alleviate hypercholesterolemia when consumed in your diet.
Reduced Risk of Hyperglycemia
The same study showed that black tea theaflavins and thearubigins also contribute to lower risk of hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar.
Lower Risk of Cancer
Green and black teas also contain important polyphenols, which are micronutrients that are found in plant-based foods. The polyphenols found in these types of tea have been associated with the healthy regulation of cancer cell growth and survival, leading to a lower risk of developing cancer.
Better Sleep Quality and Lower Risk of Depression
Some teas, including chamomile, are consumed to help people relax at the end of the day so they can sleep better and wind down. And chamomile tea has been found to help postpartum women get better sleep and alleviate their depression.
More Focus and Alertness
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Energy Drinks And Caffeine
Energy drinks often contain high levels of caffeine and are often high in sugar .
They may also contain other stimulants, and sometimes vitamins and minerals or herbal substances.
The caffeine levels in these drinks vary, but there’s often around 80mg of caffeine in a small 250ml can.
This is the same as 2 cans of cola or a small mug of coffee.
Is It Ok To Only Drink Tea
Though moderate intake is healthy for most people, drinking too much could lead to negative side effects, such as anxiety, headaches, digestive issues, and disrupted sleep patterns. Most people can drink 34 cups of tea daily without adverse effects, but some may experience side effects at lower doses.
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Does Tea Count As Fluid
This popular brew has many proven health benefits, but is meeting your hydration needs one of them? Read on to find out.
Note: This is the second in our series on hydration. Stay tuned for future articles on this topic.
Looking for a simple way to improve your health? It doesnt get much simpler than staying well hydrated. Filling up on enough fluids can help your body maintain its proper temperature and cushion your joints, among other benefits cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . While it sounds simple enough, past research indicates that many of us are chronically mildly dehydrated.
One of the difficulties with getting enough fluid each day is that many people arent sure just how much they should have. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends that women get about 2.7 liters of fluid per day and men get about 3.7 L per day. Of those figures, about 20 percent comes from the food we eat the rest we should be drinking. That means women should aim for around 2.2 L, or nine 8-ounce cups of fluids a day, and men should aim for 3 L, or thirteen 8 oz cups. But what counts toward that total?
Calorie-free and all natural, water is still the best hydrator going and is the most commonly consumed beverage in the world. But right behind it is tea, according to National Geographic.
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Which Herbal Tea Is Hydrating
In the wintertime, hibiscus tea, rose tea, chamomile tea and other herbal drinks serve as good hydration drinks. The product is natural and caffeine-free, which is reassuring for those who worry about caffeine. You can not only drink them as a way to keep hydrated, but as a way to calm your tired nerves and to relax from your stress.
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How To Make Iced Tea: Basic Steps
The hands-on time for making iced tea is quick: most of the time involved is waiting! Making the tea takes about 20 minutes total. Then youll need 2 hours for it to chill. Here are the basic steps of how to make iced tea at home:
- Steep the tea: Bring 4 cups water to a simmer, add 6 tea bags and turn off the heat. Steep for 5 minutes.
- Add cold water and cool: Remove the tea bags. Add 4 cups cool water and bring to room temperature .
- Refrigerate 2 hours: Transfer to a pitcher and refrigerate 2 hours.
Heres What You Should Do Instead
Even though tea is an incredible beverage with many benefits, excessive intake is not recommended.
Apart from the effects that caffeine can have on your body, another thing to keep in mind is that certain components of tea are known to cause drug interactions with drugs like rosuvastatin , sildenafil , and tacrolimus .
So if you are on any of these drugs currently, you might want to avoid this beverage due to the risk of drug interactions and reduced efficacy of the medication.
Instead of completely replacing water with tea, we recommend keeping both in your daily routine. Too much is not good, but a moderate amount will give you great benefits that you will not want to miss out on.
To maintain a balance, keep a maximum of three to four cups of tea per day in your diet. For the rest, the healthiest option is to just drink water.
You can get a fruit infusion bottle, cut some fresh fruits like strawberries, lemon, and cucumbers and combine it with water. The juices of these fruits will flavor the water naturally.
You can also go for natural coconut water .
Remember, getting your daily requirement of fluids from different sources will keep your liquid intake interesting!
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Side Effects Of Excess Consumption
Drinking too much green tea can cause you to feel jittery, have trouble sleeping, experience diarrhea or constipation, or have feelings of nausea or a general sense of restlessness. These symptoms are often a consequence of the caffeine content in the tea. In some cases, you can also experience an allergic reaction to green tea, causing swelling in your face as well as itchiness, rashes, hives or difficulty breathing. An allergic reaction can also be exhibited by a rapid and irregular heartbeat as well as a tightness in the chest. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact a doctor immediately.
References
Tips For Enjoying Tea To Maximize The Perks
If you start your morning or end your day with a warm cup of tea, its only natural to wonder if theres anything you can do to make it even healthier. The truth is that plain brewed tea is a naturally healthy and low-calorie beverage. Its what is commonly added to tea that can make it a less than ideal choice. If youre adding spoonfuls of honey, sugar, or cream to your tea, it might be time to revisit your brewing routine. Because these ingredients add lots of calories, sugar, and fat with no nutritional value, its best to skip them or limit them as much as possible. Similarly, if youre reaching for a bottled iced tea, check the nutrition facts first to be sure there isnt any added sugar.
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The Benefits Of Water
As we size up tea vs. water, lets first take a look at the benefits of fresh water. The human body is made up of 60% water . While there are no antioxidants in plain water, it holds the critical building blocks our body needs to perform every task: hydrogen and oxygen. Water is essential for all systems of our bodies to perform optimally its critical for everything from helping our hearts beat to having glowing skin.
If plain water feels like a snooze fest to you, remember that it can be snazzified with a squeeze of any citrus fruit, or infused with fresh fruit like raspberries or peaches. Try it with a sprig of basil and cucumber and youll be instantly transported to that fancy-spa feel.
Warm water is super soothing to the body and can be dolled up with a drizzle of honey and a slice of lemon. Enjoying warm water with lemon in the morning is an Ayurvedic practice that many health-conscious folks have adopted as their own.
Is Drinking Tea Dehydrating
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Consequently, is drinking tea just as good as drinking water?
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What drinks are good for hydration?
Drink It Down
- Fat-free or skim milk. Everyone knows milk is an excellent source of calcium that will keep your bones in tip-top shape.
- Smoothies. Can’t choose just one hydrating option?
- Sports drinks. Sugar and sodium are good things when it comes to sports drinks!
- Coconut water.
- Coffee.
Is a tea a diuretic?
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Is Drinking Tea Equivalent To Water
The benefits of drinking tea versus drinking water may surprise you as tea can quench your thirst and hydrate you. Organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that total fluid consumption can come from numerous sources. But tea may provide additional health benefits.
Both water and tea can hydrate you, and each offers different benefits.
How Many Glasses Of Water Should You Drink Daily
For years, there’s been debate over how many glasses of water we really need every day, but it’s not the same for everyone. You’re considered hydrated when the amount of fluid leaving your body is the same as the amount going in. Your body differs from everyone else’s, so the amount of fluid you need won’t be the same as your friend, your spouse, or anyone else. The best way to know whether you’re hydrated is to check your urine. Light yellow or clear indicates that you’re adequately hydrated, while dark yellow means you need additional fluids.
Drinking plain water isn’t your only option for hydration. Milk, juice, and other beverages all contribute to your body’s overall fluid intake, and so do “juicy” foods. Fruits, vegetables, and even beans and legumes help keep you hydrated. Many health practitioners recommend water because it doesn’t contain any additives or sweeteners.
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Tea Compared To Water For Hydration
04 April, 2011
Drinking four to six mugs of tea a day is as good for keeping you hydrated as a litre of water, reported the Daily Mail. It said the finding disproves the idea that regular tea drinking can dehydrate the body because of its caffeine content.
The newspaper report is of a trial of 21 volunteers, which compared hydration levels in people drinking four mugs of tea with their levels when drinking the same amount of water on two different days. The study, sponsored by the UK Tea Advisory Panel, which in turn is sponsored by the UK tea industry, found no difference in hydration levels when tea or water was drunk.
It is perhaps unsurprising that in terms of hydration there was little difference in the two experimental conditions. The important question is whether caffeine is a diuretic, but this study did not measure the caffeine in the tea. It also cannot comment on which of the two drinks tea or water are healthier overall.
How To Make Ice Tea
There are tons of different ways to make iced tea, from using cold brew tea bags, loose leaf tea, setting it out in the sun for sun tea, and pouring hot water over the tea bags, among others. I prefer using the hot water method because it is quick and efficient. That being said, theres no wrong way to make iced tea using the recipes Ive shared below.
For storage, I like keeping my iced teas in 1 quart mason jars in the fridge not only are they pretty, but theyre easy to grab and perfect for both the hot water and then the cold drink. Remember not to store the teas for too long with the tea bags in the water the longer the tea bag is in the water after it has steeped, the stronger the flavor your tea will have, eventually turning into an overly bitter flavor. After I let the teas steep in the hot water, I remove and discard the tea bags, but keep the fresh fruit and herbs in the mason jars. This works great with fresh fruit, but the herbs do need to be removed within a few hours, or they start to deteriorate.
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Unsweetened Tea Counts As Water
Now that you understand sugar reacts adversely with your cup of freshly brewed tea let us check how tea without sugar turns out for you. Tea with or without sugar contains caffeine. Until very recently, tea was considered to be dehydrating because of the presence of caffeine.
Why? Caffeine is a mild diuretic substance. Which means the consumption of caffeine leads to the tendency of urination. That means caffeine promotes the loss of water from the body, making it diuretic.
Caffeine increases blood flow to the kidney and fluid output which results in feeling to urinate. Since tea contains a fair dose of caffeine, it was believed to be dehydrating. It is one of the reasons people feared consuming tea.
However, recent studies debunk this idea quite effectively. Although tea does contain caffeine, the diuretic effect does not offset hydration. The minor dose of caffeine in tea or coffee, as a matter of fact, is not going to dehydrate you in any way.
Conversely, it might help hydrate your body! The process of the introduction of additional fluid to your body is called hydration. Tea is a hydrating agent for your body, meaning tea helps your body get the necessary intake of water.
According to studies, drinking four to six mugs of tea a day is as good for keeping you hydrated as a litre of water.
You can from today boast about the cups of tea that you consume and add the beverage to your total tally of water that you drink throughout the day!
Drinking Coffee Vs Drinking Water
What is the difference drinking coffee vs. drinking water? Can I drink coffee as part of my rehydration fluids? Is drinking coffee often during the day bad for me do I HAVE to only drink water to replace my body fluids?
Years ago some doctor or scientist decided that everyone MUST drink an average of eight 8oz glasses of water every day in order to replace the percentage of the bodys fluids, mainly water, that is lost through the day via sweating, crying, sneezing, breathing and other means.
The human body is made up of around 70% water, and every single cell in the body needs water to build, regenerate, and operate. When we lose water and do not replace it the body becomes dehydrated and this imbalance in bodily fluids can lead to various health problems.
It only takes a loss of approximately 2% of the bodys fluids for mild dehydration to set in. Mild dehydration can cause headaches, dry mouth and eyes, dizziness, and cognitive malfunction. The more one gets dehydrated, the worse the side-effects become, including heart problems, kidney problems, bladder problems, coma, cancer, and even death!
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