Researchers report that when consumed in moderate amounts, caffeinated drinks — including tea — are as hydrating as water.
Coffee and tea also count in your tally. Many used to believe that they were dehydrating, but that myth has been debunked. The diuretic effect does not offset hydration.
Flavonoids help prevent cell damage. Team leader, Dr Carrie Ruxton, a Public Health Nutritionist, said tea is better for you than water because all water does is rehydrate you. Tea rehydrates you and provides antioxidants.
Carrie Ruxton, a nutritionist who authored a study and survey published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition that looked at the health and hydrating benefits of tea, you're not only totally fine to replace straight-up H2O with mugs of tea, it might actually be the better option for you overall.
For most people, tea will be a great alternative to water, at least for a part of the day. If you're not sensitive to caffeine, tea is gonna be great for during the morning and afternoon. If you're somewhat sensitive to caffeine, then just stick to the mornings.
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.
A Summary of Whether Tea Counts as Water Intake
While Tea has a diuretic effect, it does not offset hydration, so there's nothing to worry about in that regard.
There is little to no scientific evidence that proves that drinking water after having tea is dangerous for your health. However, it is believed that drinking water immediately after drinking a hot beverage like tea can lead to problems like pyorrhoea disease and digestive issues like acidity or pain.
Whether it's green tea, white tea, black tea, oolong tea, or tisanes, all tea has been known to help keep you hydrated. At its core, a cup of tea is 98% water and 2% tea, making it a great way to hit your daily water intake goals.
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.
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 3–4 cups (710–950 ml) of tea daily without adverse effects, but some may experience side effects at lower doses.
Tea leaves are acidic and will affect the digestion process. If you consume protein in the meal, the acid from the tea will harden the protein content, making it difficult to digest. Drinking tea immediately after a meal will also interfere with iron absorption by the body. Avoid tea one hour before and after meals.
Never pair any cold food with hot tea as it can disrupt the digestion process. Consuming foods of different temperatures together can weaken the digestive process and might make you nauseous. Avoid having anything cold for at least 30 minutes after drinking warm tea.
Bottom line. To meet your fluid needs throughout the day, choose water most often. Remember that other fluids like milk, coffee, tea and juice also count towards your daily fluid intake. Try to avoid soft drinks and limit drinks with caffeine to 3 cups per day.
There's probably nothing more hydrating than water on earth. It's (relatively/usually) clean. It doesn't have any sugar, sodium or carbohydrates.
Plain water is the best way to hydrate, no second guessing necessary.
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.
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.