Original Electrolyte Powder (ORS)

DripDrop was created by physician Dr. Eduardo Dolhun to make oral rehydration solution, the salt-and-sugar therapy used worldwide for dehydration, taste good enough that people actually drink it. The Original powder is designed for a smaller volume than most mixes: one 10 g stick in 8 oz of water provides 330 mg sodium, 180 mg potassium, 40 mg magnesium, 7 g added sugar, 70 mg vitamin C and 1.5 mg zinc, for 35 calories.

Per ounce, that is a stronger drink than most lifestyle electrolyte mixes. Its sodium concentration (roughly 60 mmol per liter) approaches the 75 mmol/L of the reduced-osmolarity ORS formula studied in children with diarrhea, although DripDrop uses more sugar, including sucrose and fructose, plus a little sucralose. In a small randomized crossover study of nine healthy young men cycling in the heat, the DripDrop formula led to better fluid retention during recovery than water or a sports drink, although time-trial performance did not differ significantly.

That makes it a strong choice for heat exposure, heavy sweating, travel illness and recovery, and it is widely used by the military, first responders and endurance athletes, according to the brand. Parents should check with a pediatrician before using it for a sick child, and anyone limiting sodium or sugar should use it only when genuinely dehydrated.

Buyers rate it highly for taste and for easing fatigue and cramps, and one reviewer calls it better than Pedialyte, but recurring complaints include powder that clumps into a hard block and doesn't dissolve well. Because each stick is meant for 8 oz, a standard 16 oz bottle needs two sticks, which makes it pricier than it looks at about $1.12 per stick.