Over the summer, it is important to keep yourself hydrated so your body and brain can function well.¹
 

You may find it challenging to drink enough fluids each day, even more so when you are on thickened drinks, a feeding tube or fluid restriction.

Below, you’ll learn how to tell whether you are dehydrated and how to ensure you are getting enough fluids in these hotter months.

Monitor your urine to check for dehydration

One way to tell whether you need more fluids is by checking your urine colour. Urine that is darker than the colour of pale-yellow straw means you are dehydrated.
 

You may want to view this urine colour chart to get an idea of the colours you need to look out for. You may also need to speak with your doctor if you are taking medications or vitamin supplements, as these may change the colour of your urine temporarily.

What are practical ways you can stay hydrated this summer?

If you are on unthickened fluids
• Make it a point to drink every couple of hours even if you are not thirsty.
• Carry a water bottle with you everywhere or place a mug beside you when you are
sitting at a desk or on a couch as a visual reminder.

If you are on thickened fluids²
• Bring a small amount of your drink thickener with you whenever you leave the house, so you can thicken a drink when you need to.
• Make it a point to drink every couple of hours even if you are not thirsty. You may want to keep a record of how much you drink each day and stick it on the refrigerator door.
• Add a dash or two of fruit juice into your water to flavour it before thickening the drink.
• Place a mug beside you when you are sitting at a desk or on a couch as a visual
reminder.

If you are on tube feeding³
• Be as diligent about your water flushes as you are about your feeds. Even though you are receiving liquid feeds, these are not always enough to keep you hydrated. Set reminders on your phone or to-do list so the water flushes eventually become a habit.
• Speak to your dietitian before the weather gets hotter to see if you may need more
water flushes in summer.

If you are on a fluid restriction
• Chat with your GP to ask whether you need to increase your fluid intake on hot days, and by how much. ⁴

References:
1. Australian Government Department of Health. Dehydration. Healthdirect, 2020. Available
from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dehydration
2. Connolly C and Welsh D. Managing Hydration in Dysphagia: A practical guide. Complete
Nutrition, 2019. Available from: https://nutrition2me.com/wpcontent/uploads/2019/07/Managing-Hydration-in-Dysphagia.pdf
3. Abbott. Guide to adult tube feeding. Abbott, 2017. Available from:
https://static.abbottnutrition.com/cms-prod/abbottnutrition-2016.com/img/Adult-tubefeeding-
at-home_tcm1411-57870.pdf
4. Queensland Health. Controlling fluid intake in heart failure. Nutrition Education Materials
Online, 2017. Available from: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/150119/cardiac_fluid.pdf