On the road: The best strategy while traveling is to assume that all water is contaminated, and never drink untreated water. Don't even brush your teeth with untreated water, or eat a raw salad that may have been washed in untreated water. Ice cubes are also suspect.

2torial #0787: Learn2 Cope with Diarrhea (Continued) Replace lost fluids Passing watery stools many times a day, you also run the chance of becoming dehydrated, and dehydration can cause serious health problems. Normally, this is prevented by the sensation of thirst, which encourages you to drink when your body needs water. But your thirst mechanism is unreliable when diarrhea strikes: you lose large amounts of water in a short period of time, and your thirst reaction can't keep up with the loss of fluids. Be alert to the following signs of dehydration: Dry lips and tongue.   Increase in heart rate and breathing.   Dizziness, mental confusion.   Skin that looks dry and loses its elasticity.   Dark-colored urine passed in small quantities.   To avoid dehydration, increase your fluid intake. Drink at least 6-8 glasses of liquids per day. How can you tell if you've had enough? Your urine should consistently pale and clear.   Water or clear broth is fine; avoid carbonated beverages.   For fluid replacement with additional nutrient value, drink non-citrus fruit juices diluted in water to 50-70% juice. Soy or rice milk are also good source of liquid nourishment. Step 3