Your body requires electrolytes in either the summer or the winter. When you cry, sweat, or urinate, your body excretes water that contains valuable minerals that you lose. These minerals are necessary for the body to function. Electrolytes are the term for them.

The body utilizes these electrolytes to great effect. Electrolyte beverages replenish and reenergize you. Additionally, it improves organ performance and helps the body function more effectively.

Choose the best electrolyte drink for your needs by taking into account the ingredients, type of electrolytes, dose, and price range.

Keep reading, we have listed our top picks in this post for your reference.

9 Best Electrolyte Drink List

• 1. Best Overall: Skratch Labs Sport Hydration Drink Mix
• 2. Best for Illness-Related Fluid Loss: Pedialyte Electrolyte Solution Unflavored
• 3. Best Caffeinated: Tailwind Nutrition Caffeinated Endurance Fuel
• 4. Best Tablet: Nuun Sport Electrolyte Drink Tablets
• 5. Best Single Serve: Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Electrolyte Drink Mix
• 6. Best for Long Endurance Events: Maurten Drink Mix 160
• 7. Best for Runners: Nuun Sport + Caffeine
• 8. Best for Breastfeeding: Vita Coco
• 9. Best Pre-workout Drink: Hydralyte + Energy Boost Electrolyte Powder

Best Electrolyte Drink Review

1. Best Overall: Skratch Labs Sport Hydration Drink Mix

Pros

• Contains electrolytes lost in sweat
• Contains carbohydrates to aid in rehydration
• Flavored using natural ingredients

Cons

• Must be prepared in advance

With 380 milligrams of sodium, 39 milligrams of potassium, 44 milligrams of calcium, and 39 milligrams of magnesium in each scoop of Skratch Labs Sports Hydration, we like that it replaces the electrolytes lost through perspiration. Skratch also includes 21 grams of carbohydrates as a bonus. These extra sugars can help you stay energized during long endurance events and can also help your body retain fluids, which can speed up your rehydration. Consuming too much sugar at once while exercising can lead to digestive issues, so we like that Skratch contains moderate amounts.11

Taste is a major factor for many athletes, as many electrolyte drinks are overly sweet. A tasty beverage, on the other hand, will tempt you to consume more. Skratch hydration mix uses fruit to flavor its drink mix rather than artificial flavorings, which gives it a slightly sweet taste. You can choose from a variety of flavors for Skratch, including lemon-lime, strawberry lemonade, and summer peach.

Since this is a powder, it needs to be combined with water ahead of time. Planning ahead may be necessary if you intend to use it while working out. Additionally, this product has been approved as being dairy-free, non-GMO, kosher, and gluten-free.

2. Best For Illness-related Fluid Loss: Pedialyte Electrolyte Solution Unflavored

Pros

• Approved for use by children
• Contains zinc for added immune support
• No artificial sweeteners
• Ready-to-drink

Cons

• Flavored versions contain dyes
• Expensive

Pedialyte might be a good electrolyte drink option if you or your child is experiencing fluid loss due to illness-related vomiting or diarrhea. To help you rehydrate and replenish lost electrolytes, Pedialyte is a liquid drink with 10 grams of carbohydrates, 440 milligrams of chloride, 280 milligrams of potassium, and 370 milligrams of sodium per serving. It also contains 2.8 milligrams of zinc per serving, which has been linked to reduced duration and severity of diarrhea.14

Pedialyte may be a helpful electrolyte drink if you are losing fluids as a result of diarrhea or vomiting, but you should speak with a healthcare professional to make sure it is right for you. Unlike many electrolyte beverages, Pedialyte is safe for use by kids. But flavored varieties come with extra dyes, and they might also cost more.

3. Best Caffeinated: Tailwind Nutrition Caffeinated Endurance Fuel

Pros

• Contains caffeine for an extra boost
• Contains electrolytes lost in sweat
• Contains carbohydrates to aid in rehydration

Cons

• Must be prepared in advance

This might even be advantageous if you enjoy drinking coffee and are an athlete. Utilizing Tailwind while exercising can provide you with calories, electrolytes, and caffeine, which is beneficial for endurance performance according to research13.

25 grams of sugar and 35 milligrams of caffeine are both present in one scoop of Tailwind Endurance Fuel. It’s possible that you’ll need to eat carbs while exercising if your endurance exercise lasts longer than an hour. This can be especially helpful if you have trouble eating regular food or dislike using other products like chews or gels while exercising.

The electrolytes lost through sweat are replaced in Tailwind Endurance Fuel, which has 303 milligrams of sodium, 88 milligrams of potassium, 26 milligrams of calcium, and 14 milligrams of magnesium per serving. Additionally, we appreciate that this powder uses fruit flavoring instead of dyes or preservatives. Furthermore, it is non-GMO and free of dairy and soy.

4. Best Tablet: Nuun Sport Electrolyte Drink Tablets

Pros

• Dissolvable tablet
• Contains electrolytes lost in sweat
• No artificial sweeteners
• Inexpensive per serving

Cons

• Sweetened with stevia instead of sugar

We wanted to offer a lower-sugar option because we are aware that not everyone uses electrolyte drinks for both electrolytes and carbohydrates. The 1 gram of sugar, and 300 milligrams of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium are present in Nuun Sport Electrolyte Drink Tablets. Adding carbohydrates to liquid can help you rehydrate more quickly, though, if you’re doing vigorous exercise in a hot environment. Make sure to replenish your energy with food even if you prefer to drink an electrolyte drink with less sugar.

Water and Nuun tablets combine to create a fizzy beverage. Although this might be enjoyable after working out, keep in mind that it might be challenging to drink while working out. These tablets are dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, kosher, and non-GMO certified. Stevia, a calorie-free natural sweetener with a distinct flavor that may or may not go well with you, is used to sweeten them.

5. Best Single Serve: Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Electrolyte Drink Mix

Pros

• Contains vitamins C, B3, B5, B6, and B12
• Single-serve packets for easy use
• No artificial ingredients

Cons

• Does not contain calcium or magnesium

Liquid I.V. can be used while traveling. may come in handy with its single-serve packets. Cellular Transport Technology (CTT), a method of formulating rehydration drinks that were created by the World Health Organization in the 1960s and 1970s to help treat extreme dehydration and is still in use today, is used to create liquid intravenous fluids. This guideline suggests a precise ratio of sodium, glucose, and water that will support rehydration for those at risk of severe dehydration.12

This powdered mixture contains 500 milligrams of sodium per serving along with 11 grams of carbohydrates. If you exercise frequently and tend to sweat salt, this sodium level may be advantageous for you; white streaks on your face or clothing after working out are a good sign. But if you don’t like salt or are at risk of dehydration from a disease or strenuous exercise, this option might be too salty for you.

Vitamin C, B3, B5, B6, and B12 are also present in liquid IV. It’s critical to consume enough vitamin C and B vitamins if you exercise frequently because they are both necessary for tissue repair and energy production, respectively. Although you can get calcium and magnesium from food, like dairy and leafy greens, this product does not contain those electrolytes.

Being non-GMO and free of dairy, soy, and gluten is something Liquid I.V. takes great pride in. Liquid I.V. offers an additional bonus with every purchase. donates a serving of Give a needy person a liquid intravenous.

6. Best For Long Endurance Events: Maurten Drink Mix 160

Pros

• High carbohydrate content
• Single-serve packet
• Part of Informed-Sport Program

Cons

• One flavor
• Does not contain potassium, magnesium, or calcium
• Expensive per serving

You probably need more carbohydrates if you participate in long endurance events like triathlons, marathons, and ultramarathons. Additionally, you’ll probably require more electrolytes if you’re competing in warm weather. 39 grams of carbohydrates and 400 milligrams of sodium are found in each serving of Maurten Drink Mix 160.

With Maurten, you can eat more carbohydrates without experiencing stomach upset thanks to patented Hydrogel technology. It does not contain potassium, magnesium, or calcium, so make sure you get these electrolytes from food. The Maurten Drink Mix 360 has 79 grams of carbohydrates and 200 grams of sodium per serving, which is an even higher carbohydrate drink mix.

There are no synthetic additives in Maurten Drink Mix. You may want to start with a single-serve option because there is only one flavor available, which is a mildly sweet one. We appreciate that each batch of Maurten Drink Mix is tested by Informed Sport, a global testing program for sports and nutrition supplements, to make sure it doesn’t contain any substances prohibited by sports organizations.

7. Best For Runners: Nuun Sport + Caffeine

Pros

• No artificial flavoring or sweeteners
• Only 1 gram of sugar
• Good for travel

Cons

• Contains caffeine (could be a pro or con)

For years, athletes and runners have trusted Nuun as the best electrolyte beverage. The sugar in Nuun tablets, which are made from high-quality stevia, totals just one gram. Additionally, there are only 15 calories and no artificial flavors or sweeteners in it. There is a huge selection of flavors available, and because they are in tablet form, it is simple to carry them almost anywhere. Dissolve one tablet in 16 ounces of water, that’s all.

While some people may find caffeine to be a drawback, studies have shown that it may improve athletic performance, which may benefit runners both during training and competition. Green tea extract also serves as a source of caffeine. Additionally, Nuun offers electrolyte powder blend, and energy, and immunity-boosting tablets.

8. Best For Breastfeeding: Vita Coco

Pros

• Naturally occurring electrolyte source
• Contains only 1 ingredient
• Delicious

Cons

• Expensive
• High sugar content

Coconut water is the most organic electrolyte beverage available. You should be mindful of what you put in your body as a new mother who is breastfeeding, just as you were during pregnancy. The best electrolyte beverage for nursing mothers is coconut water because of this.

There is never any concentrate used to make Vita Coco. Coconuts are harvested, cracked, and packed right at the source.

If you don’t like the flavor of unflavored coconut water, Vita Coco also offers coconut water options in pineapple and peach & mango flavors. You won’t have to worry about preparing a drink to replenish when you’re already exhausted thanks to the bottles’ portability and ease of use.

9. Best Pre-workout Drink: Hydralyte + Energy Boost Electrolyte Powder

Pros

• Includes caffeine
• Only 10 calories per serving
• An added benefit of vitamins

Cons

• More expensive than some options

While many electrolyte drinks may be intended for post-workout rehydration, Hydralyte + Energy Boost has the additional advantage of 100 mg of caffeine derived from green tea, making it the ideal pre-workout beverage. Additionally, this choice contains 225 mg of vitamin C, 9 mg of zinc, magnesium, and potassium, as well as vitamins B12 and B6 which help with energy metabolism.

This Hydralyte powder formula is incredibly portable; just throw it in your gym bag or backpack to later mix with water for hydration on the go, whether you need to jump-start your morning after a night out or want a healthy burst of energy before hitting the gym.

Are Electrolyte Drinks Beneficial To Our Body?

While electrolyte beverages aren’t typically required for daily consumption, there are some circumstances in which they can be very beneficial for avoiding dehydration.

Dehydration is still possible if you try to rehydrate with plain water after losing too many electrolytes. Dehydration can put more strain on your heart, make exercise more challenging, and affect your ability to control body temperature. When athletes lose two percent of their body weight from water loss, it can result in reduced aerobic performance and cognitive decline.45 In some cases, drinking too much plain water can lead to hyponatremia, a dangerous condition in which blood sodium levels drop too low.2

People who may benefit from electrolyte drinks to prevent dehydration include:

• Athletes engaging in prolonged strenuous exercise: Electrolyte drinks can help athletes who are exercising vigorously for more than an hour or who are doing intense interval training avoid becoming dehydrated. Electrolyte- and carbohydrate-rich beverages may increase the rate at which your cells absorb sodium and water, enabling you to rehydrate more quickly. These drinks also usually taste better, which encourages you to drink more.6
• Those exercising in warm weather: Electrolyte drinks can be particularly useful if you are exercising for long periods in warm weather.5
• Those experiencing altitude changes: An electrolyte imbalance can occur if you visit a high-altitude location when you are not used to it. You might consider including electrolyte drinks along with water and carbohydrates.7
• People with fluid loss from diarrhea or vomiting: Vomiting and feces are other ways that we lose fluids and electrolytes. An electrolyte drink, along with enough water and food, may be helpful if you are losing too much fluid due to a medical condition. It is best to consult with your healthcare provider to determine if an electrolyte drink is necessary.8

Who May Not Benefit From Electrolyte Supplements?

• Recreational athletes: Electrolyte drinks are probably not necessary if you exercise for less than an hour at a low to moderate intensity (if you can talk or sing comfortably while exercising). Most likely, you won’t perspire enough to deplete your electrolytes completely and immediately. By focusing on recovering with water and food that contains salt as well as the other electrolytes lost in sweat, you will be able to replace what you lost.1
• Sedentary individuals: You probably do not need to use an electrolyte drink if you are not exercising and have not lost a significant amount of fluids for another reason, like an illness. Instead, concentrate on drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated. Additionally, some electrolyte drinks have added sugars that, while they may be helpful to athletes, are probably unnecessary if you eat a balanced diet.
• Children who are not high-intensity athletes: For kids playing regularly, electrolyte drinks are typically not necessary. Children should typically drink water as their first method of hydration because the majority of the research on electrolyte drinks has been done on adults.9 However, children who are competitive athletes or who are at risk of dehydration due to illness may benefit from electrolyte drinks.

Factors To Consider When Buying Your Electrolyte Drink

Ingredients

Ingredients are perhaps the most crucial. The ingredients in your electrolyte drink are listed on the label, so check it out. There are many options, and which one you select will depend on your needs, such as whether you’re looking for something to help you recover from an illness or something to fuel your exercise.

Electrolytes come in a variety of forms, including sodium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, and chloride.

It’s crucial to also look over the inactive ingredients. Even though some sports drinks contain the necessary electrolytes, it isn’t ideal to combine them with a ton of added sugar.

Form

Electrolyte drinks are available in a variety of forms. These consist of powdered medications like Liquid I.V. and premixed liquid medications like Pedialyte., and dissolvable tablets, like Then there are electrolyte drinks that are produced naturally, like coconut water and Nuun.

Your choice of electrolyte beverage may be influenced by a number of factors, including whether you need to travel with it, how much you can conveniently carry, and your personal preferences.

Other Additives

Electrolyte beverages occasionally contain additional ingredients like caffeine or vitamin C. Some of these additional additives may be helpful for some people for various reasons, while others may prefer to stay away from them. In general, it is best to avoid any beverage with a lot of sugar. Before beginning any supplement, especially if it’s a component of a brand-new or especially demanding exercise regimen, it can’t hurt to speak with your doctor.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Electrolyte drinks can do your body good, though. Generally speaking, when exercising for a long time at a high intensity, consuming electrolytes (electrically-charged minerals, including magnesium, potassium, and sodium) can be beneficial.

A few factors should be taken into account before making the ultimate purchase if you’re looking for the best electrolyte drinks. Which ingredients do you prefer and which do you want to stay away from? Do you prefer liquid, tablets, or powder? Do you require a portable item for travel? One of these top electrolyte beverages should work well for you once you have the answers to these questions.

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