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Fluids
When you have diarrhea or are vomiting, you are losing
a lot of fluids from your body. You must replace it or
you can become dehydrated.
Here are some hints
about getting the fluids you need:
- Drink a lot of liquids--8 or more glasses per day. You
don't need to worry about drinking too much. Any extra
will go out in your urine.
- Good fluids for you to drink are water, broth,
bouillon, fruit juice, punch. You also might try clear
carbonated drinks, like ginger ale or 7-up.
- The bubbles in carbonated drinks may cause cramps.
You can get rid of the bubbles by stirring it in a glass.
You could also remove the top from the bottle or can
and let it sit for a couple of hours before drinking.
- Use regular drinks rather than the type without
sugar. When you are sick and not eating much solid food,
your body can use the sugar in drinks to keep itself
going.
- Avoid beverages that contain caffeine. They can
make your kidneys lose more fluids than you are
drinking in. This causes dehydration. Some beverages
that contain caffeine are colas and other carbonated
drinks, coffee, tea, cocoa, and hot chocolate. Read the
label on carbonated drinks to see if they have caffeine in
them or not.
- Avoid beverages that contain alcohol. They can make
your kidneys lose more fluids than you are drinking in.
This causes dehydration. Stay away from beer, wine,
and hard liquor when you are trying to replace fluids
from diarrhea or vomiting.
- It is best to sip your beverages rather than drink
them down quickly. Using a straw might be helpful.
- Experiment with drinking cold and hot liquids to see
which is best for you. Many people can take liquids best
when they are at room temperature.
- Other ways to get the fluids you need are by sucking
on ice cubes and popsicles, or by eating jello or sherbet.
You can freeze your favorite beverage in ice cube trays
to make your own popsicles.
Go to the Eating Problems Menu
Go to the Peggy A. Wickwire, M.S., R.D. Menu
Go to the HIV & Nutrition Menu
Go to the HIVpositive.us Main Menu
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