Which hydration claims hold water?

IT’S NOW the norm to carry around a water bottle as if it’s a permanent extension of your arm, so it seems that most of us have bought in to the benefits of proper hydration. But is what you think about your drink more hype than fact? Take this quiz to find out, and hydrate smarter. 1. True or false: Coffee and tea count towards hydration.

Even though caffeine is a diuretic, which forces water to be excreted in urine, our bodies quickly compensate. So even caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea have a net hydrating effect. Sure, plain water and decaf beverages will hydrate you more, but you can still count that iced coffee as a quencher as much as it is an afternoon pick-me-up.

2. True or false: Coconut water hydrates better than water.

This one is firmly in the hype category. In 2012, a major coconut water player, Vita Coco, settled a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of misrepresenting the health benefits of its products, including exaggerated claims of being “super-hydrating”. The company stopped marketing its products that way, but the claim is still rampant on the internet. That’s not to say that coconut water isn’t hydrating – it is, just no more so than plain water. 3. True or false: The foods you eat can help you stay hydrated.

TRUE. FALSE. TRUE.

Moisture in solid foods typically accounts for about 20 percent of our water intake, and you can up that number by digging into plenty of water-rich foods, which include many of the in-season fruits and vegetables this time of year. Think lettuce, summer squash, tomatoes, cucumber, melon, grapes, stone fruit and so on. Put them in smoothies with milk or include them in chilled soups. 4. True or false: Drinking water may help you lose weight.

Although it’s no magic bullet, there is evidence that getting enough water can help with weight-loss efforts in several ways.

For one, it can affect metabolism. When we are well hydrated, our cells burn more calories than if we are dehydrated – not a huge amount more, but every little bit helps.

One study published in Obesity in 2008 found women on a weight-loss plan who increased their water intake to more than 1 litre a day lost about 2.3kg more over the course of a year than those who drank less.

Then there is the issue of satiety. Water-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, soups and yoghurt provide a high level of satisfaction, and there is some evidence that drinking water before a meal can help you eat less at that meal. Of course, drinking water instead of beverages such as soft drinks is also an easy way to cut calories. – The Washington Post

TRUE.