Do tea and coffee count as part of my water intake?
We have had a previous qotw asking about how much water we should be drinking - this time we will be looking at why we recommend not to include tea and coffee in your total water intake.
First things first - water is best and should always be your primary target.
Tips to increase your water intake:
Have a glass of water when you first wake up - this will help us regulate our thirst for the rest of the day
Carry a water bottle around with you and fill it up regularly
Keep water in the car to have a drink as you drive along
Have a glass of water with every meal
Secondly, If you cannot increase your water intake then increase your overall fluid intake (tea, coffee, squash) which contributes to your hydration
The key is to be aware of your caffeine intake. As we have previously mentioned, caffeine can negatively impact your sleep by keeping you stimulated so try to stick to non-caffeinated teas and coffees in the afternoon. Also, other drinks such as smoothies and fruit juices contain a staggeringly high amount of calories and sugar despite being marketed as ‘healthy'.
Rather than focussing on reducing your tea and coffee, focus on increasing your water. That way your intake of the other drinks will come down without you having to think about it. Adding something else is always a good technique in health and fitness rather than ‘just removing'!
Summary
Take a water first approach, then supplement your hydration with other drinks
