Electrolytes are charged metallic ions that maintain optimal pH balance and fluid pressure within our cells. They’re responsible for most of the normal functioning in our bodies, making it crucial to maintain optimal electrolyte balance. However, excessive drinking, extreme heat or sun exposure, excessive sweating, or physical exertion can lead to the loss of fluids and electrolytes, inducing an electrolyte imbalance. The loss of electrolytes leads to severe harmful symptoms, including headaches, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, disorientation, and other potential complications.
That’s why it’s highly recommended that you maintain optimal electrolyte balance in your body, especially if you’re someone who’s at a higher risk of electrolyte imbalance, such as professional athletes, hikers, travelers, etc. The best way to ensure electrolyte balance is to drink plenty of electrolyte drinks if you fall into any of the categories mentioned earlier. Electrolyte drinks restore your body’s electrolyte balance and enhance fluid absorption, allowing your body to continue functioning under stressful situations.
However, not all electrolytes are built alike. Due to the lack of regulation in the sports drinks industry, several brands promote their energy drinks as electrolyte supplements even though they’re little more than sugar water. Good and useful electrolyte supplements aren’t all that delicious, but they serve a vital purpose. You should be extremely cautious when looking for electrolyte drinks on the market. This article provides examples of the best and worst electrolyte drinks.
Worst Electrolyte Drinks
Water
People often think water is ideal for hydration, but that’s inaccurate. In the past, water would flow down from mountains, collect essential minerals, get activated through motion, and remain free from pollutants. However, due to our modern needs, water needs to be purified and distilled through a process that strips them of essential electrolytes. Purified water is still essential for hydration, but it’s not exactly an electrolyte supplement, and it can’t be used to treat dehydration. If you try consuming water while experiencing dehydration, you’ll simply vomit it back out because your body won’t have the essential minerals to facilitate fluid absorption.
Sports Drinks
Sports drinks are the worst electrolyte drinks known to man, but they retain their popularity due to savvy marketing gimmicks and the lack of regulation in the industry. People often believe that sugary sports drinks are the best for hydration, which is simply incorrect. In actuality, sugary sports drinks are mostly sugared water with artificial flavors, caffeine, and just enough electrolytes to make them pass off as “electrolyte supplements.” They can’t reverse dehydration symptoms, restore electrolyte balance, or even improve your athletic performance. In most cases, their insanely high-calorie composition makes them more likely to cause weight gain. Amongst sports drinks, the worst offenders include Gatorade, Powerade, Powerade Zero, and PediaLyte.
Best Electrolyte Drinks
Electrolyte Tablets
Electrolyte tablets, such as Salt Sticks and Enhanced Electrolyte Capsules, are genuine electrolyte supplements that restore electrolyte balance when mixed in water. You have to simply pop them into a bottle of water and watch them fizz and mix with the water, creating a refreshing electrolyte drink. These electrolyte tablets don’t have artificial flavors or sugar and contain the ideal proportion of electrolyte minerals. When looking for electrolyte tablets, you must read the labels carefully to ensure they don’t contain artificial flavors or sugar.
RecoverORS
RecoverORS is undoubtedly one of the best electrolyte drinks for professional athletes, travelers, and hikers. It’s a clinically-formulated electrolyte supplement that comes in the form of a powder that you must dissolve in bottles of water. The electrolyte water contains all the essential electrolytes, minerals, and vitamins, including Dextrose, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, and Ascorbic Acid. Furthermore, the electrolyte supplement has less than 1% sweeteners, natural flavors, and approximately 33% more electrolytes than most other electrolyte drinks. Each RecoverORS serving contains only about 9.5 calories, making it ideal for professional sports persons. Considering all these factors, it’s clear why RecoverORS is the #1 recommended brand by pharmacists and doctors.
HYDRATION STARTS WITH RECOVERORS!
Electrolyte Drinks FAQs
What are electrolytes, and why are they put in drinks?
As mentioned earlier, electrolytes are charged metallic ions that maintain optimal pH balance and fluid pressure within our cells. The most common and important electrolytes are sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. They’re put into drinks because they control your body’s fluid balance, regulate your blood pressure, ensure muscle contraction, and ensure optimal pH balance.
What are the sources of natural electrolytes?
Natural electrolytes can be found in dairy products, milk, yogurt, coconut water, watermelon, avocado, bananas, fruits, and vegetables.
What is the best way to replenish your electrolytes?
The best way to replenish your electrolytes is to drink an electrolyte supplement containing the optimal proportion of essential electrolytes with no added sugars and natural flavors, such as RecoverORS.
What is the best electrolyte supplement for hydration?
RecoverORS is one of the best brands of electrolyte supplements for hydration. It contains all essential electrolytes, making it helpful in restoring your electrolyte balance. Once your body’s electrolyte balance is restored, you can drink water comfortably because the electrolytes ensure fluid absorption into the cells.
Why is it important to drink electrolytes during exercise?
You must drink electrolytes during exercise and sports because those activities lead to excessive sweating, which, in turn, leads to the loss of fluids and electrolytes. As such, electrolyte supplements maintain your electrolyte balance and keep you hydrated.
What should a person look for in an electrolyte drink?
You should look for the following minerals in electrolyte drinks — sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. You must also ensure that the electrolyte drink is low on calories and doesn’t have artificial flavors.
Can I drink electrolyte water every day?
Yes, you can drink electrolyte water every day, especially if you’re an athlete or need to spend long hours outdoors. You should ideally drink up to 8 servings of RecoverORS electrolyte supplement per day.
