People who are ill with the flu or common cold should drink different types of liquids and maintain their hydration level, said K-State nutrition and health education faculty members.

Water or 100 percent fruit juices should be consumed if someone has a common cold, said Mary Meck Higgins, associate professor in the Department of Human Nutrition and nutrition specialist with K-State Research and Extension. Fluids are necessary because people lose fluids through sneezing and frequently blowing their noses, Higgins said.

Chicken soup and other broth-based soups also are recommended to stay hydrated when ill with a common cold, Higgins said. Warm milk and warm tea also will soothe sore throats, she said.

"You're not looking for carbonated beverages because you're looking to stay hydrated and recover, so you're looking for something more nourishing," Higgins said.

With flu and nausea, Higgins said carbonated beverages and ginger ale soothe stomachs.

"Carbonated beverages are what I recommend if you're having trouble with nausea or vomiting," Higgins said. "For every other illness where you are trying to quench your thirst or stay hydrated, I wouldn't recommend carbonated beverages."

All fluids count toward water intake, though, Higgins said. If sick people mostly consume juices like milk, soup, juice and tea, an increase in water consumption is unnecessary, she said.

"Plain water, if they can take that, is a wonderful way to re-hydrate and stay hydrated," Higgins said. "If they're really thirsty and don't like plain water, they can mix water with 100 percent juice." Thirst occurs when people have lost 0.8 percent to 2 percent of their body weight, according to "Liquid Assets: The Value of Fluids to Your Health" by Barbara L. Ames. Ames is a Montgomery (Kan.) County family and consumer sciences agent for K-State Research and Extension.

According to the article, the easiest way to tell if a person is dehydrated is urine color and quantity. If the urine is dark, the body needs more fluids. Clear urine indicates a normal water balance in the human body, according to the article.

For those with diabetes who have the flu or another illness, Higgins said their blood sugar generally increases because of the stress with the illness. A blood sugar increase also increases thirst in those with diabetes, she said.

"I would caution that if someone with diabetes is really thirsty, they should monitor their blood sugar," Higgins said. "If they don't already have a plan for how to manage sick days, they should contact their doctor and develop a plan."

With most illnesses, people should maintain hydration with any fluid they can intake, including hot teas, iced teas and sugared drinks, said Carol Kennedy, director of health promotion at Lafene Health Center. While hydration is more important than calorie content to stay hydrated when ill, Kennedy said alcohol should not be consumed.

"When somebody is sick, anything to avoid dehydration is necessary," Kennedy said. "Whenever you're sick, you still want to maintain

nutrition and always having fluids is an important part of that."

Sugared beverages also provide hydration when ill because they provide some nutrient content, Kennedy said. Clear fluids, including Jello and chicken broth, are more tolerable when people have stomach flu and are nauseated, Kennedy said. She said nauseated people should avoid milk-based liquids.

"Some people might feel so nauseous that they can't have anything but ice chips," Kennedy said, "but that's also a way of maintaining hydration."

While sports drinks also are an option to help stay hydrated, Kennedy said they are more suitable for those who are ill for several days.

"If it's a 24-hour bug, regular fluids that most students have access to are OK," Kennedy said.