Runners and high-performing athletes have been taking electrolytes for a while. But now, research is saying that we should all be adding the sachets to our water. Here’s why.
Our bodies are roughly 60% water. It’s a huge component of our blood, our cells and the tissues between our cells.
If we’re dehydrated, our physiology physically can’t work as well as it has the potential to. It also means that we’re more likely to get headaches, have difficulty concentrating, experience low energy and even result in us being constipated.
According to head of nutritional research at Heights, Sophie Medlin, most people aren’t adequately replacing the water they lose throughout the day, which can lead to an electrolyte imbalance. Athlete or not, this is something that can have serious implications.
@living360_uk L360 taste test Hydrate+ electrolytes 💦⚡️ What shall we try next? #officehumor #electrolytes #tastetest
How to know if you’re not getting enough water?
“If you can see the marks of your teeth on your tongue, that probably means you’re not getting enough water,” Sophie explains.
“Obviously, one of the most obvious indicators is our urine. It should be barely yellow — which isn’t the case for most people.”
Why do we need electrolytes?
“Drinking enough water is great, but if we’re not getting enough sodium, our bodies can’t hold onto the water.”
We get electrolytes from foods and fluids, predominately through sodium and chloride that can be found in foods such as olives, prawns, cheese, pickles, bananas, apricots, spinach, meat, fish and cereals. We should be able to get all the electrolytes we need from a full, healthy and varied diet — but eating all of the above, regularly, isn’t easy.
How does adding electrolytes to my water help with hydration?
“Electrolytes act as ‘anchors’ that pin water into our cells and tissues where it’s needed,” Sophie explains. “When we drink plain water — which we all still need to do — our bodies end up excreting most of that water. So, electrolytes help our bodies to pin that water to the right places.”
Read more: TikTok claims matcha can help with PCOS — experts respond to latest health trend
Can drinking electrolytes improve our skin?
Co-founder of The Ordinary, Nicola Kilner, seems to think so.
“One of people’s key concerns when it comes to their skin is hydration,” she says. “We’ve all, at one time or another, gone out at the weekend, only to wake up on Monday morning to find our skin looking and feeling dehydrated.”
“Hyaluronic acid is one of the best products to help with skin hydration, but I think we as consumers tend to forget that one of the best ways to feel good in our skin is to be properly hydrated.”
The five best electrolytes brands and sachets to buy now
Heights
A brand-new addition to the Heights portfolio, the Hydrate+ sachets contain Cognizin® citicoline — a nootropic designed to promote focus, energy and everyday performance. You can choose from three new fruity flavours, too: lime margarita, peach fizz or mango ginger mule.
Read more: You’re probably not eating enough fibre — here’s why you need more
Free Soul
Combining creatine monohydrate with electrolytes, this premium blend has been created to help with both hydration and recovery. It’s a great option for those who prefer to take their electrolytes pre-gym. It also boasts a sweet strawberry and mango flavour.
punchy
These lightly sparkling drinks are as full of flavour as they are electrolytes and vitamins and contain no caffeine or artificial sweeteners. Each sachet contains vitamins C, D, B3, B6 and B12, while the flavour options range from mango and blueberry to citrus and tropical.
Shop the tropical variety pack from £15
Vidrate
With zero sugar and no artificial sweeteners, Vidrate offers 10 different flavour sachets that contain electrolytes as well as vitamins C and B12. The nighttime variants also contain magnesium.
Bundle and save with an eight-pack for only £6.95
Humantra
With a blend that contains vitamins C and B12, as well as calcium, magnesium and zinc, Humantra’s range of electrolytes supports focus and brain clarity as well as natural energy production. The flavours include the likes of berry pomegranate as well as lychee (a personal favourite), and each sachet is sugar and artificial sweetener-free.
Shop the 20-serving pack for £28.
Feature image: Pexels
