How to Prevent Dehydration from Diarrhea or Vomiting

Medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Last Updated: October 14, 2021 References

If you're suffering from diarrhea or vomiting, it can be difficult to remain hydrated. Fortunately, you can help avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids and eating certain foods until you feel better.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Staying Hydrated by Drinking Fluids

1
Drink as much water as you can. If you are vomiting or have diarrhea, it is important to continue to drink plenty of liquids. However, do not drink the water too quickly, as this could make you sicker. Instead, take small, frequent sips of water to stay hydrated without making yourself feel nauseous.^{[1]
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Research source
Meletis, CM . Dehydration: An Imbalance of Water and Electrolytes. Ogden, UT: By license to Mineral (2002).} Other liquids that you can drink include:
- Fresh fruit juice.
- Vegetable broth. Avoid animal-based soups, as they could contain fats that may make you feel more nauseous.
- You can also suck on frozen popsicles or ice cubes, as this will allow you to slowly hydrate yourself.
- Avoid drinks with a lot of sugar, such as soda.
- Avoid milk and milk products.
2
Mix celery with apples and lemons. You can also puree fruits and vegetables to make a hydrating drink. Combine celery with one apple and the juice from half of a lemon. This combination is high in electrolytes, as apples are a good source of potassium, celery is rich in sodium chloride and magnesium. Lemons contain vitamin C and helps your body absorb glucose.
- You can blend these nutritious foods together with ice to make a cold, smoothie-like drink.
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3
Drink coconut water. Coconut water is a very hydrating substance. It contains natural electrolytes, including high levels of potassium. If you want, you can add one to two teaspoons of chia seeds to your coconut water.^{[2]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
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- Chia seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can provide you with energy. They are also rich in protein and fiber.^{[3]
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4
Make a banana, almond, and kale smoothie. Bananas are high in potassium, while almonds are a rich source of magnesium and potassium. Kale is rich in calcium. If you add salt, this drink may also replenish your sodium and chloride levels. To make this drink:
- Blend two bananas with milk and almonds. Add in four to five kale leaves. Add sea salt to the mixture.
5
Make homemade papaya tea. Papayas are rich in electrolytes and can help to reduce the severity of your diarrhea by reducing peristalsis in your gut.^{[4]
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Research source} In order to make this papaya tea:
- Grate one raw papaya. Boil three cups of water (roughly 750 mL) and add the papaya to it. Let this combination boil for at least 10 minutes. Strain the mixture and drink the tea throughout the day.
6
Make oral rehydration solutions (ORS). When you vomit or have diarrhea, you lose essential salts from your body. These salts include sodium, chloride, and calcium. In order to replenish these salt stores, you should try to drink Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS). These solutions can provide your body with essential nutrients while also hydrating you.^{[5]
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Research source
Guandalini, S., & Vaziri, H. (2011). Diarrhea: Diagnostic and therapeutic advances. New York: Humana Press.}
- You can purchase commercially prepared ORS solutions at your local pharmacy. ORS are usually sold in packets that you mix with water. You can drink these solutions throughout the day.
- You can also make homemade ORS. There are different kinds of solutions that you can make to get the essential salts and nutrients you need, while also hydrating yourself.
- If your child is the one who is sick, give her five milliliters (about one teaspoon) of an ORS every one to two minutes. This should equal about 150 to 200 mL (5 to 7 ounces) of solution per hour.
7
Make a salt and sugar ORS. To make this solution, mix roughly ½ teaspoon of common salt with five teaspoons of sugar. Add this to one liter (1 quart) of boiled water, and let the water cool.^{[6]
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Research source
Meletis, CM . Dehydration: An Imbalance of Water and Electrolytes. Ogden, UT: By license to Mineral (2002).}
- For an added boost of hydration, add some coconut water to the mixture.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Eating Certain Foods to Prevent Dehydration

1
Avoid dairy products. Milk and milk products should be avoided. Your body normally has enzymes that help to digest dairy when you consume it. Unfortunately, when you are sick, those enzymes are slowed down, which means that dairy may pass through your stomach undigested, causing you to feel even more sick.Image:Prevent Dehydration from Diarrhea or Vomiting Step 9.jpg|center]]
- Wait at least a week until after your illness has cleared up before you begin to consume dairy products again.
2
Eat carrot soup. Carrot soup can help to rehydrate you while also supplying your body with sodium, chloride, sulphur, magnesium, and pectin. To make carrot soup:^{[7]
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- Boil several large carrots and blend them together. Add these blended carrots to a pot and simmer them on low. Add salt for taste.
- For sick infants, boil water and add eight teaspoons of sugar with a pinch of salt. Feed this amount to your child in small doses.
3
Eat foods that are rich in potassium. When you have diarrhea or begin to vomit, it is important to keep your potassium levels up. ^{[8]
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Research source
Christian JL and Greger JL. In Nutrition for Living, 4th ed., Benjamin/Cummings, Redwood City, CA: chap.4. (1994)} Certain fruits have high concentrations of potassium, including:
- Mangoes, pawpaw, coconuts, oranges, strawberries, grapes, and pineapples. Lentils also have high levels of potassium.
4
Avoid drinking alcohol and caffeinated beverages. While you most likely won’t feel like drinking alcohol anyway, it is important to avoid drinking it when you have diarrhea or have been vomiting. Alcohol contains toxins that can actually dehydrate you, which is the opposite effect that you want to have when dealing with an illness. Caffeinated sodas and coffee can make your dehydration worse by taking more water out of your body.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Preventing Dehydration in Children

1
Keep breastfeeding your infant. Because infants are at higher risk for development of dehydration and malnutrition the two major consequences of diarrhea and vomiting, management must be very prompt in this age group. If your infant is the one who is ill, continue to breastfeed your child. Breastfeeding promotes faster recovery and provides improved nutrition when compared with formula feeding. However, if you give your child formula, you can also continue to feed her this, even if she vomits or has diarrhea.^{[9]
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2
Give children ORS. If your child is the one who is sick, do not give her any solid food. Instead, give your child an oral rehydration solution. Give them small amounts to begin with, and increase the amount you give them as they become more able to keep food down.^{[10]
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Research source
Guandalini, S., & Vaziri, H. (2011). Diarrhea: Diagnostic and therapeutic advances. New York: Humana Press.}
3
Take care of your child during the first four hours. The amount of ORS that you give your child depends on her age. If your child refuses to drink the ORS from a bottle or cup, you can also feed the solution to her using a teaspoon, dropper, or in the form of a frozen popsicle.^{[11]
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Research source
Tamer AM, Friedman LB, Maxwell SRW, et al. Oral rehydration of infants in a large urban U.S. medical center. J Pediatr 1985;107:14.}
- For babies who are six months or younger, give them 30 to 90 mL (1 to 3 ounces) every hour.^{[12]
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- Children six months to two years of age should receive 90 to 125 mL (3 to 4 ounces) an hour.^{[13]
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- Children two years and older can receive 125 to 250 mL (4 to 8 ounces) an hour.^{[14]
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- The child should be given 5ml to 15 ml every 5 minutes or so. Such small volumes can usually be tolerated, even in children who are vomiting. Use common household measures 5ml equals 1 teaspoon; 15ml equals 1 tablespoon.
- If your child continues to vomit, only give her the ORS solution. You can give her one tablespoon every 10 to 15 minutes until the vomiting ceases.
- Voiding of dilute urine every 3 to 4 hours in both children and adults is an index of appropriate hydration status.
- Frequency and amount of stools may increase over the initial 3 to 4 hours of oral rehydration therapy, but they will start to normalize over the next few hours.
- If the vomiting does not stop or slow down, take your child to the hospital.
4
Give your child ORS frequently during the first 24 hours that they are sick. During the first 24 hours of illness, give your child the ORS at regular intervals until the frequency of diarrhea slows down.
- If the vomiting stops after 24 hours, you can slowly reintroduce your child to other foods. However, only give your child small amounts of the food, be it breastmilk, formula, or regular food.
- Because infants are at higher risk for development of dehydration and inadequate nutrition management must be very aggressive in this age group. Infants younger than 1 year of age should be referred to a physician unless diarrhea and vomiting are mild.
5
Feed your child their normal diet after 48 hours have passed. Most children are able to resume their normal diet after 48 hours. Your child’s stool may take approximately 7 to 10 days to go back to its normal consistency. This is because the digestive system takes time to begin functioning normally again.^{[15]
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Research source
Long, S. S., Pickering, L. K., & Prober, C. G. (2012). Principles and practice of pediatric infectious diseases. Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.}
6
Know when to seek medical treatment. If your child is vomiting or has diarrhea constantly, and this condition does not change, bring your child to the hospital. If your child will not take any fluids, she will be rehydrated intravenously.
- Your child will also be given anti-diarrhea medication, as well as medication to prevent her from feeling nauseous.