Fluid Restricted Diet

Alaine Mills, Dietetic Intern

1/21/2013-1/22/2013

What is a Fluid? A fluid is anything that is liquid or anything

that melts at room temperature.

Some foods do not necessarily seem liquid, but must be counted as part of a patient’s fluid intake since they are liquid at room temperature or have liquid as a major ingredient.

Why Does a Patient Need a Fluid Restricted Diet? For a patient who is on fluid restriction,

excessive fluid can lead to fluid overload Fluid overload causes complications, such as

swelling shortness of breath congestive heart failure fluid in the lungs fluid in the abdominal area

Diet Orders Common diet orders you may see a fluid

restriction with:

Renal Diet

Cardiac Mediterranean Diet

Traditional Examples of Fluids Water Milk Coffee Tea: Hot and Iced Juice Soda Lemonade Nutritional supplements, such as Boost®

Other Examples of Fluids Ice cubes Soup Gelatin and Jell-O® Ice cream Sherbet Sorbet Freezer pops/Popsicles

Exceptions These foods contain water, but not a

significant amount and should not be counted as a part of a patient’s fluid restriction Pudding Oatmeal Grits Fruits Vegetables Custards

Planning the diet A patient’s fluid restriction should be broken down into

milliliters (mL’s) per tray

If a fluid restriction is in place, but the amount per tray is not specified, clarify with the nurse before providing the patient’s tray Ask if it is total fluid or free water

 Foods that are liquid at room temperature should be counted by milliliters (mL’s)

Fluid is usually ordered in the form of cubic centimeters or “CC’s”

 1 mL is equal to 1 cc

Conversions Milliliters can be converted from ounces

or cups as follows:   30 ml = 1 fl oz  120 ml = 4 fl oz or ½ cup  180 ml = 6 fl oz or ¾ cup  240 ml = 8 fl oz or 1 cup 960 ml = 32 fl oz or 1 qt

Fluids in the Regular Diet

Amount of Fluid in Commonly Served Items Small bottled water: 8 oz or 240ml Tea (in small clear cup): 8 oz or 240ml Pre-thickened water cup: 4oz or 120ml Apple, Orange, Prune Juice in cup: 4 oz or

120ml Milk Carton (skim, 1%, 2%, chocolate and

whole): 8 oz or 240ml Coffee in black mug: 8 oz or 240ml

Nutritional Supplements

Nutritional Supplements Some items have less free water than other fluids,

because of other ingredients. Boost Plus, Boost Glucose Control, Resource

Breeze, Resource Diabetishield ~200ml

Novasource Renal 170ml

Fluid Content of Foods

Fluid Content of Foods These foods should be counted as a part of the

allowed fluid for the day

Soup (6 oz) in black bowl: 150ml Jello (2 ½ Oz) in dessert dish: 100ml Ice cream/Sherbet (4 oz): 95ml Popsicles (whole) : 80ml Pre-thickened water cups (4oz): 120ml

What is a Free Water Restriction? A free water restrictions means patients can

have all fluids EXCEPT WATER.

All other fluids can be served as usual