What's the best daily drink when you have ulcerative colitis?

For several years I have avoided all carbonated drinks including pop, soda water and beer. I also avoid all alcoholic beverages. I also avoid almost all caffeine, no coffee. This makes life pretty boring but comfortable. I drink lots of orange juice, usually a pint, for breakfast. Lemonade by the gallon, the more watered down the better. Iced tea, powdered mix, a lot. Gatorade, (though since I drink it now as a colonoscopy prep, it's disgusting). Plain water is best, but I'm just not a big water drinker, I prefer my lemonade (powdered mix). By the way, I love a small glass of wine or a beer occasionally, but am always sorry the next day 😢

By the way ... I love chocolate, but avoid it because of the caffeine. Rarely I'll enjoy a chocolate chip cookie.

What I drink everyday is lots of plain water, some almond milk maybe, and some morning green matcha tea (by traditional medicinals brand) with toasted rice and some tummy calm type tea that I found online. It’s composed of mint, ginger and catnip. Sometimes cranapple juice. And these don’t seem to bother me at all. Mostly lots of water. Recently, because of a major flare up, I’ve been totally avoiding alcohol, soda and coffee. The acidity in orange juice bothers my stomach, however, mango-orange juice is more tolerable for me, but with a flare up I don’t even drink that. Having flare up for the past 3 months has definitely caused me to search out something besides coffee that I could enjoy in the morning.

You're drinking too much sugar, should drink no alcohol. OJ is like drinking 100% sugar.
Soda water is ok for a carbonated fizzy.
Was the question meant to ask about MREs, like Ensure?
Also, I would avoid anything too acidic.

Hi @jmccready23 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I see you have already had several people respond, but I wanted to give you some useful information as well.
"Recommended fluids include water, broth, tomato juice, or a rehydration solution. Drinking slowly and taking small sips. Avoid using a straw, which can cause you to ingest air, which may cause gas. Dec 15, 2021"
- What can I eat or drink with ulcerative colitis?: https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/eat-drink-ulcerative-colitis-3564440/
- Living with Ulcerative colitis: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ulcerative-colitis/living-with/

How long have you been diagnosed with UC?

Hello @jmccready23

I'd like to add my welcome to you as a new member of Connect. I'm glad that you posted your question about daily drinks when you have UC. The website that @amandaburnett posted has really a good list of foods and drinks that are safe and some that are better left alone.

While I don't have UC, I do have a number of digestive tract problems from several surgeries on the upper digestive tract. I make a shake in my blender each morning. I start with a 1/2 cup of Kefir (Kefir is very sour so it needs to be mixed with something else). I then add a ready-made protein drink (I use the Atkins shake, however, there are others like Ensure, etc.), then add a banana and some fresh blueberries. I blend it and it is a high probiotic drink with some fiber that has been blended.

The idea of keeping a food journal is great as well. When you have a flare-up, you can look back to see what you ate or drank before the flare-up and that can give you clues as to what to avoid in the future.

@jmccready23 What have you tried so far?