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- While we may brush off dehydration as an easily preventable problem caused by a hard workout or alcohol consumption, it can be a life-threatening issue in other parts of the world.
- DripDrop is an oral rehydration solution (ORS) originally created by a doctor to treat victims of cholera. It follows formulation guidelines set by UNICEF and the WHO and tastes better than previous forms of ORS.
- In addition to cholera and natural disaster victims, it's used by firefighters, the military, and athletes to quickly replenish lost fluids.
- DripDrop is also suitable for you and me. The individual powder packets contain essential electrolytes (and half the sugar of sports drinks) to help you recover from sickness, a workout, heat exposure, or a hangover.
DripDrop Electrolyte Powder (24 count) Shop at Amazon External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."When you're dehydrated, you notice. You're thirsty, restless, and moody, and you might even faint. Whether you've just completed a tough workout or woken up after a Friday night out, the first thing you probably do to replenish those lost fluids is reach for water or an electrolyte drink.
While these instances of dehydration aren't usually life-threatening, the creator of electrolyte powder DripDrop has encountered plenty of other situations where it was. After witnessing a cholera outbreak in Guatemala, where children were throwing up from the bad taste of existing oral rehydration solutions (ORS), Dr. Eduardo Dolhun wanted to create an ORS that was both effective and tasty.
What exactly is an ORS and how does it work?
ORS stands for "oral rehydration solution" and is a balanced glucose-electrolyte mixture. It was first created in the late 1960s to treat the effects of cholera (vomiting and diarrhea) in Bangladesh and India. The mix of salts, sugar, and water work to counter dehydration symptoms by triggering water absorption in the small intestine. Through osmosis, sodium and glucose transport water from the gut into the bloodstream.
Today, the World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend a specific ORS formulation for effective treatment of clinical dehydration.
DripDrop as an ORS
DripDrop follows this recommended formula and comes in single-serving sticks in three flavors (watermelon, lemon, and berry). Each 10-gram serving contains 35 calories and seven grams of sugar, which is half the sugar of a comparable serving of a sports drink like Gatorade.
Since its introduction, DripDrop has been used to treat dehydration in the victims of natural disasters like the 2010 Haiti earthquake and Pakistan floods.
The ORS is also carried by firefighters, US military medics and troops, and athletes. It's "Certified for Sport" by NSF International, a program trusted by the MLB, NHL, NFL, and PGA, among other sports organizations.
Trying DripDrop for ourselves
All these high-intensity uses of DripDrop have us reassured of its efficacy — if it's being used to save children's lives and fuel professional athletes, it's good enough to use on our sick and hungover days.
Since it comes in individual packs, it's convenient to store in my bag or desk. As long as I have access to water, I can make myself an electrolyte drink and rehydrate myself. I always drink water throughout and after my workouts, but I noticed that taking DripDrop helps me recover even faster. I also like that it tastes as good as a sports drink, but isn't as caloric or sugary.
My editor also found it to be helpful as she recovered from a bout of the stomach flu, which left her nauseous and dehydrated. She said the taste wasn't overwhelming, even when her stomach and palate were sensitive.
The bottom line
DripDrop is a highly effective dehydration solution that's used all over the world for a variety of purposes. It's the best way you can replenish lost fluids, and this effect comes with no compromises — it's convenient to make and drink, it's healthier than sports drinks, and it tastes good.
Shop at Amazon Connie Chen Connie Chen is a former senior reporter on the Insider Reviews team, where she led coverage of home textiles, home entertaining, and food and drink. While at Insider, she specialized in all the things that enhance life at home, from the most comfortable bed sheets and fluffy pillows to cool online wine clubs and bartender-approved cocktail shakers. She combined rigorous testing methods, conversations with professionals, and active knowledge of the home and kitchen space to help readers get the most out of their money. When she's not changing duvet covers or washing towels twice a day for articles, she loves talking about and trying the newest snacks, drinks, and food gifts. You can see more of her testing process and other behind-the-scenes of being a product journalist on her Instagram @connayreviews. Connie joined Insider Reviews as an early member in 2017 and has also reported on products and services in the style, tech, fitness, travel, and e-learning spaces, with a particular interest and expertise in emerging startups. She has represented the team at CES and moderated panels on media business and the future of retail. Connie graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in media studies and business administration, which help inform her perspective on and coverage of industry trends, as well as the competitive e-commerce landscape at large. Read some of her work: The 4 best cocktail shakers in 2021 The 7 best women's bathrobes in 2021 The 5 best wine openers and corkscrews we tested in 2021 The 5 best bed sheets we tested in 2021 The 5 best cordless vacuums we tested in 2021 12 direct-to-consumer kitchen startups that are changing the way we shop for cookware and knives 8 tableware startups changing the way we shop for dishes Even chefs experience cooking burnout — here's how they get re-inspired in the kitchen How businesses create successful virtual experiences 50 cookbooks from famous restaurants across the US that will help you recreate their best dishes at home Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Learn more about how we test kitchen products. Read more Read lessYou can purchase syndication rights to this story here.
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