When it comes to maintaining your hydration levels, the best electrolyte powders offer a much healthier alternative than reaching for a sugary sports drink or energy drink.
Let us help you choose the best electrolyte powder for your diet and lifestyle.
You've probably seen electrolyte powder packets, tablets, supplements, and electrolyte mixtures lining the aisles of health food stores and trending on social media. If you’ve wondered whether or not you need one and which one is best for you, you are not alone.
Before we dive into the top picks for best electrolyte powders, let’s first explore what electrolytes are and why we need them.
What Are Electrolytes?
Electrolytes are essential minerals found in our bodies. They carry a positive or negative electrical charge and are critical for many bodily processes.
Electrolytes are responsible for:
- Nerve and muscle function
- Maintaining fluid balance
- Regulating our body's pH level
Common key electrolytes include:
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Magnesium
Electrolytes are lost in our sweat, especially after intense physical activity. To keep our body functioning at its best, it's important to replenish them. Electrolyte powders are an easy and healthy way to do just that.
Electrolytes are also important when following a keto or low-carb diet. When your body is in a state of ketosis, it usually excretes more water via urination. With the water loss there is also electrolyte loss, which may lead to an electrolyte imbalance in the body.
Electrolyte powders can help maintain proper electrolyte balance and mitigate symptoms of the “keto flu” such as headache, lethargy, and dizziness.
What Are the Benefits of Taking Electrolyte Powders?
Electrolyte powders offer several benefits including:
- Rehydration: Electrolyte powders help replenish lost fluids and essential minerals, allowing for adequate rehydration after intense sweating.
- Restore Electrolyte Balance: Electrolyte powders help restore electrolyte balance in the body by providing essential minerals like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. They can help your body support nerve and muscle function.
- Prevent Cramping: Replenishing electrolytes with powders can help prevent muscle cramps and spasms that may occur due to mineral imbalances, like a Charley horse.
- Enhance Athletic Performance: Electrolyte powders can help maintain your energy levels during and after strenuous physical activity and promote optimal physical performance during exercise.
- Support Recovery: Electrolyte powders aid in post-exercise recovery by restoring fluid balance and essential mineral levels in the body.
Overall, electrolyte powders are an efficient way to support hydration, electrolyte balance, and overall physical health, especially during periods of increased fluid loss and sweating.
They are also convenient and easy to use, making it simple to replenish your electrolytes on the go.
Are There Any Side Effects of Taking Electrolyte Powders?
Electrolyte powders are generally safe for most people to use. But, consuming large amounts or using them inappropriately can lead to potential unwanted side effects, such as:
- Digestive Issues: Some people may experience stomach discomfort, bloating, or diarrhea when consuming electrolyte powders, especially if they are sensitive to specific ingredients and want to maintain their gut health.
- High Electrolyte Levels: Consuming too much electrolyte powder can lead to an imbalance of electrolytes in the body, potentially causing symptoms such as irregular heartbeats, confusion, or muscle weakness.
- High Sodium Intake: Certain electrolyte powders contain high levels of sodium. Excess sodium can be dangerous for people who are watching their sodium intake due to medical conditions like high blood pressure or kidney problems.
- Allergic Reaction: Some individuals may be allergic to specific ingredients found in electrolyte powders, which can lead to allergic reactions such as hives, itching, or difficulty breathing.
Always use electrolyte powders according to their directions and consult with your healthcare professional if you have any concerns, existing health conditions, or are taking medications to rule out any contraindications.
What to Look for in Electrolyte Powders
When choosing an electrolyte powder, consider the following factors:
- Electrolyte Content: Look for a powder that contains essential electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium to help replenish what is lost through sweating during exercise. Your needs will vary depending on your activity level, fluid intake, and specific diet.
- Added Sugars: Avoid powders with high amounts of added sugars, as these can be counterproductive to rehydration and are not primally-aligned. Sugar also adds unwanted calories to your drink that are void of nutrients. Some people are also sensitive to sugar alcohols, which are common in electrolyte beverages. Any artificial sweeteners may be something you want to avoid as well.
- Other Ingredients: Check for additional ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, and natural flavors that align with your dietary preferences, health goals, and allergies or sensitivities. Keep in mind that "natural flavors" is not a regulated term and can encompass a wide range of substances. If you have specific dietary concerns or allergies, it is important to do your due diligence and reach out to the company for clarification.
If you want to avoid additives, opting for the unflavored variety of any brand of electrolyte powders is key.
10 Best Electrolyte Powders
Do you need an electrolyte powder? Research shows 75 percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated, so odds are you just might! These are our top picks for the best electrolyte powders:
1. LMNT Electrolyte Drink Mix: Known for its salty taste, LMNT is a favorite amongst the keto, paleo, and low-carb communities. Their powders come in several flavors, including citrus salt, grapefruit salt, watermelon salt, orange salt, raspberry salt, mango chili, chocolate salt, and chocolate caramel.
The flavored varieties include stevia leaf extract and a natural flavor, but they do offer a raw, unflavored option.
Ingredients (unflavored option):
- Salt (Sodium chloride)
- Magnesium malate
- Potassium chloride
2. ath Lytes: If you're looking for a clean electrolyte mix, then Ath Lytes is a great option for you. They use 100 percent monk fruit with no erythritol as the sweetener, making them a popular choice for carnivore enthusiasts.
Ingredients (lemon lime flavor):
- Magnesium (as magnesium glycinate, pink Himalayan sea salt)
- Chloride (as potassium chloride, pink Himalayan sea salt)
- Sodium (as pink Himalayan sea salt)
- Potassium (as potassium chloride)
- Lemon lime flavor
- Citric acid
- Organic monk fruit
- Malic acid
3. Cardnl: This electrolyte powder comes in a canister, rather than individual packets, making it less portable than other brands.
Carbnl is a great choice for people looking for all natural ingredients, as it's sans any artificial flavors. The use of a high-quality Reb M Stevia tastes more like natural sugar.
Ingredients (salty lemon flavor):
- Redmond Real Salt
- Magnesium Malate
- Potassium Chloride
- Citric Acid
- Reb M Stevia
4. Paleovalley Essential Electrolytes: This powder comes in pouches, and you have the choice of three flavors: lemon lime, orange, and watermelon.
In addition to electrolytes, Paleovalley Essential Electrolytes contains trace amounts of iron from seaweed and sea salt.
Ingredients (lemon lime):
- Unrefined Ancient Sea Salt
- Potassium From Organic Coconut Water Powder
- Magnesium From Seawater
- Calcium from Seaweed Extract
Other Ingredients: Seaweed extract, Sea salt, Organic lemon fruit flavor, Organic luo han guo (monkfruit) fruit extract, Organic lemon fruit juice powder flavor, Organic lime fruit flavor, contains: tree nut (Coconut)
5. Thorne Catalyte: Thorne’s electrolyte powder boasts it’s NSF Certified for Sport and comes with more vitamins than other brands, making it a great option for endurance athletes.
Ingredients (lemon lime):
- Vitamin C (as Sodium Ascorbate)
- Thiamin (as Thiamin HCl)
- Riboflavin (as Riboflavin 5'-Phosphate Sodium)
- Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate)
- Folate (20 mcg as L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate from L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolic Acid Glucosamine Salt)
- Vitamin B12 (as Methylcobalamin)
- Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium Pantothenate)
- Calcium
- Magnesium (as TRAACS Magnesium Lysinate Glycinate Chelate)
- Zinc (as TRAACS Zinc Bisglycinate Chelate)
- Chromium (as TRAACS Chromium Nicotinate Glycinate Chelate)Chloride (as Sodium Chloride)
- Sodium (as Sodium Chloride, Disodium Phosphate
- Sodium Bicarbonate)
- Potassium (as Tripotassium Citrate)
- Taurine
- Other Ingredients: Tapioca Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Flavors, Silicon Dioxide, Stevia leaf extract
6. Ultima Replenisher: Comes in pouches, canisters, and packets and in several flavors, including raspberry, grape, blue raspberry, orange, pink lemonade, watermelon, cherry pomegranate, passionfruit, pina colada, peach bellini, and appletini mocktini.
They also offer variety packs for those who want to try a few flavors out to find their favorite.
Ingredients (lemonade):
- Citric Acid
- Magnesium Citrate
- Potassium
- PhosphatePotassium
- Aspartate
- Calcium Citrate
- Natural Lemon Flavor (with other Natural Flavors)
- Salt (Sodium Chloride)
- Calcium Ascorbate
- Rebaudioside A (From Organic Stevia Leaf)
- Zinc Citrate
- Manganese Citrate
7. Goodonya: Goodonya Hydrate electrolyte powder claims to be the only certified organic and certified glyphosate-free electrolyte powder on the market. With a taste like homemade lemonade and zero unnatural flavors, it appeals to clean enthusiasts. The powder comes in packets and pouches and there is a subscription service available.
Ingredients:
- Organic Lemon Juice Powder
- Magnesium (from sea water)
- Organic Coconut Water Powder
- Organic Stevia Leaf Extract
- Himalayan Pink Salt
- Ascorbic Acid (non-GMO)
- Naturally Fermented Vitamin C
- Note: Contains CoconutMade in a facility that handles milk, soy, egg, tree nuts, fish, crustaceans/shellfish and wheat.
8. Trace Minerals Keto: Trace minerals electrolyte powder contains minimal ingredients and is targeted to keto dieters.
Ingredients (lemon lime):
- Calcium (as calcium lactate)
- Magnesium (from magnesium citrate)
- Chloride and sodium (from Sea salt)
- Potassium (from potassium citrate)
- Citric Acid
- Steviol glycosides
- Natural flavors: Malic acid, Silicon dioxide
9. Saltt: Saltt electrolyte powder is perfect for those looking for something beyond a lemony-lime flavor. It comes in several flavors including, chocolate, fruit, booyah berry, citrus splash, caramel vibes, cocoa loco, endless summer, mondo melon, stoked mango, and zesty orange. The flavored varieties are sweetened with stevia leaf extract and available in on-the-go packets.
All of the flavors are Kosher as well.
Ingredients (clean slate unflavored):
- SolarSea® Salts AC (Contains Sodium Chloride and Magnesium Chloride)
- Potassium Chloride
10. Salt of the Earth These electrolyte packets come in a variety of flavors, including chocolate, grapefruit, orange, and pink lemonade. The ingredients are minimal and the sweetener for the flavored varieties is allulose and stevia leaf extract. They offer variety packs and 30- and 12-stick bags of packets.
Ingredients (unflavored):
- Pink Himalayan salt
- Potassium chloride
- Magnesium l-threonate
- Calcium lactate
Summary
Are you ready to give an electrolyte powder a try? There are a ton of brands on the market, and more seem to be popping up every day. Ingredients will vary, and so will your needs. If you’re ready to swap your traditional sports drinks for powder while maintaining a proper electrolyte intake, picking out the best option for you may seem like a daunting task. Thankfully, a myPrimalCoach is always at the ready to help you find the best electrolyte powder for you.
