Why is it supposedly only water that's good for hydration?

[Noggin]

I do normally drink quite a lot of water - no squash or juice or anything in it. But since being here I tend to drink more decaff tea (and now some infusion type thingies too)

I did get 'that' look from someone the other day because I said I drink a lot of decaff tea and some water at the moment but I figured that was ok as it was decaff tea not caffeine

I do get that caffeine type drinks aren't going to be the best. And probably very sugary ones too.

I know over the years I've read and heard people say that 'only water is good for hydrating' - but why ??

[Count Steer]

Other drinks are fine inc. decaff tea according to the NHS.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/f ... nutrition/

The 'water only' message is probably pushed by bottled water companies and sellers of fancy water bottles.

(In fact, if you're very active it's better if it's a dilute electrolyte drink - a pinch of salt and a splash of fruit juice in water is enough. Martina Navratilova called it 'Quick-fix' and it's from Robert Haas's book 'Eat to Win').

[KungFooBob]

I don't drink water, fish piss in it.

[Cousin Jack]

I am much the same. Large % of my daily intake is black tea or black coffee, both with no sugar. The hospital nutritionist was quite happy with that.

[JackyJoll]

There didn’t used to be rules about drinking water or not drinking water.

Are you thirsty? I think that’s relevant.

[Noggin]

Other drinks are fine inc. decaff tea according to the NHS.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/f ... nutrition/

The 'water only' message is probably pushed by bottled water companies and sellers of fancy water bottles.

(In fact, if you're very active it's better if it's a dilute electrolyte drink - a pinch of salt and a splash of fruit juice in water is enough. Martina Navratilova called it 'Quick-fix' and it's from Robert Haas's book 'Eat to Win').

I think I'm rarely "that" active BUT at weekends I time my drinking to avoiding needing to stop whilst doing a transfer, so I do tend to have hydrating tabs at home to put in a pint of water once I get home

In general, I think I'm usually ok apart from those very long transfer days

I don't drink water, fish piss in it.

Bloody good job no one suggests drinking sea water, the way that tastes the fish fuck in that a LOT !!

There didn’t used to be rules about drinking water or not drinking water.

Are you thirsty? I think that’s relevant.

It was more a question of interest after my friend patently disapproved of my drinking decaff tea instead of water

I do watch how much water I drink since my first winter season where I didn't drink enough to counteract altitude+walking a LOT+skiing+plus working in a kitchen. By February I thought I had a serious illness because i felt really really awful.

Then a fellow seasonaire pointed out that I did need to drink a lot more water - minimum 2 litres a day due to the altitude but more if skiing and walking a lot.

Once I started drinking more water, all the scary symptoms went and I felt massively better!! So, up in resort the minimum was 2 litres a day and yes, I did feel thirsty if I drank less

Now I'm 1400m lower down, I know I don't need as much but I do still try to aim for around 1.5 litres but mix it between water and decaff tea (my much is almost a pint, so that helps manage the amounts )


I think the anti anything except water is pretty outdated (I remember being told that even adding squash was bad ) which is why I thought I'd ask since a younger than me friend was the one being disapproving about my tea intake versus water

[Dodgy69]

I was always led to believe water or water based drinks are what we all need however, coffee makes me thirsty and I must agree, it does seem to me that water quenches thirst better than anything else.

[Horse]

There didn’t used to be rules about drinking water or not drinking water.

Are you thirsty? I think that’s relevant.

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/

Older people may not notice that they are feeling thirsty. If you're caring for an older person, remind them to drink regularly.

So that's you reminded

[Noggin]

I was always led to believe water or water based drinks are what we all need however, coffee makes me thirsty and I must agree, it does seem to me that water quenches thirst better than anything else.

I think, if I remember rightly, caffeine is a diuretic ? So. I always thought that was the reason to not use coffee for hydration - maybe!

[Noggin]

There didn’t used to be rules about drinking water or not drinking water.

Are you thirsty? I think that’s relevant.

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/

Older people may not notice that they are feeling thirsty. If you're caring for an older person, remind them to drink regularly.

So that's you reminded

Wasn't there a big thing a few years ago that people think they are hungry when in fact they need hydration?

[Horse]

&:

Thirst isn't always a reliable indicator, and signs like dark urine, fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth, or headaches often signal dehydration before intense thirst kicks in, or even if thirst is absent.

[KungFooBob]

There didn’t used to be rules about drinking water or not drinking water.

Are you thirsty? I think that’s relevant.

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/

Older people may not notice that they are feeling thirsty. If you're caring for an older person, remind them to drink regularly.

So that's you reminded

BURN!

[Noggin]

&:

Thirst isn't always a reliable indicator, and signs like dark urine, fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth, or headaches often signal dehydration before intense thirst kicks in, or even if thirst is absent.

I do use all of that to judge - like Jody said the other day when I had had headaches, instant thought is - drink/hydrate. I do find that dehydration headaches are very specific and not easily confused with shoulder injury ones !! But maybe most people don't have that knowledge

[Mr Moofo]

Water is best at replenishing your water ” rehydration’ needs - but science now feel that various other salts /electrolytes etc are needed for proper hydration.

And this comes from someone who suffers with a lot of cramp …
If I have exercised I will use rehydration tablets

[Taipan]

I drink water or tea, as I have never liked squash or fizzy drinks like Coke etc. Bizarelly my water of choice is sparkling though? If I'm in a hot country, there's nothing that quenches my thirst like an icy cold lager, but not too many of? I do try a sparkling water with ice etc but its the lager that does it! I guess theres a point wher the alcohol leads to dehydration, but its worked well for me for 40 years!

[Horse]

Water is best at replenishing your water ” rehydration’ needs - but science now feel that various other salts /electrolytes etc are needed

IIRC 'proper' rehydration drinks are absorbed about 10% more quickly than plain water - and actually, for most people, rarely beneficial.

[Trinity765]

If you're healthy your body will use or store all the sugar it gets and it needs water to do that. So water with sugar in it is going to be less hydrating than just water.

Skimmed milk is good for dehydration as it contains useful vitamins and minerals.

[Mr Moofo]

A combination of British sherry and Pernod is a dreadful choice for rehydration.

I do these thing so you don’t have to!

[KungFooBob]

A combination of British sherry and Pernod is a dreadful choice for rehydration.

I do these thing so you don’t have to!

Pernod is good for NOTHING!

[Mr Moofo]

A combination of British sherry and Pernod is a dreadful choice for rehydration.

I do these thing so you don’t have to!

Pernod is good for NOTHING!

It makes you look sophisticated

For about 1 minute