Lifestyle

Is your newsfeed inundated with electrolyte advertising like mine? Electrolytes are having a big moment, and for good reason. Electrolyte balance is crucial for feeling and performing our best. We can’t always replenish our electrolytes with food, and sometimes a supplement is needed. But before Instagram influences you to buy Instant Hydration, I’ll show you why Needed Hydration is far superior. Oh, and snag a Black Friday discount, too, if you’re ready to try it! 

*This article should not be construed as medical advice, and cannot replace the guidance of your qualified health professional.* 

A Caution About Supplements

Lately I’ve seen lots of influencer adds for various supplements. Sometimes the supplements are high-quality, but often they’re not. It’s so important to carefully choose what you consume, because the supplement industry is not regulated. Product labels are often wildly different from actual product content, and brands rely on celebrity placements to cover up their lack of transparency. Don’t fall into this trap! Make sure the supplements you consume are third-party tested for quality and purity (and results are published!), make sure the product is without fillers, thickeners, or even added “natural” flavors. And lastly, check out the brand’s website. If they pay lip service to “science” but don’t cite any sources or link to real research studies, it’s a red flag. Even worse? Brands that pretend to have a sustainability initiative but actually explain very little about what that means or how they’re tracking it. Don’t settle for less– you simply don’t have to!

Now that I’ve saved you from being duped, let’s talk electrolytes.

Why Electrolytes Are Important

Our bodies need electrolytes to function. They carry electrical signals between cells, which is crucial for nerve and muscle function. Water alone is not enough to be truly hydrated; our bodies need electrolytes, too! We can often get electrolytes like salt from our daily diets, but others, such as magnesium, are hard to get in sufficient amounts without supplementation.

When Should You Supplement with Electrolytes

Whenever you sweat, you lose not just water, but also electrolytes in the form of salt and other minerals. Extra exertion, whether from running, heavy weightlifting, or pregnancy, means that you’re likely using up more electrolytes than you’re replenishing.  In some cases, drinking more water when you’re dehydrated can actually worsen your dehydration, because it dilutes your electrolytes! 

An easy way to increase your electrolyte intake is by adding some pink salt to a morning cup of hot lemon water. Just a pinch is all you need and you won’t even taste it! For more strenuous exercise or if you’re struggling with hydration, add a dedicated electrolyte supplement. But don’t just pick any electrolyte supplement; here’s how to choose the best. 

Don’t Be Fooled: Most Electrolyte Blends are Junk

There are numerous electrolyte supplements to choose from, but not all are created equal. Instant Hydration has been all over my newsfeed, with multiple well-known influencers hyping it up. They certainly paid for the marketing, but is there anything to it? A quick scan of the ingredients shows it to be pretty good, but all the “French Grey Salt” in the world doesn’t make up for the natural flavors added and total lack of transparency, to me. 

Why You Want to Avoid Natural Flavor

“Natural flavors” are hard to avoid these days, but I find it so odd that a brand would go to the trouble of highlighting fancy ingredients like “French salt” to then fall back on the natural flavors. “Natural” flavors can be highly processed, and contain chemicals that aren’t disclosed. It’s such a lack of transparency and it’s jut not necessary. 

What Transparency & Science Really Mean for Electrolytes

There’s an entire navigational tab on Instant Hydration’s website devoted to “Science,” but it was extremely disappointing. It contained only vague statements about why electrolytes are needed and hydration is important, but cited zero sources. Also, with an entire tab devoted to “Science,” I’m expecting linked research studies pertaining to the product or its ingredients. I didn’t find either.

Sustainability 

Instant Hydration claims to get their mineral blend from 600m deep in the Pacific Ocean, by Aquamin. How are they doing this sustainably? Aquamin’s website lists numerous sustainability goals, but they’re vague and don’t mention this deep sea mineral harvesting. On the other hand, Instant Hydration’s sustainability statement is three sentences: “We’re committed to ocean health. In our first year, we’ve pledged to remove 11,000 pounds of plastic from the ocean. We partner with CleanHub to end plastic pollution and protect our seas, which provide 70% of the oxygen we breathe.”  But this says nothing of their personal impact, which I find odd, since they are specifically highlighting use of this deep sea mineral blend. 

How to Choose the Best Electrolyte Supplement

Third Party Testing for Supplement Purity

Supplements are not FDA-regulated. This means that ingredients labels are often inaccurate, and the products often contain higher levels of heavy metals and other contaminants. Needed is Clean Label Project certified, meaning they’ve been third party tested for label accuracy and product purity from contaminants such as heavy metals and pesticides. Clean Label Project is an excellent, free resource for checking certain product labels! Check them out. Alternatively, Skratch Labs actually is FDA-regulated, as it’s considered a food company. 

No Added Junk

Many electrolyte brands contain extra junk that you don’t need. Steer clear of anything with added gums or fillers. These are likely to hurt your stomach, too!

No Artificial Flavors or Sweeteners

It’s important to be mindful of your total sugar intake. In the case of electrolytes, some sugar content can actually help you hydrate. If you’re a heavy sweater or participate in high intensity endurance sports like running, swimming, or cycling (or all three), you may actually want some sugar in your drink. 

For all others, you’re likely looking to minimize sugar, but don’t make the mistake of assuming that artificial is better. In fact, I recommend to avoid any supplements with artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners. Research has shown that these just aren’t good for you. And moreover, they aren’t necessary. There are several brands I know and trust that get their flavor and slight sweetness from real fruit.

Real, Published Science

Sadly, the words “research” and “science” are so overused today as to immediately draw my suspicion. Since we know supplements are not FDA-regulated, the burden of proof is on the brands themselves for the efficacy and quality of their products. Brands I trust, like Needed, actively invest in research related to women’s health and their products, and publish the results of those studies. 

Choose Electrolytes with a Commitment to Sustainability 

Needed participates in 1% for the Planet, is Climate Neutral Certified and a Certified B Corp.

Best Electrolytes for Endurance Athletes

One of my favorite brands of electrolytes for endurance sports is Skratch. Made from real fruit and some real sugar, these are built to replenish what you’ve lost. Since they contain sugar, factor that into your total carbohydrate intake post-workout. Their website explains why they chose their electrolyte profile, and they have a real FAQ section, and a blog with numerous topics (with citations). I’ve used Skratch when training for half marathons and it hydrates without hurting my stomach! They even have no-sugar options.

Bundle Hydration Support with Collagen

One of my favorite electrolyte supplements for everyday use is Needed Hydration Support. They come in easy to use, convenient packets that are perfect for travel or on-the-go. They’re naturally sweetened with fruit and monk fruit, and they’re Clean Label Project certified, so you know they’ve been third party tested for accuracy and purity. 

We brought these on our honeymoon and they saved us from the hot Hawaiian sun! One of my favorite ways to take these electrolytes is by adding them to Needed Collagen Protein, for a hydrating dose of collagen on-the-go. Needed offers a bundle of both products so you can save money when you buy them together. It’s their Pregnancy Nausea Bundle, but rest assured that it works well for those that aren’t pregnant, and my husband likes it, too! Try the variety pack so you can sample all three flavors. 

Right now Needed is having their Black Friday sale! To try Needed, use this link to get 25% off a new subscription (code HOLIDAY25 is applied automatically at checkout). Or use code MERRITT for 20% off a single item. 

Dive in to clean electrolytes!