“Which is better, Liquid IV or DripDrop?”
The question of DripDrop vs Liquid IV isn’t unique to athletes such as myself. When you start moving around or sweating, you lose water and salts from your body.
If you don’t replace these in a timely way, your performance will suffer. You probably know the feeling when your body starts screaming: “I need some water!” Pro tip: whenever you’re out for a run or walk, drink BEFORE you feel any thirst, at regular intervals. Once you feel thirsty, it means that your body has already started to get dehydrated.
Oral Rehydration Solutions: An Overview
Dehydration is a condition in which your body loses too much water, either through excessive perspiration or other means. It can lead to severe health problems, and it’s important to avoid dehydration by staying hydrated.
It can be difficult to stay properly hydrated when you’re on the go—especially if you’re not sure how much water is enough for you. That’s where supplements come in! They can make sure that your body is getting all of the water it needs without having to worry about lugging around bottles of water every time you leave your house.
I have done a lot of research on supplementing with fluids while exercising. The prevailing wisdom is to avoid drinking too much during the exercise session itself.
Instead, the goal should be to get in fluids before starting your workout and then rely on your body’s thirst mechanism to tell you if you need more water. In these cases, oral rehydration solutions (ORS) are the go-to solutions.
These ORS mixes have been used for decades to treat dehydration. ORS is often recommended for young children, who are more likely to be dehydrated than older children or adults. ORS can also be used for adults who are unable to drink enough liquids.
ORS comes in a variety of flavors and consistencies, but they all work the same way: they replace the water and electrolytes lost during diarrhea or vomiting. They contain only minor amounts of sugar, sodium, and potassium, so they won’t affect blood glucose levels or cause high blood pressure.
About DripDrop
DripDrop was founded in 2008 by Dr. Eduardo Dolhun, for whom aiding those in need is a top priority. Dr. Dolhun discovered that the existing solution for preventing dehydration was difficult to drink, so he set out to design an oral rehydration solution (ORS) to help save the lives of critically dehydrated patients in Guatemala.
The solution, he concluded, lay in making something that was really effective without compromising the taste, and today, DripDrop, manufactured in the United States, is available in a wide variety of flavors.
They come in convenient, easy-to-tear packets and have a nourishing combination of electrolytes and vitamins that appeals to pediatricians, athletes, and health-conscious parents alike. You might wonder whether DripDrop has caffeine. It contains no caffeine, so if you’re watching your intake, DripDrop is a safe choice.
About Liquid IV
This hydration powder, founded in 2012 by Brandin Cohen in El Segundo, California, is created in the United States and features a strong blend of electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals that provides instant gratification.
When you visit the site of Liquid IV, you’ll learn just how many people’s lives this cellular transport technology brand has impacted.
The folks at Liquid IV have made it their life’s work to improve the world by distributing well over 9 million pieces to those in need, as stated in the company’s mission statement. The brand’s various compositions for dehydration, endurance, immunity, and sleep make them great for athletes and regular people alike.
Comparing Liquid IV and DripDrop
So is Liquid IV good for you? Or is DripDrop better? When choosing between Liquid IV or DripDrop, it’s a matter of specific preferences that you might have, their components, and their value for your money.
Let’s do a quick comparison in this next section. Would there be much of a difference? We’ll see!
| Liquid IV | DripDrop | |
| Available Flavor | Wide variety, including seasonal flavors | It also offers an assortment of flavors |
| Caffeine | None | None |
| Gluten | Gluten-free | Gluten-Free |
| Ease of Use | Powder form comes in handy packets | Powder form comes in handy packets |
| Calories | 40-50 calories, depending on the variety | 35-70 calories, depending on the variety |
| Best For | Hydration relief | Hydration relief |
Ingredients
In this portion of my Liquid IV vs. DripDrop comparison, I will examine the components of both the Hydration Multiplier as well as the ORS Cold mix.
You can assume that the two brands’ hydration solutions include similar components. However, the exact proportions may vary.
The Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier is a complex mixture of natural electrolytes, sugar, and vitamins. The mix provides rapid cellular hydration via the tried-and-true composition of glucose, sodium, and potassium.
Exactly what can you anticipate discovering in this concoction? Vitamin C, Dextrose, cane sugar, stevia, sea salt, and potassium are only a few ingredients.
You might also wonder why there’s a salt content. It has been discovered that salt aids in water absorption. It’s baffling how that happened. Some of the numbers for the multiplier’s heavy hitters are as follows:
- 500mg of Sodium
- 370 milligrams of potassium
- Sweetener content: 11 grams
- There are 45 calories in this mix.
Zinc, vitamins C and D, zinc, and Beta-glucan are just some other nutrients found in the Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier. Vitamins B3, B5, and B12 are also included.
This is a cutting-edge vitamin, but I can imagine it being especially helpful for athletes and other people who sweat profusely.
Doctor-formulated DripDrop ORS Cold, on the other hand, has thrice the electrolytes and half the sugar of popular sports drinks like Powerade, without the added artificial dyes.
To combat mild dehydration, this drink combines a variety of sugars (sucrose, fructose, sucralose, and dextrose) with a balanced concentration of salts (chloride, calcium, bicarbonate, potassium, and magnesium). Let’s look at a few of the big ones in numbers:
- Weighing in at 330 milligrams of sodium
- Total potassium content: 185 mg
- Magnesium: 39 milligrams
- 7 grams of sugar
- Weight Loss: 35 Calories
Thus, ORS Cold does contain sugar; such a component is necessary for effective muscle rehydration. Although there is a little more than a teaspoon of sugar here, both fructose and sucrose possess a low glycemic index, so they are less likely to trigger an insulin rise.
As if being Kosher weren’t enough, ORS Cold is also non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, and flavored and colored with natural ingredients to boot.
While both products are created in the USA, the Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier has several additional components that may make it more useful to some users. For some, keeping things basic may be priority number one.
Effectiveness
DripDrop does have a higher salt content per liter than Liquid I.V., despite both having about the same quantity of sugar. In order to recuperate from dehydration, sodium electrolyte replacement is essential.
It encourages increased fluid consumption and aids in the retention of that consumption. DripDrop’s unique recipe has the ideal sodium electrolyte concentration and lowers glucose levels to maximize the body’s ability to absorb and hold onto fluids.
The osmolarity of DripDrop is also quite low. The osmolarity of a material is its membrane penetration pressure. An ORS requires a comparatively high level of sodium electrolytes and an accurate, relatively tiny amount of glucose to facilitate quick uptake and preservation of liquids and electrolytes.
We need to replace not only water but also electrolytes and minerals lost when we get dehydrated. A solution’s osmolarity determines how slowly it absorbs a substance since it measures how many particles are in suspension.
DripDrop’s formula strikes a fine balance between all of these vital ORS components, allowing for a very low osmolarity of only 220mosm/L.
That’s significantly less than the typical sports drink (300+ mosm/L) and the WHO ORS formulation (245msom/L). DripDrop was such a significant advancement that our founder, Dr. Dolhun, was honored with the Mayo Clinic Alumni Association Humanitarian prize in 2017.
DripDrop’s doctor-developed, the patent-protected formula is based on fifty years of ORS research and development, and it’s engineered for lightning-fast absorption and deliciousness.
It’s robust enough for emergency use but simple enough for regular use. Its superior flavor, portability, and efficacy make it the clear winner when comparing it to other options.
Available Flavor
Both brands offer a great spectrum of flavors. Whether you’re a fan of fruity flavors or prefer a more subtle, earthy taste, there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to these two brands.
Price Difference
The value of a U.S. company’s brand will increase if it manufactures its goods domestically rather than sending them overseas to countries with lower wages and less favorable working conditions. I was relieved to learn that both DripDrop and Liquid IV produce their goods domestically in the United States.
A difference of two cents may not seem like much, but when viewed in this light, a product that looks cheaper at first glance isn’t. Nonetheless, the products contain a powerful combination of sophisticated, doctor-formulated substances, and this begs the question: which one is the better deal?
Since both are produced in FDA-compliant facilities (albeit the FDA reportedly does not approve foods, drinks, or supplements), the only remaining uncertainty concerns the contents. Furthermore, as was discussed before, Liquid IV has a greater variety of substances that provide benefits beyond simple hydration.
Caffeine Content
Neither Liquid IV nor DripDrop contains any caffeine. However, these two contain vitamins and minerals, which may give the body an excellent energy boost.
Nutritional Value
Additional electrolytes, including magnesium, calcium, and chloride, are essential for good hydration but are not present in Liquid IV solutions.
DripDrop provides essential nutrients, including potassium, zinc, and magnesium. You need these to combat dehydration and maintain general health. And when it is necessary to rehydrate, electrolytes, including magnesium, are essential for easing muscle cramps and other dehydration symptoms.
Ease of Use
Thanks to their portable package forms, you can take your hydration powder with you wherever you go with either DripDrop or Liquid I.V.
You may buy it at any of the major stores or on the internet. Differences in portability result from variations in pack size and dosing.
All liquid I.V. solutions have the same volume. Mix one packet of Liquid I.V. with 16 oz. of water. DripDrop, in contrast, has two alternative dosage strengths.
Depending on your requirements and the capacity of your glasses or water bottle, you can add the packets to either 8 or 16 oz. of water.
Packet quantities available from Liquid I.V. range from 10 to 60. DripDrop provides convenient options for sampling new flavors or stocking up on old favorites, with packages available in several increments from 8 to 80 packets.
In comparison to DripDrop’s four flavors, Liquid I.V.’s variety pack only offers three. DripDrop is the greatest option if you’re looking for convenience because it offers more different pack sizes and dose amounts.
Is Liquid IV Better Than DripDrop?
DripDrop is a great Liquid IV alternative, but both have very strong points to be considered. It will all come down to your preference for the formulation or maybe a flavor variety. Whichever you choose, you are going to receive quality hydration at a good price.
When Should I Take Oral Rehydration Solution?
Most doctors recommend taking an oral rehydration solution if you have diarrhea, vomiting, or both. This is because diarrhea and vomiting can cause dehydration, which can lead to serious health problems if left untreated. So if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, take an oral rehydration solution as soon as possible.
You should also consider taking an oral rehydration solution if you’ve been sick and your symptoms haven’t improved after 24 hours.
If you have a fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, this could be a sign of dehydration and warrant taking an oral rehydration solution.
If you think that you may have gotten too much sun exposure or taken too many medications that cause dehydration (such as aspirin), then it’s also recommended that you take an oral rehydration solution.
This is to avoid developing more serious health problems like kidney failure or shock syndrome due to severe dehydration resulting from these causes as well!
Is DripDrop Better Than Pedialyte?
Not one of these products is better than the other. It’s all about what you need it for. Pedialyte is more geared toward children, while DripDrop is a more general electrolyte replacement that works well for everyone.
How Fast Does DripDrop Work?
The effectiveness of ORS is based on its composition: glucose, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and trisodium citrate (a buffering agent).
As with the formulation of DripDrop, these ingredients are absorbed into your bloodstream quickly—within 20 minutes of ingestion—and begin working immediately.
Conclusion
DripDrop and Liquid IV both have a variety of benefits for people who work out often or for those generally active. They can help you to recover from injury or to get your workouts going.
Whichever product you choose will depend on your needs, so research before deciding. Have you used either of these products? Share your experience with us!
Getting in the groove for exercise? Here are some pre-workout for a reasonable price that you can also check out. If you wish to further enhance the way your body processes nutrients, click on this article I wrote about gut cleanse diets.
I’m a triathlete and life coach, with a focus on holistic health, fitness & women’s issues.
I also write about my gastronomic adventures and my love for the outdoors.