Is Tea Hydrating? In a word: yes. Both iced and hot tea hydrate you and help deliver water to the body.
1 Tea is 99.5% water making it just as hydrating as water.
But despite what you've heard, coffee and caffeinated tea are not dehydrating, experts say. It's true that caffeine is a mild diuretic, which means that it causes your kidneys to flush extra sodium and water from the body through urine.
Instead of walking away with boring water, fill up your cup with iced tea. You get the benefit of hydration (tea is 99 percent water) plus a satisfying boost of flavor (black tea is oxidized to coax out its naturally malty, sweet, or fruity flavor profile).
In a word: yes. Both iced and hot tea hydrate you and help deliver water to the body.
Milk is more hydrating than water
For example, milk was found to be even more hydrating than plain water because it contains the sugar lactose, some protein and some fat, all of which help to slow the emptying of fluid from the stomach and keep hydration happening over a longer period.
Drinking Tea does dehydrate you in large quantities - any more than 6-13 cups. The reason is its caffeine content acting as a diuretic, although, for most people, in most instances, its benefits outweigh the risks. Tea is more likely to hydrate you than dehydrate.
Coffee, tea, soda, and alcohol are drinks that people associate with dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic, which removes water from the body. Drinks such as coffee and soda are mild diuretics, although they can have dehydrating effects on the body.
Herbal Teas
Hibiscus, rose or chamomile are great options because they're caffeine-free and will have less diuretic effects. “All herbal teas are great for hydration,” Giovanni says. “The main thing to look for is that it's a decaffeinated tea – a tea like black tea, for instance, wouldn't be hydrating.”
Cooling effect
This leads to loss of bodily fluids by form of transpiration, which is a way of the body to cool itself. In addition, the polyphenols, amino acids and vitamins present in the tea leaves ensure the increase of saliva production. This all contributes to a thirst quenching feeling.
Juice, smoothies, iced coffee, ice tea, protein shakes, milk, and other drinks can be excellent alternatives to water. You should avoid relying too much on drinks with a high sugar content, such as soda, certain fruit juces, energy drinks and chocolate milk.
In all essence, unsweetened tea does count as water. Tea, although mildly diuretic, help your body get hydrated, and your body absorbs the maximum water from the beverage. According to studies, drinking four to six mugs of tea a day is as good for keeping you hydrated as a litre of water.
In short: no. In the water-versus-tea battle, water still wins. Because water doesn't contain caffeine, sugar, or other additives, it's the purest form of hydration. If you're a regular tea drinker, you can continue drinking tea and it will contribute to your overall hydration level.
Daily fluid intake
The Eatwell Guide recommends that people should aim to 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.
The caffeine in coffee gives it diuretic effects, meaning it causes your body to pass more urine. But these effects are too mild to cause dehydration, especially if you're a regular coffee drinker. Coffee may even be hydrating for some people, because it contains a lot of water.
"Iced tea is full of oxalic acid, which, when taken in excess, deposits in your kidneys and mucks up the work of removing waste from the blood," says Scott Youngquist, MD, an emergency physician at University of Utah Health.
Is sweet tea better than soda? In a sense, yes. The reason is that it contains fewer calories with a lower amount of added sugar. Due to that added sugar, pop soda can lead to all sorts of health problems.
There has been much research done, and compelling conclusions that tea can reduce the risk of heart disease, and possibly even help prevent a number of others. In warmer weather, having your tea iced is a great way to reap the benefits all year.
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.
Water is your best bet for everyday hydration, since it is free of sugar, calories, and caffeine. All of your daily food and beverages contribute to your daily fluid needs.