A common question for tea enthusiasts who love tea to a fault: Does drinking tea count as drinking water? Is it okay to substitute plain water with tea every day? Let’s dive in and talk about it!
Does drinking tea count as drinking water?
Of course it does! Because the main component of brewed tea is water. Water makes up over 95% of a cup of tea, so it definitely functions to hydrate the body. Whether it’s green tea, black tea, or oolong tea, drinking it helps replenish your body’s fluids.
Is there really no issue with replacing water with tea?
Can it really take the place of water? While drinking tea helps with hydration, relying entirely on tea instead of water is questionable. Why? There are a few main reasons:
- Caffeine content: Tea contains caffeine, especially black tea and teas harvested in summer. Replacing water entirely with tea can lead to a high caffeine intake, which may cause insomnia, heart palpitations, and other issues.
- Diuretic effect: Drinking tea promotes urination. Consuming too much can cause the body to lose water faster, resulting in feeling even thirstier the more you drink.
- Other components: The tannins in tea leaves may affect iron absorption. Especially for women or those who need iron supplementation, using tea to completely replace water is truly not an ideal choice.
Drinking tea counts toward your daily fluid intake, but it cannot completely replace plain water. Plain water puts no burden on the body, while tea comes with certain “added components.” Using tea as a substitute for water or drinking it exclusively as water is clearly not a smart choice.
Friendly Reminder
While tea is wonderful, remember that effects vary from person to person! Pregnant women, nursing mothers, or those sensitive to caffeine should consume tea in moderation or avoid it altogether.