Best Drinks for Diarrhea

Oral rehydration solution, water and clear broth are the best drinks for diarrhea, with oral rehydration solution the strongest choice for replacing lost fluid and electrolytes. Diarrhea can cause dehydration, so the priority is to replace what the body loses rather than look for a drink that promises to stop it.

The right choice depends on the amount of fluid lost, age and any medical conditions. For related guidance, browse natural remedies by health goal.

What are the 4 best drinks for diarrhea?

Oral rehydration solution

Oral rehydration solution, often called ORS, contains a specific balance of glucose and electrolytes that helps the intestine absorb water. It is the best-supported option on this list for replacing diarrhea-related fluid and salt losses, particularly when stools are frequent or watery.

Buy a commercial oral rehydration solution from a pharmacy or use an oral rehydration powder. If using powder, mix the entire packet with the exact amount of safe water stated on the package. Too much or too little water changes the concentration; do not add extra sugar or salt, or mix the powder with juice, milk or broth.

Take frequent small sips if a full glass is difficult to tolerate. Oral rehydration solution replaces losses, but it does not treat the underlying cause of diarrhea or guarantee that diarrhea will stop. If dehydration is severe or the person cannot keep fluids down, medical care is needed rather than continued attempts to drink at home.

Evidence: Properly formulated oral rehydration solutions have strong clinical and public-health support for treating dehydration from diarrhea. The evidence is for the correctly prepared solution, not for an improvised sweet or salty drink.

Water

Water replaces fluid lost in stool and may be enough for an otherwise healthy adult with mild diarrhea who is still eating. Sip it regularly rather than waiting until thirst becomes intense. If nausea makes drinking difficult, try small amounts more often.

Water does not contain the balance of electrolytes needed to replace substantial diarrhea losses. Choose oral rehydration solution when diarrhea is frequent or watery, and seek medical advice if dehydration is developing. Plain water should not replace breast milk or correctly prepared formula for a baby.

Evidence: The role of water in hydration is well established, but water alone is not a complete treatment for significant dehydration from diarrhea.

Clear broth

Clear broth supplies fluid and usually some sodium, which is lost during diarrhea. Choose a plain broth you tolerate, and sip it warm or at room temperature. A ready-to-drink broth or one prepared according to its package directions is convenient; spicy or greasy additions may be harder to tolerate.

Broth is not formulated like oral rehydration solution, and its sodium content varies by product. Use it as an additional fluid rather than relying on it alone when losses are significant. People who have been told to limit sodium or fluids should ask their clinician before increasing their intake.

Evidence: Broth can contribute fluid and sodium, but it is not as well supported as oral rehydration solution for correcting diarrhea-related dehydration.

Rice water

Rice water is the liquid left after cooking plain white rice. It provides fluid and some starch and can be an option if its mild taste makes it easier to drink. It does not provide a reliable balance of electrolytes, so it should not replace oral rehydration solution when diarrhea is frequent or dehydration is a concern.

To make a small batch, use:

• 1/2 cup (about 90 g) uncooked white rice
• 4 cups (about 950 mL) safe drinking water

1. Rinse the rice and add it to a pot with the water.
2. Bring the water to a boil, then simmer until the rice is cooked.
3. Strain the liquid into a clean container and let it cool enough to drink.
4. Sip the liquid plain and discard leftovers.

For babies, continue usual breast milk or correctly prepared formula rather than substituting rice water. Ask a clinician about oral rehydration solution if an infant has diarrhea.

Evidence: Rice water can provide fluid, but there is limited evidence for this homemade drink as a diarrhea treatment. Its starch and electrolyte content can vary with preparation.

Which drinks should you avoid with diarrhea?

Avoid alcohol, which can contribute to dehydration. Coffee, energy drinks and other caffeinated drinks may stimulate the bowel and make symptoms harder to manage for some people.

Limit full-strength fruit juice, regular soda and other drinks high in sugar; they can make diarrhea worse. Sports drinks are not formulated like oral rehydration solution and should not be used as an ORS substitute for babies or young children. If an adult chooses one, it should not replace ORS when dehydration is a concern.

Milk and fermented dairy drinks do not bother everyone, but some people temporarily have trouble digesting lactose after a diarrheal illness. Cut back if they worsen symptoms; this does not mean withholding breast milk or usual formula from a baby.

Evidence for probiotic drinks is limited for treating active diarrhea. A 2014 economic evaluation modeled prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea using a particular fermented milk in hospitalized older adults; it did not establish that probiotic drinks treat diarrhea or replace rehydration. Avoid laxative or “detox” teas, which can increase fluid loss.

How much should you drink with diarrhea?

For an adult, MedlinePlus guidance suggests drinking at least 1 cup (240 mL) of fluid after each loose stool, in addition to usual fluid intake. The electrolyte calculator can provide general context, but it cannot measure diarrhea-related losses or determine an individual ORS dose.

This is a starting point, not a limit or a guarantee that dehydration is corrected. Take small, frequent sips if needed, and consider oral rehydration solution rather than relying on water alone when stools are frequent or watery. Someone with ongoing losses may need more help than a fixed amount can provide.

Children and babies need age-appropriate advice; do not apply an adult target to them. Continue breastfeeding or usual formula feeds, and ask a clinician or pharmacist how to use oral rehydration solution. Do not dilute formula or force a child to drink a large amount at once.

As appetite returns, eat foods you tolerate alongside fluids rather than relying on drinks alone. See the best foods for diarrhea for options.

When should you see a doctor for diarrhea?

Seek urgent medical care for confusion, fainting, severe weakness, very little or no urination, severe abdominal pain, bloody or black stools, or an inability to keep fluids down. These can signal serious dehydration or another condition that needs prompt assessment. A child who is unusually sleepy, has no tears when crying, or has markedly fewer wet diapers also needs prompt medical attention.

Contact a clinician if an adult’s diarrhea lasts more than 2 days or a child’s lasts more than 1 day. Contact a clinician sooner for an infant, especially one younger than 6 months, or for diarrhea accompanied by fever or worsening symptoms. Do not wait for the time limits if dehydration signs appear.

Ask for individualized advice sooner during pregnancy or for an older adult, a person with a weakened immune system, or someone with kidney disease, heart failure or diabetes. People taking diuretics or medicines that affect fluid or electrolyte balance, and anyone on a fluid or sodium restriction, may need medical guidance on what and how much to drink. Do not stop prescribed medication without discussing it with the prescribing clinician.