Herbal teas, Penta water

Hi Ron. Welcome to the Self-help Forum.!
You're off to a good start but have missed the basics. YES, those with respiratory conditions need to stay Hydrated. VERY hydrated. Faster breathing dries out the lung passageways much like exhaust in a racing car engine. Our lubrication is Water.

Your choice of drinks leave a lot to be desired. Coffee is a dehydrator, even though caffeine is an ingredient which can help our breathing. Chocolate has a similar ingredient but is a NO for us because eating it just builds up mucus too.

Sodas contain Carbonation, our primary lung nemesis. CO2 gas builds up in the blood stream and prevents Oxygen from being circulated instead. Sugar and simple carbs (breads, pasta) use up a lot of energy to break down and are all carbs. They give you a burst of energy but have you worn out later on. See my picture if any doubt.

My suggestions for staying hydrated get little applause around here. But I learned the hard way my tips keep the phlegm cut to a minimum. Start your day with a bottle of WATER. Before you even get out of bed. Drink warm teas, clear fruit juices, water. Pineapple is a good choice if you have some coughing to My guess is that is already true.

Gatorade for the electrolytes. You just earned a few extra trips to the bathroom throughout the day! Your body will tell you when you are saturated. Like a sponge. As many foods as possible should be soft and juicy: Soups, fruits, softer veggies - you get the idea .

It's worth a try for a whole day. You can always go back to your old favorites if it doesn't work for you. This is the short list. If your dietician disagrees with any of these, blame it on me.
Be well

I am a wine drinker and I only allow myself a glass or two on the weekend.
In the morning I have two cups of coffee and only water for the rest of the day as all the inhaler and nebulizer medicines seem to really dry me out. I love A&W root beer but find that it causes more mucus in my lungs. I use Spiriva, Symbicort, a rescue inhaler and a nebulizer as well as mucinex every six hours. Walking is a problem for me as I am out of breath after a few steps.
I was diagnosed with COPD in 2009.
Hang in there everyone, life is still precious.

Lots of water and mucinex to make the mucus more liquid and easier to cough up.