Electral ORS Powder: Calories, Nutrition and Health Benefits

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One Electral sachet (21.8 g) made up in 1 liter of water has about 54 calories, all from 13.5 g of glucose, plus about 1,700 mg of sodium and about 785 mg of potassium. It is an oral rehydration solution for fluid lost to diarrhea or vomiting, not an everyday drink.

Quick Nutrition Facts

Per 1 sachet (21.8 g) made up in 1 liter of water

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	54 kcal
Protein	0g
Carbohydrates	13.5g
Fiber	0g
Sugars	13.5g
Fat	0g
Sodium	1,700 mg

Macronutrient Breakdown

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NUTRITIONIST'S INSIGHT

Electral follows the WHO reduced-osmolarity idea: a little glucose carries sodium and water across the gut wall, so 13.5 g of sugar and about 1.7 g of sodium per liter is the point, not a flaw. Per liter that is about 54 kcal, so a 250 mL glass is roughly 14 kcal and 3 to 4 g of sugar. The sodium is high for a drink (about 74% of the 2,300 mg daily limit in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans per liter), which suits someone losing fluid and does not suit someone sipping it for fun. People with kidney disease, heart failure or on a sodium-restricted diet should ask a clinician first, and the label itself advises caution with reduced kidney function. Mix it only with the stated 1 liter of water: less water makes the solution too concentrated, and it should be used within 24 hours.

Myth Busters

MYTH #1: Electral is a sports drink you can sip all day.

TRUTH: It is a rehydration treatment with about 1,700 mg of sodium per liter. That helps when you are losing fluid to diarrhea or vomiting, and it is far more salt than a sports drink for casual use. Electral Powder: composition, directions and warnings; WHO Drug Information Vol. 16, No. 2: new reduced osmolarity ORS formula

MYTH #2: The sugar in ORS is unhealthy and should be cut.

TRUTH: The 13.5 g of glucose per liter is what drives sodium and water absorption in the gut. WHO's formula depends on it, and a sugar-free version would rehydrate poorly. WHO Drug Information Vol. 16, No. 2: new reduced osmolarity ORS formula

MYTH #3: Using less water makes it work faster.

TRUTH: The label says to dissolve one sachet in exactly one liter. A stronger mix is more concentrated than the intended formula and can pull water into the gut instead of absorbing it. Electral Powder: composition, directions and warnings

MYTH #4: Plain water is just as good during diarrhea.

TRUTH: Water replaces volume but not the sodium and potassium lost with the stool. WHO recommends oral rehydration salts for diarrhea because the glucose and salts are absorbed together. Diarrhoeal disease fact sheet; WHO Drug Information Vol. 16, No. 2: new reduced osmolarity ORS formula

NutriScore by Health Goals

Health Goal	NutriScore	Why This Score?
Weight Loss		About 54 kcal for the full liter, so calories are not a concern when it is used for a short illness. Electral Powder: composition, directions and warnings
Blood Sugar Control		13.5 g of fast glucose per liter raises blood sugar, and it is not meant for regular use. People with diabetes should follow clinician advice during illness. Electral Powder: composition, directions and warnings; Understanding carbohydrates
Hydration After Illness		Matches the WHO reduced-osmolarity idea of glucose with sodium and potassium to replace fluid lost to diarrhea or vomiting. WHO Drug Information Vol. 16, No. 2: new reduced osmolarity ORS formula; Diarrhoeal disease fact sheet
Low Sodium Diet		About 1,700 mg of sodium per liter is most of a daily limit of 2,300 mg, so it does not fit a sodium-restricted diet unless a clinician says so. Electral Powder: composition, directions and warnings

PERSONALIZED NUTRITION

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Blood Sugar Response to Electral ORS Powder

A full liter has 13.5 g of glucose with no fiber, fat or protein to slow it. Sipped over an hour or two, expect a modest rise of 20 to 35 mg/dL that peaks in 30 to 45 minutes and settles within 2 hours. This is a modeled estimate for a person without diabetes, not a measured trace for Electral. Drinking it fast, or being ill, can shift the result. Electral Powder: composition, directions and warnings; Understanding carbohydrates

Estimated Blood Sugar Response (1 liter, sipped over about 1 to 2 hours)

Modeled estimate for a person without diabetes, not a measured trace. Illness, stress and medication change the response.

How to flatten the spike

Sip it slowly over the day instead of drinking a liter at once.
Count the 13.5 g of carbohydrate per liter if you track carbs; a 250 mL glass is about 3.4 g.
People with diabetes should check glucose more often when ill and ask their clinician which rehydration drink to use.
Take a small amount of food if you can keep it down, so the glucose is not the only thing in your stomach.
Do not add extra sugar or salt to the mix.

Cultural Significance

Electral is an oral rehydration powder made by FDC in India, where it is sold over the counter in orange and other flavors and is common in home medicine cabinets for stomach bugs and summer heat. It follows the oral rehydration therapy that WHO and UNICEF promoted from the 1970s, and the formula was revised in 2002 to the lower-osmolarity version.

Compare & Substitute

Electral ORS Powder vs Similar Foods

Nutrient	Homemade ORS (1 L water, 6 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, estimated)	Coconut water, 1 L (estimated)	Sports drink, 1 L (estimated)	Plain water, 1 L
Calories	96 kcal	190 kcal	250 kcal	0 kcal
Protein	0g	7g	0g	0g
Carbohydrates	24g	37g	60g	0g
Fat	0g	2g	0g	0g

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories are in Electral powder?

One 21.8 g sachet made up in 1 liter has about 54 calories, all from 13.5 g of glucose. A 250 mL glass is about 14 calories.

How much sugar is in an Electral sachet?

13.5 g of anhydrous glucose (dextrose) per sachet and per liter. The glucose helps the body absorb sodium and water.

How do you mix Electral?

Dissolve the whole sachet in one liter of drinking water, and use the solution within 24 hours. Do not use less water.

How much sodium is in Electral?

About 1,700 mg per liter by calculation from the sodium chloride and sodium citrate, plus about 785 mg of potassium. People on a low-sodium diet or with kidney problems should ask a clinician before use.

Can you drink Electral every day?

It is meant for replacing fluid lost to diarrhea, vomiting or heavy sweating, under a healthcare professional's direction. It is not designed as a daily drink.