Tea, like coffee, can be considered a source of hydration, but it is not as hydrating as plain water. Tea contains water and it can be a good alternative to plain water, especially if you find it hard to drink plain water, it also has other components such as caffeine and antioxidants that can provide additional benefits.
Tea, like coffee, contains caffeine, a stimulant, so it’s important to be mindful of the amount consumed and the time of day it’s consumed, as excessive caffeine intake can lead to dehydration and cause insomnia.
Drinking tea can be a good way to increase your fluid intake and contribute to your daily water intake. It’s recommended to drink tea in addition to, rather than instead of, plain water.
It’s also worth noting that herbal teas, in particular, can be a good alternative to plain water as they provide hydration and also have additional benefits, such as providing antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds and other health-promoting compounds.
As with all beverages, it’s important to pay attention to your body’s signals of thirst and drink water and other fluids when you’re thirsty and also, to monitor your urine color, if it’s light yellow or clear, it’s a sign that you’re well hydrated.