E. coli’s favorite party trick is making you lose fluids faster than a leaky garden hose. You’re going to sweat, cry, and—let’s be honest—expel more water than a fire hydrant in a heatwave. Drink clear fluids: water, broth, or the holy grail of gut health, oral rehydration salts (sold at pharmacies as little packets of magic).
Sip, don’t chug. If you gulp down a liter of water, your irritated gut will just wave goodbye and send it out the back door. Try ice chips or frozen popsicles if sipping feels too slow—just avoid red ones, because you’ll panic later when you see the toilet.
Fun fact: Your body can absorb about one liter of fluid per hour through the small intestine. But during E. coli, it’s like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in the bottom. So, pace yourself. Think of it as a marathon, not a sprint—except the marathon involves a toilet.
