Do caffeinated drinks like Coca‑Cola count towards my recommended daily water intake? Yes. Sparkling soft drinks, including reduced and no sugar, no calorie options, contain between 85% and 99% water, which means they can help quench thirst and count towards your recommended daily fluid intake. Did you know?
Drinking only soda may seem like you're keeping yourself from dehydrating, but sadly, Coke and Pepsi may cool you down on a hot day, but they aren't going to give your body the water it needs, and it's all thanks to caffeine. Caffeine is a natural diuretic, and it works to make your body get rid of fluid through urine.
In addition, beverages such as milk, juice and herbal teas are composed mostly of water. Even caffeinated drinks — such as coffee and soda — can contribute to your daily water intake.
Soda: How Do They Compare? Nutritionally speaking, water is far better for you than any type of soda on the market. A regular cola is about 89 percent water, according to USDA data, which means that almost 11 of the 12 ounces (oz) in a can of soda can be counted toward your fluid intake for the day.
Juice and soda are not only less hydrating, but offer extra sugars and calories that won't fill us up as much as solid foods, explained Majumdar. If the choice is between soda and water for hydration, go with water every time.
Research shows that milk is one of the best beverages for hydration, even better than water or sports drinks. Researchers credit milk's natural electrolytes, carbohydrates, and protein for its effectiveness.
Sparkling water hydrates you just as much as regular water. Thus, it contributes to your daily water intake. In fact, its fizziness may even enhance its hydrating effects for some people. Nonetheless, you should choose sparkling water without added sugar or other sweeteners.
Drinking caffeine-containing beverages as part of a normal lifestyle doesn't cause fluid loss in excess of the volume ingested. While caffeinated drinks may have a mild diuretic effect — meaning that they may cause the need to urinate — they don't appear to increase the risk of dehydration.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, total water is the fluid intake from plain drinking water, other beverages, and even food. “Coffee counts towards your fluid intake, within reason,” says Jordan.
Drinking enough water offers health benefits, however, drinking too much water, such as 3-4 liters of water, in a short period leads to water intoxication. For proper metabolism, a normal human body requires about two liters of water.
Even one or two colas a day could increase your risk of type 2 diabetes by more than 20%. Sugar intake is linked to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and excess fat, all of which increase the risk of heart disease. Colas and other sugary drinks have been linked to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
Dehydration means your body loses more fluids than you take in. If it's not treated, it can get worse and become a serious problem.
Two early signs of dehydration are thirst and dark-coloured urine. This is the body's way of trying to increase water intake and decrease water loss. Other symptoms may include: dizziness or light-headedness.
The fastest way to hydrate is with an oral rehydration solution. These products are packed with electrolytes which are minerals found in your body that balance fluid levels and maintain optimal hydration. While you can hydrate fast with regular water, focus on electrolytes.
Drink an ORS Before Bed
Instead of drinking a glass of water, drink an oral rehydration solution like DripDrop ORS, which also contains electrolytes that are essential for hydration. Try to drink the ORS an hour or two before bed so you don't wake up in the middle of the night to use the restroom.
Even that amount — even if it is a diet soda — can hurt your health. An American Diabetes Association study reported that consuming one or more sodas per day compared to none at all increased the risk of metabolic syndrome by 36% and type 2 diabetes by 67%.
Here is one more reason to enjoy that morning cup of joe: “Coffee counts toward your daily water intake,” says Lauren DeWolf, MS, RD, a registered dietitian with Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Centers. The water in coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages helps us meet our daily fluid needs.
Watermelon. OK, so this isn't a drink…but every time you eat watermelon, you're retaining 92 percent of the liquid you're eating. That's better than fruit juice! You can try these other hydrating foods, too.
The most thirst-quenching drink, according to science, is everyone's favorite: a glass of cold seltzer.