Kidney Disease: Understanding Fluids

Healthy kidneys balance the amount of fluid that enters and leaves the body. If your kidneys can't maintain this fluid balance, you may need to limit your fluid intake. Always talk with your healthcare provider and ask how many ounces of fluid you can have every 24 hours. For accuracy, it's helpful to use a certain glass or mug and measure how much fluid it holds. Some glasses and mugs may look the same size. But they can hold different amounts of fluid. The information below can help.

Hand pouring water from measuring cup into drinking glass.

Make it a habit to measure fluids or check fluid content before you drink or eat.

What counts as a fluid?

Fluids are foods that are liquid at room temperature. Foods that count toward your fluid intake include:

Water for drinking and taking medicines.
Ice cubes and ice chips.
Coffee and tea.
Sodas.
Milk, cream, and liquid creamer.
Juices, both fruit and vegetable.
Soups.
Flavored ice pops.
Ice cream, sherbets, and sorbets.
Gelatin dessert, such as Jell-O.

Figuring fluid amounts

Fluids can be measured in different ways. The chart below can help you convert among units of measure. For ease of use, some numbers have been rounded off.

1 liter	4.2 cups	34 ounces	1,000 ml
1 quart	4 cups	32 ounces	1,000 ml
1 pint	2 cups	16 ounces	500 ml
1/2 pint	1 cup	8 ounces	250 ml
1/2 cup	4 ounces	120 ml
1/3 cup	3 ounces	80 ml
1/4 cup	2 ounces	60 ml
2 tbsp	1/8 cup	1 ounce	30 ml