Fluids
Drinking enough fluids is very important, especially during the summer. As a rule, drink about 1 cup of fluid 15 minutes before exercise and every 15 to 20 minutes during exercise. Fluids should always be available, and planned “fluid breaks” are very important. Fluids should not contain caffeine because it can cause dehydration. Sports drinks are a good choice because they provide carbohydrates for energy and small amounts of salt.

Salt
The extra salt that CF patients lose during exercise should be replaced with salty foods like potato chips. Do not rely only on sports drinks to replenish salt lost during exercise because these beverages do not have enough salt to meet CF patients’ needs.

Extra Calories
When you exercise, you burn additional calories. You may need to add an extra snack or two to make up for the calories lost during exercise. It is very important to plan for this extra food so that you do not lose weight.

Alternative Medicine
There are many unproven nutrition therapies that promise to cure, help, or lessen CF symptoms. Although it might be tempting to try these products, discuss all therapies with your CF team first. Some herbal or other nutritional supplements may be dangerous to your health. This Dietary Supplement brochure, designed by the National Consumers League, is a good overview of dietary supplements, their regulation and potential risks.