What Is the Best Drink to Replace Electrolytes?

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There are many activities and conditions that can cause a person to lose a considerable number of electrolytes. Given how important electrolytes are to physical performance and overall health, understanding how to keep electrolyte levels up is vital.

Therefore, today, we will be addressing a common yet critical question: What is the best drink to replace electrolytes?

On that note, let’s go ahead and take a look at some electrolyte-rich beverage options.

What Is the Best Drink to Replace Electrolytes? Four Excellent Options

There are many different excellent electrolyte-infused drinks from which to choose. Some great options include:

1. Sports Drinks

Commercially produced sports drinks have long been one of the most popular means of replenishing electrolyte stores. These kinds of can be useful for athletes as they provide carbs, electrolytes and water, all in a quick and convenient package.

That said, beverages like Gatorade, Powerade and similar options are accompanied by some considerable drawbacks, namely their unnatural ingredients and sugar content.

Artificial colors and flavors aside, examining the sugar content of four common sports drinks, it quickly becomes apparent that these are not the best option. This is because the average Gatorade and Powerade each contain a whopping 34 grams of sugar, while something like Vitaminwater comes loaded with 32 grams.

However, even opting for some sugar-free alternatives is not great, as these are infused with artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols, which could lead to digestive discomfort.

2. Electrolyte Powder + Water

While sports drinks can have their place, you are almost always better off using a high-quality sugar-free electrolyte powder.

Assuming that you have chosen to go with a quality option, electrolyte powders are a convenient, cost-effective and much healthier way to make up your own electrolyte drink at any time.

Electrolyte powders like those offered by Key Nutrients do not contain any artificial junk, are sweetened using stevia (an all-natural sweetener) and contain a variety of other vitamins and minerals.

Because of the simple ingredients, convenience, additional benefits and great taste, a good electrolyte powder mixed with water is one of the best drinks to replace electrolytes.

3. Coconut Water

In case you don’t know, coconut water is simply the liquid found inside of a coconut.

In recent years, this has become an extremely popular beverage among health-conscious crowds, as it is naturally low in sugar and fairly rich in electrolytes. Plus, it tastes pretty good too.

When stacked up against something like your average sports drink, coconut water is a superior drink for replacing electrolytes.

4. Smoothies

Smoothies are an awesome way to take a bunch of electrolyte-rich foods and blend them up into a delicious drink.

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Some of the best sources of electrolytes are whole foods like fruits, veggies, dairy products and nut milks, and all go great in smoothies. You can even add some blue raspberry electrolyte powder into the mix to turn your smoothie into a powerhouse electrolyte replenisher.

Additionally, if you are sick and have lost electrolytes through sweating, vomiting and diarrhea, then a smoothie is going to be easier on your stomach and more digestible than solid foods. Even if you are healthy, smoothies are a great (and extremely common) post-workout drink, helping to replenish electrolytes and provide protein for muscle recovery and growth.

On the downside, smoothies might not be the best choice for consuming shortly before or during an exercise, as they can be a bit heavy. If consumed beforehand, be sure to leave a one-hour window between your smoothie and gym session to avoid digestive discomfort.

The Best Drink to Replace Electrolytes

While there are plenty of great options available, water infused with a quality electrolyte powder is likely the best choice for replacing electrolytes, as it is convenient, affordable, can be consumed at any time and can provide benefits beyond just the replacement of electrolytes.

However, if you are going to go this route, it is advisable that you choose a sugar-free option that doesn’t contain any carbs or calories, as this will be the most versatile and beneficial means of replacing electrolytes.