Limiting Fluids
Some people still have trouble with fluid
buildup even if they get 2000 mg of sodium
or less per day. If this is your problem, your
8 cups
per day
64 oz.
per day
How to measure fluid intake
for the day
• Select a pitcher that will hold the amount
of fluid you can have for the day.
• After eating or drinking any liquid, or
anything that counts as a liquid, pour the
same amount of water into the pitcher. For
example, if you drink 8 ounces of milk,
pour 8 ounces of water into the pitcher.
It represents what you just drank.
• When the pitcher fills up, you cannot
have any more fluid for the day.
doctor might ask you to limit fluids to 1.5 to
2 liters per day. That’s 1500 to 2000 milliliters.
2000 ml
per day
If your mouth is dry, try these tips.
• Suck on a piece of sugar-free hard candy.
• Chew gum.
• Freeze 15 – 18 grapes. Eat them slowly,
letting each one melt in your mouth.
• Chew or suck on ice instead of drinking
water. Be careful. You still have to count the
fluid in the ice. The best way to do this is to
fill a glass or pitcher with a certain amount of
ice, and then let it melt. Measure the amount
of fluid.
page 1 of 2 pages
This is for education only. Ask your own doctor any questions you have about your health. © 2008 by Vanderbilt University.
All rights reserved. Vanderbilt Medical Center Patient & Family Centered Care HC-0066 06/09
1 cup
8 oz.
240
milliliters
How Much Fluid in a Portion?
Remember, if it is liquid at room temperature, like ice or ice cream,
it is a fluid. Many foods are mostly fluids too. You must add these
to your daily total.
FLUID
PORTION SIZE
ML OF FLUID
soup (plain)
6 oz
180 ml
Popsicle
1 whole
90 ml
Ensure/Boost
8 oz
240 ml
regular milkshake
8 oz
190 ml
ice cream
4 oz cup
80 ml
sherbet
4 oz cup
75 ml
yogurt
6 oz cup/4 oz cup
180 ml/120 ml
Jello, plain
1/2 cup
110 ml
Jello with fruit
1/2 cup
90 ml
pudding
1/2cup
100 ml
milk
8 oz
240 ml
creamer
3/8 oz
11 ml
juice
4 oz
120 ml
Kool Aid
4 oz
120 ml
soda with ice
8 oz
270 ml
fresh orange
tennis ball size
120 ml
grapefruit
half of fresh fruit
120 ml
water
8 oz
240 ml
Patient & Family Centered Care HC-0066 06/09
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