CKD & hydration: What else hydrates in addition to water?

@kate565656, it can be overwhelming and confusing to know how much liquid to consume with kidney disease. "Healthy hydration means having the right amount of water in your body. Too little water is dehydration, and too much is fluid overload." Read more in this helpful article:
- Healthy Hydration and Your Kidneys https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/healthy-hydration-and-your-kidneys

I'm tagging a few members like @kamama94 @gingerw @nycmusic @kayabbott who may have tips to offer as alternatives/additions to water.

Kate, are you looking for variety because water isn't tasty enough?

A few drops of flavoring, such as lemon juice, mint, or combinations of flavors helps. You can also make a smoothy; if dairy is out then another yogurt or coconut or rice milk mixed with berries or other low-sodium, pottassium, phosporous fruit (not banana or orange). I drink a lot of decaff coffee and teas, which are all water with flavors. Along with CKD, I have microscopic colitis, and if I drink too much water it bypasses to my kidneys. For me, 8-10 cups a day is too little because of exercise, and my upper limit is about 3 liters/day. Some base being hydrated on the color of urine (lemonade-ish), which is more yellow when taking one of the B complex vitamins.

@kate565656 welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I asked my nephrologist how much water I should be consuming. The answer was 5 - 6 cups a day (for me). I dislike plain water but I do pound down 6 - 8 ounces whenever I have medication to take so that takes care of quite a bit of it. Like @kayabbott I also drink a lot of decaf coffee and herbal tea. Years ago I discovered that a powdered sugar free flavored drink mix (such as Crystal Light) was a good option too. I was supervising residential and day treatment programs and many of the clients had trouble getting enough hydration. That was something the consulting dietician recommended and the Director of Nursing approved. It’s good for many different folks because there is no sugar / carbs, carbonation or any nutrients at all, just flavored hydration.

Try True Lemon. They’re packets of crystallized lemon. 0cal and 0sugar. 1 packet equals about the taste of a lemon wedge. Also comes in lime and orange.

I also think naturally flavored seltzer water is great. At CKD 4 I was not told to limit carbonation so I like La Croix its 0cal, 0 sugar and 0 sodium. Limoncello and Pastique (watermelon) are full flavor and doesn’t feel like you’re drinking water all the time.

@buggzy Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!

Like you, I use True Lemon, and really like their True Orange packets. Hydration can be pretty darned tricky, as we take into account the weather and how our bodies are feeling on any given day.

@kate565656 Please don't allow yourself to get dehydrated. That can be bad for you and your kidneys. If you wait to drink until you are thirsty, that's too late! It's not unusual for our doctors to tell us 32 ounces a day, or something like that. For myself, I try to keep it at 48 to 60 ounces. And some days, more if my body is telling me to drink more. It has kept me fairly stable since starting dialysis almost 4 years ago.
Ginger

Ginger,
Thanks for the tip on True lemon,
Tetine