Limiting Your Fluids

Limiting Your Fluids

 

Tell your provider if you have a water softener for drinking water at home. Water softeners use salt in the softening agent. Choose bottled water if you can to avoid this extra amount of salt.

 

Limit total daily fluids to 64 ounces or 2,000 milliliters (ml)

Here are some ways to track fluids. Choose the method that works best for you:

  1. Use your hospital water pitcher. If you have a 0.5 L or ½ liter pitcher, it can be refilled 3 times per day for 1500 ml. You may be able to have up to 500 ml more for fluid in foods, such as soup or ice cream, add ice to drinks, take medicines or drink water when brushing your teeth. The lines on the pitcher will show you how many milliliters or ounces you have drank. Note: If you have a large hospital water pitcher at home, use a limit of 1 ½ refills.
  2. In the morning, pour 64 oz or 2,000 ml of water into a large pitcher or 2 liter soda bottle. Each time you drink any kind of fluid, pour out the same amount of water. When the pitcher is empty, you are finished for the day. 
  3. Pour drinks into eight (8), 8 ounce cups for a total of 64 oz or 2,000 ml. Or use smaller cups and increase the number of portions for more beverage variety.

 

Fluid conversion table

1 quart (qt) 

32 ounces (oz) or 4 cups

960 milliliters (ml)

2 ½ cups

20 oz

600 ml

1 pint (pt)

16 oz or 2 cups

480 ml

1 cup

8 oz

240 ml

¾ cup

6 oz

180 ml

2/3 cup

5 1/3 oz

158 ml

½ cup

4 oz

120 ml

1/3 cup

2 2/3 oz

79 ml

¼ cup

2 oz

60 ml

1 Tablespoon (Tbsp)

½ oz

15 ml

1 teaspoon (tsp)

1/6 oz

5 ml

 

What if liquids are written in cubic centimeters (cc)?

Medicines may be written in cubic centimeter or cc. As a helpful guide, 1 cc = 1 ml. This means that:

  • 1 teaspoon = 5 cc = 5 ml
  • 2 teaspoons = 10 cc = 10 ml

 

Fluid measures

  • Ice, 1 cup crushed equals ½ cup fluid or 120 ml
  • Ice, 1 cube equals 2 Tbsp fluid or 30 ml
  • Fruit, 1 cup equals ½ cup fluid or 120 ml
  • Ice cream, sherbet, yogurt or pudding, 1 cup equals ½ cup fluid or 120 ml
  • Gelatin or jello, ½ cup equals ½ cup fluid or 120 ml
  • Popsicles, 1 twin bar equals 1/3 cup or 40 ml

 

Staying within fluid levels

Here is an example of daily fluids. This example has 60 ounces, which is below the 64 ounce limit per day.

Breakfast - Food and fluid amount equals 20 ounces

  • 1 cup (8 oz) coffee or tea
  • 1 cup (8 oz) milk
  • 1 cup frosted shredded wheat squares cereal
  • 1 poached egg
  • 1 piece of toast with 1 teaspoon butter and 1 teaspoons jelly
  • 1 medium banana (½ cup fluid)

Lunch - Food and fluid amount equals 12 ounces

  • 1 cup (8 oz) soda product
  • 1 grilled chicken sandwich -- 3 ounces grilled chicken, 1 tablespoon mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato, and 1 whole wheat roll
  • ½ cup carrot sticks
  • 1 medium apple (½ cup fluid)
  • ½ cup unsalted pretzels

Snack - Food and fluid amount equals 12 ounces

  • 1 cup (8 oz) iced tea with 2 cubes of ice (60 ml or ¼ cup)
  • 8 unsalted crackers
  • 1 stick low sodium cheese

Dinner - Food and fluid amount equals 14 ounces

  • 1 cup (8 oz) fruit juice with 2 cubes of ice (60 ml or ¼ cup)
  • 3 ounces lean beef
  • 1 medium baked potato with 1 tsp butter
  • 1 cup steamed broccoli (fresh/frozen) with lemon and salt free herbs
  • 1 cup peaches (raw/canned, drained of fluid) (½ cup fluid)

Snack- Food and fluid amount equals 12 ounces

  • 1 cup (8 oz) tea
  • 1 cup ice cream (½ cup fluid)

 

Fluid total is 60 fluid ounces and the daily goal is less than 64 ounces.

 

Tips for managing fluids

Keep track of fluids in what you eat and drink.

  • Measure out water, coffee, tea, juice, carbonated beverages, all hot or cold drinks and soups.
  • Limit milk to 2 cups per day.
  • Tell your provider if you have a water softener for drinking water at home. This adds salt to the water you drink.
  • Avoid sports drinks, energy drinks, regular tomato juice, carbonated beverages with sodium or salt added, whole milk, buttermilk, instant cocoa and commercially made milkshakes.
  • Avoid alcohol, such as wine, beer or liquor. Alcohol can change how well your heart medicine works. Talk with your provider about alcohol.  

 

© 2014 – July 30, 2019, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

This handout is for informational purposes only. Talk with your doctor or healthcare team if you have any questions about your care. For more health information, call the Library for Health Information at 614-293-3707 or email: health-info@osu.edu.