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Simple ORS recipes to help with food poisoning or diarrhea
Co-authored byClaudia Carberry, RD, MSand Janice Tieperman
Last Updated: June 12, 2024Fact Checked
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- How to Make and Use an ORS |
- Homemade ORS Alternatives |
- When should someone drink an ORS? |
- Video |
- Tips |
- Warnings
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Oral Rehydration Salts or an Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) is a special drink made with clean water, sugar, and salt that can help replace fluid loss from severe diarrhea and/or vomiting. While medical professionals officially recommend using premade ORS packets and drinks, it is possible to make a homemade version with just 3 simple ingredients. We’ll walk you through the recipe for an ORS (including some homemade alternatives), and even provide some guidance on how much adults, kids, and toddlers should drink.
Things You Should Know
- Prepare a homemade ORS drink with 41⁄4c (1.0L) water, ½ tsp (3 g) of table salt, and 2 tbsp (25 g) of sugar.
- Alternatively, stir ¾ tsp (4.5 g) of table salt into 4c (0.95L) of a sports drink.
- Sip 100 mL (3.4 fl oz) of an ORS every 5 minutes. The total amount of an ORS you need (in mL) is your weight (in kg) multiplied by 75.
Section 1 of 3:
How to Make and Use an ORS
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1
Mix clean water, salt, and sugar together to make a homemade ORS. Stir ½ tsp (3 g) of table salt and 2 tbsp (25 g) of sugar into 41⁄4c (1.0L) of water. To improve the flavor, mix in some water flavoring.
- If you have a premade ORS packet: Stir a packet of premade ORS into 1L (34floz) of water.[1]
- Warning: Medical experts advise against using a homemade ORS solution unless there are no other options available. Premade solutions are your best bet at fighting dehydration.[2]
2
Drink 100 mL (3.4 fl oz) of your ORS about every 5 minutes. Multiply your weight (in kg) by 75—this is the amount of an ORS you need to drink over 4 hours (in mL). Continue to sip your ORS every few minutes, or until you no longer show signs of dehydration (for example, being able to pass urine, no longer feeling thirsty, and having a strong pulse).[3]
- Examine your symptoms after drinking your ORS for 1 hour, then continue checking once every 1-2 hours as you rehydrate.[4]
- Alternative dosage: Babies under 2 years old can drink 1⁄2L (17floz) of ORS per day; children under 10 years old can drink 1L (34floz) of ORS per day; and children over 10 years old and adults can drink 3L (100floz) of ORS per day.[5]
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Section 2 of 3:
Homemade ORS Alternatives
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1
Sports drink-based ORS Mix 11⁄2c (350mL) of a sports drink with 21⁄2c (590mL) of water and ½ tsp (3 g) of salt. If you’re using a low-calorie sports drink, use 1USqt (0.95L) of the beverage mixed with ¼ to ½ tsp (1.5 to 3 g) of salt.[6]
2
Broth-based ORS Pour 4c (0.95L) of water into a container, along with 1 broth cube, ¼ tsp (1.5 g) of salt, and 2 tbsp (25 g) of sugar. Stir everything together, wait for the ingredients to dissolve, and then start sipping from the mixture.[7]
- Liquid broth alternative: Combine 2c (0.47L) of beef broth, chicken broth, or vegetable broth with 2c (0.47L) of water and 2 tbsp (25 g) of sugar.
- Miso paste alternative: Mix 4c (0.95L) of water with 7 tsp (39 g) of miso paste and 1 tbsp (12.5 g) of sugar.
3
Juice-based ORS Mix 41⁄4c (1.0L) of water, 1c (240mL) of orange juice, 8 tsp (33.5 g) of sugar, ¾ tsp (3.7 g) of baking soda, and ½ tsp (3 g) of salt together.[8]
- Apple juice alternative: Mix 3⁄4c (180mL) of apple juice, 31⁄4c (0.77L) of water, and ½ to ¾ tsp (3 to 4.5 g) of salt together.
- Tomato juice alternative: Mix 21⁄2c (590mL) of tomato juice and 11⁄2c (350mL) of water together.
- Cranberry or grape juice alternative: Mix 3⁄4c (180mL) of juice, 31⁄4c (0.77L) of water, and ½ to ¾ tsp (3 to 4.5 g) of salt together.
4
See AlsoThirst Quencher: Homemade Electrolyte DrinkGet Answers to Your Questions about Pedialyte®Pedialyte For Infants - 3 Natural Choices » Daily MomRehydration Drink - Gastro Health - CincinnatiCereal-based ORS Mix ½ cup (17.5 g) of dry (pre-cooked) baby rice cereal with 2c (470mL) of water, and ¼ tsp (1.5g) of salt. Once the ingredients are combined, stick the mixture in the refrigerator until it has a thick but pourable consistency.
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Section 3 of 3:
When should someone drink an ORS?
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Drink an ORS when you’re experiencing diarrhea and/or vomiting. The purpose of an ORS drink is to help your body recover the fluids it loses through vomiting and diarrhea.[9] With this in mind, an oral rehydration solution can be a helpful way to recover from food poisoning.[10]
- See a doctor if you have persistent diarrhea (for 3+ days), you vomit so much that you aren’t able to keep any liquids in your system, and/or you have symptoms of dehydration (like not passing urine, having a dry mouth, or experiencing dizziness).[11]
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Tips
Medical professionals officially recommend using ORS packets (like Trioral or DripDrop).[12] You can also purchase premade ORS drinks (like Pedialyte).
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The BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) can help individuals rebound from bouts of diarrhea and vomiting since these foods are nutritious and easy on your stomach.[13]
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Warnings
Be sure to use clean water when preparing an ORS drink.[14]
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Don’t give a child with diarrhea medication unless your doctor recommends or prescribes it.[15]
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Call your doctor right away if your child experiences any serious symptoms like bloody stool, abdominal pain, a lack of tears, infrequent urination, high fever, intense thirst, weight loss, and/or frequent vomiting.[16]
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A typical case of diarrhea goes away within a week. Call your doctor if you experience diarrhea for longer than this.[17]
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References
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/cholera/treatment/
- ↑ https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/rehydration
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/cholera/treatment/
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/cholera/treatment/
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/pdf/global/posters/11_229310-j_ors_print-africa.pdf
- ↑ https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/nutrition/if-nfs-ors-recipes.pdf
- ↑ https://med.virginia.edu/ginutrition/wp-content/uploads/sites/199/2020/03/ORS-Parrish-March-2020.pdf
- ↑ https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/nutrition/if-nfs-ors-recipes.pdf
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/pdf/global/posters/11_229310-j_ors_print-africa.pdf
More References (8)
- ↑ https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/food-poisoning/treatment
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/symptoms.html
- ↑ https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/rehydration
- ↑ https://familydoctor.org/brat-diet-recovering-from-an-upset-stomach/
- ↑ https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/rehydration
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/diarrhea.html
- ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/diarrhea-in-children
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4108-diarrhea
About This Article
![How to Make an Oral Rehydration Salts Drink (ORS): 5+ Recipes (17) How to Make an Oral Rehydration Salts Drink (ORS): 5+ Recipes (17)](https://i0.wp.com/www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/50/Claudia-Carberry.jpg/-crop-100-100-100px-Claudia-Carberry.jpg)
Co-authored by:
Claudia Carberry, RD, MS
Registered Dietitian
This article was co-authored by Claudia Carberry, RD, MS and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Claudia Carberry is a Registered Dietitian specializing in kidney transplants and counseling patients for weight loss at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She is a member of the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Claudia received her MS in Nutrition from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in 2010. This article has been viewed 818,369 times.
3 votes - 67%
Co-authors: 29
Updated: June 12, 2024
Views:818,369
Categories: Featured Articles | Dehydration | Nausea and Vomiting
Article SummaryX
An oral rehydration salts drink, or ORS, is a special solution that you can use to rehydrate after severe diarrhea or vomiting. To make your own ORS drink, wash your hands with soap and water and grab a clean pitcher or bottle. Mix together ½ teaspoon (about 2 g) of table salt and 2 tablespoons (25 g) of granulated sugar in your container, then add 1 liter (about 4 cups) of clean drinking water. Stir the mixture vigorously for about 1 minute, or until all the salt and sugar are dissolved. Store any of the mixture that you don’t drink right away in the fridge for up to 24 hours. To learn how to prevent severe dehydration with an oral rehydration salt drink, scroll down!
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