STAYING HYDRATED

WITH ORAL REHYDRATION

SOLUTION (ORS)
Being aware of your hydration status
is important and ORSs may help prevent
dehydration. The following ORS recipes
provide an array of options. Ask your
doctor if they’re right for you.
Oral Rehydration Solution Basic ORS Recipes
(ORS) Recipes
What is an ORS?
Oral rehydration solution (ORS) is a simple solution of salt, sugar,
and water that is used to aid in dehydration due to diarrhea.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends
ORS when a person is dehydrated. If ORS is not available, water,
broth, and/or other fluids can be provided. Drinks with a high sugar
content, such as juice or soft drinks, are not recommended because
they could worsen diarrhea.

Importance of Hydration
Basic ORS Recipes
SBS can put you at higher risk for dehydration, which can be a serious
Recipes from the World Health Organization
concern. Dehydration may also make you more at risk for infections
Reduced Osmolarity Oral Directions: Use household measuring spoons,
and can damage your kidneys over time. SBS causes fluid and Rehydration Solution not silverware, to measure the ingredients.
electrolyte abnormalities, which makes achieving adequate hydration (Home Solution) To the 1 liter container, add about ½ of the
difficult. It’s important to consult your doctor when you notice signs Need 1 liter container: needed water. Add the dry ingredients, stir
of dehydration. This isn’t a problem that should be ignored. or shake well; add the remaining water to
½ teaspoon table salt make a final volume of 1 liter. Add artificial
¼ teaspoon salt substitute sweetener-based flavoring of choice if
½ teaspoon baking soda desired. Best if chilled. Sip as directed.
Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration 2 tablespoons table sugar Discard after 24 hours.
Add tap water to make 1 liter
Monitor your fluid intake throughout the day. If you experience
any of these symptoms, it may be a sign of dehydration: Basic Optional: Low-calorie, sugar-free powder
Use a 1 liter container: beverage mix to taste (especially lemonade
• Rapid weight loss • Fatigue or orange flavors)
4 ¼ cups water
• 
Diarrhea or stool output is • 
Lightheadedness or dizziness ½ teaspoon salt
higher than total fluid intake when standing 2 tablespoons sugar
• Urinating less frequently • 
Dry mouth
This is not to be taken as medical advice. Ask your healthcare provider if these
• Dark colored urine • 
Thirst
recipes, or any ORSs, are right for you and if volumes should be adjusted based
on your specific fluid restrictions and needs.
 Cereal-Based Recipes Juice-Based Recipes

Cereal-Based Recipes Juice-Based Recipes

Recipes from A Patient’s Guide to Managing a Short Bowel Recipes from the Oley Foundation
By Carol Rees Parrish, MS, RD Orange Juice Grape or Cranberry Juice
Baby Rice Cereal Starch-Based ORS 1 liter water (4 ¼ cups) ¾ cup juice
½ cup dry, precooked baby 1 liter water (4 1/4 cups) 1 cup orange juice 3 ¼ cups water
rice cereal 8 ounces (approximately ½ pound) 8 teaspoons sugar ½-¾ teaspoon salt
2 cups water of mashed potatoes, boiled and cooled ¾ teaspoon baking soda Equates to ~1 liter
½ teaspoon salt Directions: Combine and stir ingredients
¼ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon of table salt Equates to ~1 1/4 liters until well mixed and dissolved.
Equates to ~3/4 liter ¼ teaspoon of salt substitute Directions: Combine and stir ingredients
until well mixed and dissolved. Apple Juice
Directions: Combine ingredients Equates to ~1 1/4 liters
and mix until well dissolved and ¾ cup apple juice
Directions: Combine ingredients and Tomato Juice
smooth. Refrigerate. Solution should mix until well dissolved and smooth. 3 ¼ cups water
2 ½ cups tomato juice ½-¾ teaspoon salt
be thick, but pourable. Refrigerate. Solution should be thick,
1 ½ cups water
but pourable. Equates to ~1 liter
Equates to ~1 liter
Directions: Combine and stir ingredients Directions: Combine and stir ingredients
until well mixed and dissolved. until well mixed and dissolved.

This is not to be taken as medical advice. Ask your healthcare provider if these This is not to be taken as medical advice. Ask your healthcare provider if these
recipes, or any ORSs, are right for you and if volumes should be adjusted based recipes, or any ORSs, are right for you and if volumes should be adjusted based
on your specific fluid restrictions and needs. on your specific fluid restrictions and needs.
 Sports Drink-Based Recipes Broth-Based Recipes

Sports Drink-Based Recipes Broth-Based Recipes

Recipes from A Patient’s Guide to Managing a Short Bowel Recipes from A Patient’s Guide to Managing a Short Bowel
By Carol Rees Parrish MS, RD By Carol Rees Parrish MS, RD
Regular Sports Drink Low-calorie Sports Drink Chicken, Beef, or Vegetable Chicken, Beef, or Vegetable Broth
1 ½ cups sports drink 1 quart of ready-to-drink low-calorie Broth (Cube) 2 cups liquid broth
2 ½ cups water sports drink 4 cups water 2 cups water
¼ to ½ teaspoon salt 1 dry broth cube 2 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon salt Equates to ~1 liter
Equates to ~1 liter Equates to ~1 liter 2 tablespoons sugar Directions: Combine and stir
Directions: Add salt and water to Equates to ~1 liter ingredients until well mixed
Directions: Add salt and water to
ready-to-drink sports drink and Directions: Combine and stir ingredients and dissolved.
ready-to-drink sports drink and
shake well. until well mixed and dissolved.
shake well. Miso Paste
7 teaspoons miso paste
1 tablespoon sugar
4 cups water
Equates to ~1 liter
Directions: Combine and stir ingredients
until well mixed and dissolved.

This is not to be taken as medical advice. Ask your healthcare provider if these This is not to be taken as medical advice. Ask your healthcare provider if these
recipes, or any ORSs, are right for you and if volumes should be adjusted based recipes, or any ORSs, are right for you and if volumes should be adjusted based
on your specific fluid restrictions and needs. on your specific fluid restrictions and needs.
Printer-friendly Recipes Cereal-Based Recipes
Recipes from A Patient’s Guide to Managing a Short Bowel–By Carol Rees Parrish, MS, RD
These recipes are easy to print, cut out, and access for future reference. Baby Rice Cereal Starch-Based ORS
½ cup dry, precooked baby rice cereal 1 liter water (4 1/4 cups)
2 cups water 8 ounces (approximately ½ pound)
¼ teaspoon salt of mashed potatoes, boiled and cooled
Basic ORS Recipes ½ teaspoon of table salt
Equates to ~3/4 liter
Recipes from the World Health Organization Directions: Combine ingredients and mix until ¼ teaspoon of salt substitute
World Health Organization Directions: Use household measuring spoons, not well dissolved and smooth. Refrigerate. Solution Equates to ~1 1/4 liters
Reduced Osmolarity Oral silverware, to measure the ingredients. To the 1 liter should be thick, but pourable. Directions: Combine ingredients and mix
Rehydration Solution container, add about ½ of the needed water. until well dissolved and smooth. Refrigerate.
(Home Solution) Add the dry ingredients, stir or shake well; add the Solution should be thick, but pourable.
Need 1 liter container: remaining water to make a final volume of 1 liter. Add
artificial sweetener-based flavoring of choice This is not to be taken as medical advice. Ask your healthcare provider if these recipes, or any ORSs,
½ teaspoon table salt are right for you and if volumes should be adjusted based on your specific fluid restrictions and needs.
if desired. Best if chilled. Sip as directed.
¼ teaspoon salt substitute
½ teaspoon baking soda Discard after 24 hours.
2 tablespoons table sugar
Add tap water to make 1 liter Sports Drink-Based Recipes
Recipes from A Patient’s Guide to Managing a Short Bowel–By, Carol Rees Parrish MS, RD
Regular Sports Drink Low-calorie Sports Drink
Basic Optional: Low-calorie, sugar-free powder
beverage mix to taste (especially lemonade 1 ½ cups sports drink 1 quart of ready-to-drink low-calorie
Use a 1 liter container:
or orange flavors) 2 ½ cups water sports drink
4 ¼ cups water ¼ to ½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon salt Equates to ~1 liter Equates to ~1 liter
2 tablespoons sugar Directions: Add salt and water to ready-to-drink Directions: Add salt and water to ready-to-
This is not to be taken as medical advice. Ask your healthcare provider if these recipes, or any ORSs, sports drink and shake well. drink sports drink and shake well.
are right for you and if volumes should be adjusted based on your specific fluid restrictions and needs. This is not to be taken as medical advice. Ask your healthcare provider if these recipes, or any ORSs,
are right for you and if volumes should be adjusted based on your specific fluid restrictions and needs.

Juice-Based Recipes
Recipes from the Oley Foundation Broth-Based Recipes
Orange Juice Grape or Cranberry Juice Recipes from A Patient’s Guide to Managing a Short Bowel–By Carol Rees Parrish, MS, RD
1 liter water (4 ¼ cups) ¾ cup juice Chicken, Beef, or Vegetable Broth (Cube) Chicken, Beef, or Vegetable Broth
1 cup orange juice 3 ¼ cups water 4 cups water 2 cups liquid broth
8 teaspoons sugar ½-¾ teaspoon salt 1 dry broth cube 2 cups water
¾ teaspoon baking soda Equates to ~1 liter ¼ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon salt Directions: Combine and stir ingredients until 2 tablespoons sugar Equates to ~1 liter
Equates to ~1 1/4 liters well mixed and dissolved. Equates to ~1 liter Directions: Combine and stir ingredients until
Directions: Combine and stir ingredients until Directions: Combine and stir ingredients until well mixed and dissolved.
well mixed and dissolved. Apple Juice well mixed and dissolved.
¾ cup apple juice Miso Paste
Tomato Juice 3 ¼ cups water 7 teaspoons miso paste
2 ½ cups tomato juice ½-¾ teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon sugar
1 ½ cups water Equates to ~1 liter 4 cups water
Equates to ~1 liter Directions: Combine and stir ingredients until Equates to ~1 liter
Directions: Combine and stir ingredients until well mixed and dissolved. Directions: Combine and stir ingredients until
well mixed and dissolved. well mixed and dissolved.
This is not to be taken as medical advice. Ask your healthcare provider if these recipes, or any ORSs, This is not to be taken as medical advice. Ask your healthcare provider if these recipes, or any ORSs,
are right for you and if volumes should be adjusted based on your specific fluid restrictions and needs. are right for you and if volumes should be adjusted based on your specific fluid restrictions and needs.
Remember to

SALTS,
SUGARS, For more tips about
BAKING SODA hydration and living
with SBS, visit
shortbowelsyndrome.com

INCLUDE
WITH WATER

PROACTIVELY DRINK
THROUGHOUT
THE DAY

Drinks with a high sugar content, such as juice or soft drinks, are not recommended
because they could worsen diarrhea. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
recommends giving oral rehydration solution (ORS) to dehydrated patients. ORS is a simple
solution of salt, sugar, and water that is used to aid in dehydration due to diarrhea.

This is not to be taken as medical advice. Ask your healthcare provider if these recipes,
or any ORSs, are right for you and if volumes should be adjusted based on your specific
fluid restrictions and needs.

“When I started understanding what

I was living with, many things, like
my struggles to stay hydrated, for
example, came into focus.”
BETHANY, LIVING WITH SBS

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