Your body has its own supply of electrolytes, but when they get out of balance, an electrolyte drink, tablet, or powder can help your body restore that balance faster.
The market for electrolyte drinks and supplements is huge and is estimated to hit nearly 59 billion over the next eight years. That’s probably why you’ve been seeing more electrolyte products than ever before. But whenever the potential for sales is big, that means you’ll have some good players and some not-so-good players in the mix.
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We help you sort through that with this list of electrolyte products vetted by our team of registered dietitians. We lean toward the ones that DO provide a good balance of electrolytes tailored for various uses and that DON’T contain additives you don’t need, like tons of added sugars or artificial colors (we’re looking at you, Gatorade). We’ve tried many electrolyte products over the years and we’ve paired it down to this list of 12 favorites that we use ourselves and recommend to others.
What Are Electrolytes?
Electrolytes are all about balance. They’re a group of seven essential minerals (sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chloride, phosphate, and bicarbonate) that each have either a positive or negative charge when dissolved in your body’s water or blood.
That + or – charge is what makes it so electrolytes can help you achieve or replenish a fluid balance in your cells and a pH balance in your blood, both of which are very important for keeping you healthy.
12 Dietitian-Approved Electrolyte Drinks
LMNT: Salty Hydration At Its Best
LMNT (pronounced “element”) really leans into the salt with this high sodium electrolyte. When you sweat, you lose more sodium than any other electrolyte, so we find that this powder is best for very sweaty days, high intensity training, and endurance athletes. It’s what our dietitians chose to take with us on a sweaty mountain hike during our recent team retreat.
Electrolytes And Key Ingredients: Every packet of LMNT powder and 32-ounce can of LMNT Sparkling contains three key electrolytes: 1,000 milligrams of sodium, 200 milligrams of potassium, and 60 mg of magnesium. The main ingredients are sodium chloride, citric acid, magnesium malate, potassium chloride, natural flavors, and stevia leaf extract.
How To Use It: Sticks of the electrolyte mix are intended to be stirred into 16 to 32 ounces of water. We tend to use a ½ packet in the same amount of water, but on really sweaty days we’ll opt for a full packet in 40 ounces of water or we’ll drink one of the LMNT sparkling drinks. My husband, a Denver firefighter, says the LMNT Sparkling really helps him feel better on his hot and sweaty training days at the station.
Why We Like It: We tend to like the saltiness of this electrolyte, which is what really makes it stand out from the rest. While 1,000 milligrams of sodium is high, this electrolyte is very effective at replenishing sodium lost through sweat. We like that LMNT doesn’t contain caffeine and doesn’t have any added sugars or artificial sweeteners – instead, it is slightly sweetened with stevia leaf extract. It comes in a variety of flavors and we each have our favorites: Stacie loves the watermelon salt, Jess loves the grapefruit salt, and Jessie loves the mango chili salt.
Price: The salt packets cost $1.50 each (less through subscription) and the sparkling cans cost $2.25 each.
Where To Buy: Currently, LMNT is sold online at drinklmnt.com
Local Weather: A Better Sports Drink For Teens And Adults
We recently learned about this new sports drink that comes packaged in aluminum cans and we are big fans. When you put it up against Gatorade, it wins in every category. The flavors are good (our kids and husbands loved them), and in addition to electrolytes, they contain vitamins, other minerals, and adaptogens while being sweetened with a little cane sugar and stevia.
Electrolytes And Key Ingredients: Every 16-ounce can contains 250 milligrams sodium, 230 milligrams potassium, and 45 milligrams magnesium, plus coconut water concentrate, Himalayan pink salt, vitamin A, antioxidant vitamin C, vitamin E, folate, and a few B vitamins.
How To Use It: We think this is a good option for teens and adults who need more than water to fuel their activities, such as sports practices, competitions, and other sweaty endeavors. Just drink directly from the can, and even reuse the can by drinking tap water from it a few times before recycling it.
Why We Like It: Local Weather consulted sports dietitians to help formulate this product with the lowest amount of calories, carbs, and sugars that still provides a glucose and electrolyte boost for athletes. The 35-calorie drinks contain 6 grams of total sugars, which comes from cane sugar and fruit juice concentrate. We also love how they’re packaged in recyclable aluminum cans instead of plastic.
Price: $2.00 to $2.50/can
Where To Buy: Local Weather is sold at a few grocery chains, like Albertsons and Whole Foods, and also available at Amazon.com
Skratch Labs: To Fuel Performance + A Zero-Sweetener Option
Jess and I both have an affection for Skratch Labs, which was founded near where we both live in Colorado (in fact, their main office is right across town from Jess’s house in Boulder). I’ve been recommending Skratch products informally to my marathon-training and cycling friends for years and have interviewed the founder, Allen Lim, PhD, for several nutrition articles I’ve written. I even calculated the nutrition analysis of the recipes in his cookbooks Feed Zone Portables and Feed Zone Table. And Jess uses the Skratch sports drink to fuel her gravel bike endurance rides and longer mountain biking sessions lasting over 90 minutes. She loves that it’s just flavorful enough to be palatable without being overwhelmingly sweet and it helps replace fluid and sodium lost through sweat.
Electrolytes And Key Ingredients: The sport drink mix contains 400 milligrams of sodium, and 50 milligrams each of calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It has 19 grams of total and added sugar from cane sugar. Skratch also has an everyday hydration drink mix that contains a similar amount of electrolytes but comes unsweetened (0 grams of total sugars) and doesn’t contain any sweeteners, not even stevia. It’s a good option for when you just need to replace electrolytes but don’t need the quick hit of glucose from added sugars.
How To Use It: Add 1 scoop (or one single-serving packet) of the sports or everyday drink mix to 12 to 16 ounces of water for every 1 hour of intense exercise or movement.
Why We Like It: While the sugar amount in the sport drink mix is higher than in some other electrolytes on this list, it’s a good option for providing both electrolytes and glucose, especially if the drink is your main fuel for sustaining your energy level during an intense bike ride, run, or other activity. The sports drink mix comes in 7 flavors (Jess likes the lemon lime best) and the everyday hydration comes in 3 flavors.
Price: The single-serve packets cost $1.80 to $2.00/each and the resealable bag costs $22 ($1.10/serving).
Where To Buy: Scratch is available at some specialist sports stores and online at amazon.com and at skratchlabs.com, where you can use REALFOODRDS to save 20% on your first order.
Cure: Think Pedialyte, But Better (And For Adults)
An electrolyte replacement isn’t just for use after sweating. It’s also helpful for balancing fluid loss after sickness (especially after puking or diarrhea), travel, or drinking alcohol. And the best option during times like that is something called an Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS). Cure meets the standards of ORS, which is an exact ratio of glucose-to-sodium that triggers the sodium glucose transporter mechanism in the body that helps it rapidly absorb water and electrolytes into the bloodstream. The formula was originally pioneered by the World Health Organization to treat severe dehydration in people suffering from Cholera and has saved over 50 million lives, an innovation in hydration science that has more than 50 years of research and is considered to be one of the greatest medical advances of the last century.
Electrolytes And Key Ingredients: This electrolyte powder contains 240-250 milligrams of sodium and 300 to 350 milligrams of potassium, as well as 4 grams of naturally occurring total sugars from coconut water powder. Other ingredients include pink Himalayan salt, real fruit and vegetable powders for flavor and color, stevia extract, and monk fruit extract.
How To Use It: Stir one packet into 8 to 16 ounces of cold water to rehydrate after or during activity, sickness, travel, or alcohol use. It’s also available in a kid-specific formula and an energy flavor that provides 55 milligrams of caffeine from black tea.
Why We Like It: We love that this woman-founded company set forth to create an electrolyte with a smart formulation that meets the standards of an Oral Rehydration Solution, which means it’s a great choice for multiple electrolyte needs.
Price: $1.70 per individual packet, and some flavors are available in canisters, which cost $38 (or $1.35 per serving). The variety pack allows you to sample 8 flavors for $13.50.
Where To Buy: Cure Hydration is sold at a variety of retail chains, including CVS Pharmacy, Kroger, Central Market, and Albertsons, as well as directly at curehydration.com and amazon.com
Ultima: Flavors That Keep Hydration Exciting
What stands out most about this electrolyte powder is the flavors. There are so many delicious options, including “mocktinis” designed to replicate popular cocktail flavors like pina colada, appletini, and peach bellini. This powder is also unique because it contains a blend of 6 electrolytes, whereas most others contain between one and four electrolytes.
Electrolytes And Key Ingredients: Though the amount of sodium (the main electrolyte we need to replenish) in Ultima is less than in others on this list, it does contain the widest variety of electrolytes. Each serving provides 55 milligrams sodium, 47 milligrams calcium, 260 milligrams potassium, 100 milligrams magnesium, 70 milligrams phosphorous, and 80 milligram chloride. Other ingredients include vitamin C, zinc, and organic stevia.
How To Use It: This product comes in individual stick packs, and 30-serving and 90-serving canisters of electrolyte powder.
Why We Like It: We like that Ultima contains six electrolytes, has no added sugars, and comes in so many unique flavors, which really helps if you struggle with drinking plain water. While the sodium content is lower than in most electrolyte supplements, it’s great for someone who gets plenty of sodium from other areas of their diet, as well as those looking for a lower sodium product.
Price: The powder costs $0.50 to $0.70 per serving, and the individual stickpacks cost about $1.00 each.
Where To Buy: Ultima is sold at some retail locations, as well as online at amazon.com and directly at ultimatreplenisher.com
GU: Low-Calorie Electrolyte Drink Tabs
You may know GU for their energy gels and chews, which were designed as convenient on-the-go fuel for endurance athletes. They also make a variety of other sports-fueling products, including stroopwafels, protein powder, and electrolyte tablets. Jess often keeps a few of these stashed in her pack to drop into a water bottle or offer to fellow riders who might be in need of some electrolytes to prevent dehydration, fatigue or muscle cramping.
Electrolytes And Key Ingredients: Each 10-calorie tab contains 320 milligrams of sodium and 55 milligrams of potassium. They also contain stevia leaf extract, safflower oil, a little cane sugar (for 1 gram of added sugars), and dehydrated vegetable juice or riboflavin for color. There are six flavors of the electrolyte tablets and one of the flavors contains 20 milligrams of caffeine from white tea leaf extract.
How To Use It: Drop one tablet in 16 ounces of water, wait about 30 seconds for the tablet to dissolve, then shake lightly.
Why We Like It: This company was founded by a doctor who was helping his ultra-runner daughter compete in increasingly longer races, thus they created the very first energy gel for competitive athletes in 1993. Though they’re not always the tastiest option (hey, we just prefer real food over gel), we’ve trusted GU products to give us quick energy for many of our own endurance sports endeavors over the years.
Price: $30 for a 4-pack (48 tablets total), which costs $0.62/serving.
Where To Buy: At many sports specialty stores and online at guenergy.com and amazon.com
Nuun: Affordable & Packable Electrolyte Tablets
I first tried Nuun more than 15 years ago as I was riding RAGBRAI, the weeklong bike ride across my home state of Iowa. I pulled over on the corner of a country road in 90+ degree weather and there before me was a little card table where people were handing out tubes of Nuun, which were then-new electrolyte tabs we could dissolve in water. That boost of hydration saved my ride that day, and for multiple years after I would always pack a tube of nuun tablets in my bike pack.
Electrolytes And Key Ingredients: The company has evolved to carry several formats of hydration solutions, but the main nuun sport tablets contain 300 milligrams of sodium, 150 milligrams of potassium, 25 milligrams of magnesium, and 40 milligrams of chloride. Other ingredients include dextrose, avocado oil, and fruit and vegetable powders for color and flavor. Other nuun hydration products contain ingredients such as added vitamins or caffeine from ginseng and organic green tea.
How To Use It: Drop one tablet in 16 ounces of water, wait about 30 seconds for the tablet to dissolve, then shake lightly.
Why We Like It: We love that this company was one of the first electrolyte solutions to rethink what hydration could look like – it didn’t have to be sold in single-use plastic bottles and it didn’t have to contain a lot of added sugars or fake colors, and we still appreciate that about this company. It’s also easy to find, one of the lowest-cost better options out there, and comes in a lot of good-tasting flavors.
Price: $0.50 to $0.75 per tablet, also available in powder stick packs that cost $1.70/serving.
Where To Buy: Available at a wide variety of grocery and sports stores, also online at nuunlife.com and amazon.com
Protekt: Liquid Packets That Dissolve Great In Water
It’s not the best experience when an electrolyte powder settles at the bottom of your drink (which means that last gulp is extra powerful) or if it clumps and doesn’t dissolve at all. Protekt solves that with their unique single-serve liquid packs that squirt right into a bottle of water and dissolve in an instant.
Electrolytes And Key Ingredients: The packets contain what the brand refers to as a “proprietary 10:2:1 electrolyte ratio” of 500 milligrams of potassium, 100 milligrams of sodium, and 50 milligrams of magnesium. Other ingredients are purified water, natural flavors, and stevia extract.
How To Use It: Add one liquid supplement pack to 16 ounces of water, no stirring or shaking necessary.
Why We Like It: The Protekt liquid sticks remove the mixing, shaking, and mess that can come with adding electrolyte powder packets to water (we’ve all spilled those powdery packets all over the place). We love that we can just add it to our water bottles when we’re out for a ride or run and don’t need to stir or even shake it. We also love that it comes in three tasty flavors and doesn’t contain any added sugars. The company is founded by two navy veterans and a professional multi-sport athlete.
Price: The sticks come in 30-, 90-, and 180-stick packs, which make the cost/serving $1.40 to $1.66.
Where To Buy: Sold online at protekt.com and amazon.com
Just Ingredients: Hydration With Real Fruit Flavors
Molly has been a long-time devotee of Just Ingredients products, which are paired down to just the basics you want to see on an ingredient list. The same is true of their electrolyte powders, which contain the electrolyte basics in a tasty drinkable format.
Electrolytes And Key Ingredients: These powders contain what the company calls “an ideal 3:1 potassium to sodium ratio”, which makes them a good solution for salt sensitive people or someone who gets sodium from many other places in their diet. The packets contain 100 milligrams of sodium, 50 milligrams of calcium, 300 milligrams of potassium, 50 milligrams of magnesium, and 145 milligrams of chloride. Other ingredients include organic coconut water, dehydrated fruit powder mixed with tapioca, organic stevia leaf, and organic monk fruit.
How To Use It: Dissolve one packet in 14 ounces of water.
Why We Like It: We love the six tasty flavors of the electrolyte sticks and that they’re not made using “natural flavors” but rather from real fruit extracts mixed with tapioca starch. Since it’s lower in sodium and contains a mix of five essential electrolyte minerals, we find that this mix is a good option for everyday hydration and doesn’t need to be reserved for just our super sweaty intense workout days, but something we can enjoy on regular days, too, to boost hydration.
Price: $22 for a pack of 20 powder sticks, or $1.10/serving or $2.50 for individual sticks.
Where To Buy: Online at justingredients.com (save 10% with code REALFOOD). The Raspberry Lemonade is a favorite flavor that sometimes sells out, so snag it when you can. Molly says all the flavors are good, but she’s partial to the Grape.
Paleo Valley: Electrolytes From Natural Sources
We love several of the Paleo Valley products, including their grass-fed meat sticks and organic coffee. We just recently became fans of their electrolyte powders, too, which come in three flavors.
Electrolytes And Key Ingredients: One scoop of the electrolyte powder contains 400 milligrams of sodium from sea salt, 160 milligrams of magnesium from seawater, 280 milligrams of potassium from organic coconut water, and 80 milligrams of calcium from seaweed. It also contains iron, organic coconut water powder, organic turmeric root, and organic monk fruit.
How To Use It: Stir one scoop of electrolyte powder into 16 ounces of water.
Why We Like It: We love that this small company is committed to quality ingredients and a mindful selection of Paleo-friendly products. We like the flavor of the zero-sugar electrolyte powders, and also that the electrolytes come from natural sources, including sea salt, coconut water, and seaweed, plus there are no unnecessary additives.
Price: $45 for a pack of 30 servings, or $1.50 per serving (less if you buy in bulk).
Where To Buy: Online at paleovalley.com and amazon.com
Liquid I.V. Provides Electrolytes And Vitamins At Once
The brand has become popular among electrolyte options and is known for its many flavors and addition of a few essential vitamins along with electrolytes. Stacie and Ana have used this brand for a few years to fuel their hydration needs before and during workouts.
Electrolytes And Key Ingredients: This powder contains a high amount of sodium (630 milligrams) plus 380 milligrams of potassium. Other ingredients include cane sugar, dextrose, and stevia leaf extract plus high amounts of vitamin C, niacin (vitamin B3), vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5).There are also zero-sugar options available that are sweetened with allulose and stevia, and caffeine options that contain 100 milligrams of caffeine from coffeeberry extract.
How To Use It: Mix one powder stick into 16 ounces of water.
Why We Like It: We find that Liquid I.V. is a good choice for fueling activities where we need some carbohydrates (glucose, specifically) in addition to electrolytes. Each powder stick provides 13 grams of carb and 11 grams of total sugars from cane sugar, so if we need that extra boost of energy before or during a strenuous workout, we find that Liquid I.V. does the trick. The “Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier” is also known as an oral rehydration solution, a globally recognized rehydration mix of glucose and electrolytes in water that’s used to improve fluid absorption and replenishment. Ana and Stacie also like that there are many unique flavors to choose from, like concord grape, strawberry lemonade, golden cherry, and popsicle firecracker (which tastes like those red-white-and-blue rocket pops we all remember from childhood). We also appreciate Liquid I.V.’s commitment to equitable clean water access through their donation partnerships.
Price: $25 for 16 single packs, or $1.56 per serving.
Where To Buy: Online at liquid-iv.com and amazon.com
Redmond ReLyte: Sea Salt From An Ancient Sea
You may know Redmond for their sea salt, which is mined from the ancient Sundance Sea that covered central Utah during the Jurassic period, more than 200 million years ago. And since sodium is the most important electrolyte to replenish, it would make sense that a salt company gets into the electrolyte game. In addition to their salts, seasonings, and toothpaste, Redmond offers a line of hydration powders based on the original Redmond Real Salt plus electrolytes.
Electrolytes And Key Ingredients: A scoop of the powder contains 810 milligrams of sodium (which is higher than every brand except for LMNT), plus 400 milligrams of potassium, 1280 milligrams of chloride, 60 milligrams of calcium carbonate, and 50 milligrams of magnesium. It’s a zero-sugar powder and also contains 80 milligrams of coconut water powder plus citric acid, stevia leaf extract, and natural citrus flavor.
How To Use It: Stir 1 small scoop into 16 to 18 ounces of cold water; shake or stir.
Why We Like It: We’ve trusted and liked this salt company for years, and we’re excited to see them offer hydration products. They come in standard flavors, like lemon lime, and some unique ones, like pina colada and watermelon lime. And even some limited time flavors like salty palmer and mojito. This high content of electrolytes is a good replenisher after sweat sessions and comes at a very reasonable price.
Price: $44 per canister, or $0.73 per serving
Where To Buy: Online at redmond.life or on amazon.com
Frequently Asked Questions
These are the main function of electrolytes in your body and why they are important:
– Balancing fluids in and around your body’s cells
– Balancing the pH level of your blood
– Preventing irregular heartbeat (keeping steady heart rhythm)
– Helping your body metabolize nutrients
– Moving nutrients in and out of cells
– Removing waste from your body’s cells
– Maintaining a steady blood pressure
If your electrolyte levels get imbalanced (either too low or too high), you may experience a variety of symptoms, such as:
– Muscle spasms or twitching
– Muscle weakness
– Cramps
– Blood pressure changes
– Irregular heartbeat
– Numbness, especially in the extremities
– Excessive fatigue
– Frequent urination
– Headaches
– Confusion, lightheadedness, or brain fog
– Seizures
Here are some common reasons why electrolyte balance can be temporarily skewed:
Dehydration — not drinking water consistently or getting enough fluids
Excess sweating — either as an acute response (to heat or movement) or as a chronic condition
Malnutrition — not getting a consistent intake of essential nutrients or getting some in excess while getting low amounts of others
Drinking alcohol — your body excretes water and electrolytes in response to alcohol
Chronic health conditions — including thyroid disease, kidney disease, adrenal gland disorders, or cancer
Vomiting or diarrhea — as a response to infections, medications, food poisoning, GI distress, pregnancy, medical treatments, stress, motion sickness, smells, or concussion
Eating disorder — conditions like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa affect electrolyte balance
Burns — the skin helps protect against fluid and electrolyte loss, so injuries to the skin can result in an electrolyte imbalance, especially severe burns
Drinking too much water — can cause an electrolyte imbalance known as hyponatremia or water intoxication
Taking diuretics — if you’re prescribed diuretics to reduce fluid buildup, your doctor will likely test your electrolyte levels regularly, as these medications can disrupt their balance
Gatorade was developed in 1962 by scientists at the University of Florida. It was made to help university athletes replace fluids they lost during physical exertion and so they wouldn’t be so negatively affected by heat. The beverage has been a popular option for more than 60 years, for everyone from professional athletes to amateur sports enthusiasts to everyday people.
Due to its high sugar content and artificial colors and flavor, Gatorade is not a necessary beverage for all who choose to use it, including young kids and people who aren’t very active or don’t need to replace a lot of electrolytes. Electrolyte drinks that have a lower sugar content (or no added sugars) as well as more natural ingredients, have entered the market to give people more electrolyte options.
Our nutritionist-approved electrolytes are LMNT, Skratch, Local Weather, Ultima, Just Ingredients, GU, Paleo Valley, Protekt, Nuun, Cure, Liquid I.V., and Redmond ReLyte. Some of these are appropriate for high-intensity workouts and others provide everyday hydration.
Electrolyte products can either be sold as a supplement (with a supplement facts panel) or a food and beverage (with a nutrition facts panel), depending on the format. Electrolytes that are tablets or powders are most often sold as supplements, while ready-to-drink electrolyte beverages are often sold as beverages (not supplements).
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