Hi Karoll,

I'm not quite sure what you mean with your question. But, it is believed that Americans are chronically dehydrated and this can cause issues with digestion and the GI tract. Drinking soda, coffee, and other caffeinated beverages can dehydrate you, as can sugary and carb-packed foods.

Whether you have diarrhea or constipation it's important to make sure you are properly hydrated - you can tend to tell how well hydrated you are by the color of your urine. Darker yellow urine tends to mean you are less hydrated, while pale yellow or clear urine tends to mean you are well hydrated.

The best way to stay hydrated is by drinking cool or room temperature water. Don't drink cold or iced water because it can cause your colon to contract and could cause abdominal pain.

Proper hydration keeps your body functioning properlyand since your colon makes up a good part of your body's organs it can use a lot of water, especially when you are experiencing diarrhea. It's important in this case to replace what you lose.

I hope this helps. I'm not a doctor or a nurse, but this is what I've learned from years of living with IBD and IBS and chronic diarrhea.

Cheers,

Elizabeth