Does Coffee Count as Water Intake for Weight Watchers?
Water is an essential part of any diet, especially for those following Weight Watcher’s guidelines. Drinking enough water is important for hydration, keeping your metabolism high and helping you to feel full while dieting. But what if you don’t particularly like drinking just water? Is coffee a healthy alternative to count towards your daily intake?
Benefits of Coffee
Coffee can provide several benefits that contribute to a healthy diet. Coffee helps to improve focus and energy, can reduce the risk for diabetes and many types of cancer, and may improve physical performance.
The Hydration Factor
The main issue with whether or not to count coffee towards water intake is that it is a diuretic, meaning it can cause dehydration. Several studies have revealed that coffee does count towards hydration, although the amount that counts may vary depending on how much caffeine each person can tolerate.
Tips for Drinking Coffee as Water Intake
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- Balance with other fluids: Drink equal or greater parts of other healthy fluids such as juice, tea or broth to make up for the caffeine in your coffee.
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- Drink more than usual: Pregnant women, the elderly or athletes may require drinking more than what is typically recommended.
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- Add flavor: You can add a splash of nut milk or cinnamon, nutmeg or vanilla extract to your coffee to make it more enjoyable.
Final Words
In conclusion, drinking coffee as part of your daily water intake is not only possible, but may even provide health benefits. Paying attention to other beverages you drink and how much caffeine you can tolerate is key to making sure you are getting the hydration you need. As with anything else, moderation is key – so if you prefer coffee daily, be sure to balance it out with other forms of water to achieve optimal intake.