Fluid intake?

[SunsetRunner]

I see the app asks for 'water' intake inputs. I do drink a lot of water during the day but also Coca Cola Zero, no caffeine and no sugar. I'm not bothered about recording my coffee intake and I don't drink any alcohol but I think the Coke should be included. What do others think?

[alexthecat]

@SunsetRunner I think it's up to you to decide how you want to use that feature. I use it to track all my fluid intake. Other people prefer to track only water. I don't think either is right or wrong. It's just a matter of individual preference. 

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks. Yes, I'm counting water, Coke Zero, my breakfast juice bit not coffee or milk. But I am interested to know what others are doing.

[SebWotan]

I put only water and green or herbal tea. 

Coffee and black tea are slighly dehydrating, so I do not want to count them as fluid intake.

Any drink with calories in is not fluid, it is food and is logged as such. Coca Cola Zero is special because it does have 0 calories but it has artificial sweeteners. I do not drink any soda anyway so this is a bit moot for me. 

[emili]

I don't track my fluid intake because I have a liquid routine I follow everyday that ensures I get all my liquids in, but I would think anything with caffeine should probably not be added since it negates the hydration. Not that you shouldn't have it, but I wouldn't count it towards rebuilding cells since it doesn't. 

[MarkMM]

I generally only count water, but I take creatine too, so the extra tea/coffee doesn't hurt I'm sure. 

And here's what web md says about them.

"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."

https://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/healthy-beverages 

[t.parker]

@emili caffeine doesn't negate hydration. It's a myth which probably comes from mixing terms of "diuretic" and "dehydrating". It's one of those myths like "anabolic window". See the link @MarkMM pasted.

Also, from Mayoclinic this .

In other words, if somebody wants to add caffeine drinks into fluid intake there is nothing wrong with that 🙂

[Pinkdusk]

I think it depends on how you want to use that function. If you just want to see how much fluid you are intaking, then go ahead and add it. But I think (I am not a nutritionist - just have utilized their services), if you are looking to understand what may be impacting your digestion, feelings of fatigue, kidney health or probably a myriad of other applications, then the criteria may change. 

For instance, going from a diet with low fiber to one with high soluble fiber, you may end up constipated or have irregular bathroom habits if you are not getting enough water (not fluid, water specifically). Or even having a high fiber diet, but then going from no exercise to a lot of exercises that produce sweating may throw your system off as water availability diminishes.

Since soluble fiber takes when water from your intestines, if you are drinking a lot of fluids that are also diuretics, you will not have enough water to fill your needs, as diuretics flush the system, and that affects your body. You may experience symptoms that are similar to dehydration even though you aren't dehydrated, like chapped lips. I am sure there is even more, and taking a university course can give you some great insights into how vitamins, minerals, and water work together, and that isn't often talked about online.  Some companies health benefits include nutritionists and if you have questions about health and food interactions, it might make for an interesting visit. 

Likewise, my grandmothers doctor told her, your kidneys don't care what the liquid is - could be alcohol, as long as it is liquid, now the rest of your organs may not have the same opinion. This was in regards to kidney disease, she is 92, and has stage 3 kidney disease in one kidney and they were talking about the things she could do to help minimize the impacts. For my grandmother, it is just tracking any liquid - even to your point her glasses of wine, which most of us wouldn't consider tracking. 

I think it really comes down to what you are trying to achieve with that function. Overall gut health, kidney health, overall hydration levels, you can use it to help identify a lot.