Supercharge your water for a pick-me-up
THIS season, plain old water is no longer enough for fitness types and fashionistas — and adding a little wow to your water bottle has become the new frontier of the wellness battle.
The idea is that true hydration is not just about how much water you drink, but also how you replenish your electrolytes — salts and minerals such as sodium, potassium and magnesium that are essential to the body’s functions. Run low, and you can expect brain fog, tiredness, low mood and more, so the theory goes.
So with a range of companies offering everything from tablets to powders to drops to drinks to help you stay ever more energised, should you supercharge every sip?
‘Most people hydrate adequately by drinking water and consuming hydrating foods,’ says registered nutritionist Lara Buckle. ‘However, in situations where you may be losing electrolytes through sweat, replenishing them can be beneficial.’
Lara notes that those with conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure should be cautious about adding supplements to their water, and that it is possible to overconsume electrolytes. With that in mind, read on to find out which might suit you . . .
FUN FIZZ Phizz (€9.49 for 20 tablets, Boots)
CREATED by school friends who ‘spotted a gap in the market after failing to find an allin-one solution to stay hydrated’, these tablets offer four key electrolytes: sodium, potassium, magnesium and chloride.
Flavours include mango, apple and blackcurrant, cherry (with caffeine) and mixed berry, which tastes like a less sweet Ribena. LARA SAYS: ‘While it does contain glucose (sugar) and sweetener, it packs an impressive 19 vitamins and minerals — so doubles up as a multivitamin supplement, too.’ VERDICT: An affordable option that’s fun to plink and fizz.
POWER POWDER
Cellular Hydration powder (€36 for 250g, selfridges.com)
PACKAGED in a sleek, black bag, this is an electrolyte powder blended with ‘botanical powerhouses’ to support ‘energy, focus, mood and more’. Sugar and sweetener-free, when mixed in water it tastes like a grown-up lemon barley water. LARA SAYS: ‘Contains maca, which is great for improving mood and libido, as well as inulin, a type of prebiotic that can improve gut health, so this powder is more than just an electrolyte supplement.’ VERDICT: A bag that offers bang for your buck.
THE POCKET DROPS Elete (€12.90 for 25ml bottle, nourish.ie)
THESE drops of purified water contain four key electrolytes — sodium, potassium, chloride and magnesium — and 70 trace elements, sourced from Utah’s Great Salt Lake, for ‘full spectrum’ enhancement. Add 2.5ml to each litre of water you drink. When diluted as directed, your water still tastes like water. LARA SAYS: ‘Well suited to athletes, and for those who really care about what they put in their bodies, as this product is 100 per cent natural. This would be my top pick if I felt I needed hydration support.’ VERDICT: A handy format for those serious about hydration
SALTY SACHETS LMNT Recharge (€23.99 for 12, healf.com)
TEAR open one of these little packets and tip the powdered contents into water to dissolve. Available in plain and flavoured options including raspberry salt, watermelon salt and citrus salt. LARA SAYS: ‘A simple product, with only sodium chloride, magnesium malate and potassium chloride. Nothing fancy, nothing artificial, no sugar, with good levels of these electrolytes.’ VERDICT: Straightforward, tasty if you like sour sweets, and satisfyingly thirst-quenching.
TROPICAL BOTTLE True Hydration (€32.85 for 180g, thehopsack.ie)
THIS powder is ‘inspired by the natural electrolytes found in coconut water’. Each bottle offers around 30 servings of sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium, as well as chromium which contributes to stable blood sugar levels. LARA SAYS: ‘One of the more expensive options, but many of the ingredients have been selected because of their purity and high bioavailability. It contains coconut water powder — in fact just drinking coconut water gives you electrolytes. VERDICT: A refreshing formula with no nasties.
■ Lara Buckle (thewellness detective.co.uk)