Electrolytes: You can lose a lot of electrolytes from sweat, which can lead to decreased performance and bodily function. Common electrolytes to look for include sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium, which help control your fluid balance and regulate blood pressure. Sports drinks often include high levels of sodium and potassium but little to no magnesium or calcium, so look for drinks that include all. After that some folks love the flavor, others found it medicinal and definitely not loved when the bottle gets hot. Whether you’re running in hot weather, doing marathon training or simply tend to sweat a lot on any run (waves hand!), electrolyte tablets can be a key piece of your sports nutrition plan. Just keep in mind that it is sweetened with stevia and sucralose, an artificial sweetener that some people may prefer to avoid. While the average person can get enough through food, that’s often not the case for athletes who are more susceptible to dehydration due to the increased needs of the body.

te Loo, D. M., van der Graaf, F., & Ten, W. T. A. (2004). The effect of flavoring oral rehydration solution on its composition and palatability. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, 39(5), 545-548. Delivery timescales are based on working days; Public Holidays, Saturday's and Sunday's are NOT classed as working days. Best without stevia and low in sodium: Pure Encapsulations Electrolyte Energy Formula | Skip to review Another risk of using electrolyte supplements is added sugars that are meant as energy boosters but can spike insulin levels. Artificial flavors, colors, fillers, preservatives are all factors one should avoid when you consider supplements. You can further avoid electrolyte imbalances by eating foods with these minerals. The Adequate Intake for potassium per day is 2400 milligrams for adult men and 2600 milligrams for adult women, and the RDA for calcium is 1000 mg for both adult men and women. How Much is Too Much?But with so many electrolyte powders on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. Gatorade: There are a variety of Gatorade products on the market, including high sodium, high sugar products intended for intense exercise, and lower sugar, balanced electrolyte options for more everyday use. "Gatorade is an effective, affordable rehydrating electrolyte drink. However, many Gatorade products are made using artificial flavors and colors, which you may prefer not to consume," says Autumn Rauchwerk, RD. We tested the Gatorade Gatorlyte Rapid Rehydration Electrolyte Beverage, which has a good balance of sodium (490 milligrams), glucose, and electrolyte for athletes, it tasted artificial and very salty, and left an aftertaste.

The most common and important electrolytes are potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, phosphate, and bicarbonate. Together, these electrolytes assist in smooth muscle and nerve functions, maintain acidity balance, and keep the body hydrated. We tried the Peach Bellini, which has a subtle but refreshing peach flavor that is not overly salty. It tastes slightly sweet from the stevia, but is not overpowering. We also like that it is smooth to drink, with no clumps or graininess when mixed with water. People who love the brand, love this and often drink it daily to stay on top of electrolytes and for a little energy. With so many different types of electrolyte supplements available on the market, it can be difficult to compare apples to oranges, or in this case, powders to gels or drinks. As with any supplement, there is a range of prices and options that electrolyte products tend to fall within. Best Electrolytes OverallElectrolytes: Most electrolyte supplements contain the electrolytes lost in sweat, including sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Different supplements will differ in exact amounts, but if you are exercising in the heat for prolonged periods, consider a higher sodium profile. Texture: We reviewed the texture of each product, noting if it was thin and smooth, or clumpy, grainy, separated, or otherwise unpleasant. For electrolyte drops and powders, we reviewed the dissolubility of the product, noting how long it took to dissolve in water (and if it dissolved completely), how much stirring was required, and if there was any product left at the bottom of the glass. If you are experiencing symptoms of the dreaded hangover, electrolyte drinks can be a good remedy to ensure you are replacing lost fluids and electrolytes typically lost when drinking alcohol. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it removes fluids from the body, leaving you feeling weak and dehydrated. 17Find out more about taking electrolytes for a hangover here.

Athletes who compete in drug-tested sports and divisions. This product is NSF Sport Certified, so you can be confident that it only contains what’s on that label. This powerful liquid concentrate has the right proportion of vital nutrients that need to be replaced to cover the loss of electrolytes incurred through sweating or intensive exercise. McDermott BP, Anderson SA, Armstrong LE, Casa DJ, Cheuvront SN, Cooper L, Kenney WL et al. National Athletic Trainers’ Association position statement: Fluid replacement for the physically active. Journal of Athletic Training. 2017;52(9): 877-895. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-52.9.02 With just five calories a serving, Kaged Hydra Charge is a tasty water enhancer for everyday use. It'll boost your electrolyte intake and provide plant-based antioxidants, all without added sugars.Low electrolyte levels can wreak all sort of havoc on your performance and recovery – not ideal if you’re aiming for new PBs. Potassium, magnesium, calcium, and chloride are other electrolytes you’ll often see in electrolyte supplements since they’re also lost through sweat, though in smaller amounts. Some athletes like to use caffeine before a workout, as research supports using caffeine may enhance exercise performance. If you’re looking for an extra boost, raspberry limeade and matcha green tea & lemon both contain caffeine. Just mix 1 scoop of powder into 12-16 ounces of water and mix until dissolved. National Institutes of Health. Dietary supplements for exercise and performance: Fact sheet for health professionals. Additionally, while there is some concern over megadoses of antioxidants, the amount found in Kaged Hydra-Charge is unlikely to be cause for concern.

Nuun Sport Electrolyte Tablets are certified gluten-free and can be consumed safely by individuals who are intolerant to gluten. Electrolyte tablets and powders are very nearly the same supplement. It’s just a different delivery system and some people find that tablets are easier to drop in a bottle rather than trying to dump in a powder. It’s said that they dissolve better, but I haven’t found this to be the case. Why take electrolytes? We support supplements that are evidence-based and rooted in science. We value certain product attributes that we find to be associated with the highest quality products Onnit contains a solid number of hydrating ingredients and comes in two tasty flavors, both of which mix great with eight to 12 ounces of water. Best Tasting Electrolytes

Instead, electrolyte powders are often recommended for athletes who engage in vigorous physical activity for long periods — typically 60–90 minutes or longer — and are at risk of dehydration and sodium losses due to excessive sweating ( 9). Additions: In addition to electrolytes, some tablets also include ingredients like caffeine to give you another extra boost. You may or may not want to include caffeine, so look carefully before you buy.’ 1. Hi-Lyte Electrolyte Replacement Tablets Pound CM, Blair B. Energy and sports drinks in children and adolescents. Pediatrics & Child Health. 2017; 22(7): 406-410. doi:10.1093/pch/pxx132 Powder supplements are the most common and popular form of electrolyte supplements. The texture, dissolvability, taste, and powder contents all play a part in being the best powder supplement The average adult needs at least 4700 mg of potassium daily. To put this in perspective, you'd have to consume more than 11 bananas or seven to ten cups of potassium-rich vegetables every day to meet your daily requirement. If you exercise, your daily requirement may be even higher.