Hydration support is currently the talk of the town, as my clients ask me about electrolyte products nearly every day. As a registered dietitian, my goal is to provide personalized recommendations based on my expertise and in-depth research. To achieve this, I have set out to sample and review a variety of electrolyte drink mixes.
For this round, I set my sights on Hydrant Hydration. I examined this formula's ingredients, health claims, taste, costs, and more to determine if it holds up to my favorite electrolyte powder, Live it Up Vital Minerals. Spoiler alert: It doesn't.
Below, I'll discuss the following:
- How Well Does Hydrant Hydrate?
- Is Hydrant Worth a Try?
- What Is Hydrant Hydration?
- Purported Health Benefits
- Ingredient Breakdown
- Quality and Safety
- Cost Analysis
- Taste Review
- Why I Choose Live it Up Vital Minerals
Hydrant Hydration Quick Facts
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Key ingredients:
- Four key minerals: sodium, potassium, magnesium, and zinc
- Real fruit powders
- Cane sugar and monk fruit extract
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Flavors: 9 options
- Lemon Lime
- Berry Burst
- Lemonade
- Watermelonade
- Fruit Punch
- Blood Orange
- Grapefruit
- Chili Lime
- Iced Tea Lemonade
- Purported benefits: Fast-acting hydration, muscle recovery and athletic performance, energy support
- Possible side effects: May cause digestive issues for some people
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Nutrition facts: 1 stick = 7.5g
- Calories: 25
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Total sugars: 4g
- Container size: 30 stick packs per pouch, no bulk options
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Price:
- $44.99 for a one-time purchase of a 30-serving pouch
- $35.99 with a subscription
- Shipping: Free shipping on all subscriptions and orders $75+
Formula Snapshot: How Well Does Hydrant Hydrate?
When assessing a product's hydration support, I look for a 2:1 sodium-to-potassium ratio, which I believe helps achieve optimal hydration levels. However, Hydrant has 260mg of sodium and 200mg of potassium, which is nearly a 1:1 ratio. This makes me question how well this powder can help with rehydrating and replenishing lost electrolytes.
Bottom Line: Is Hydrant Hydration Worth a Try?
I appreciate that Hydrant Hydration includes four essential electrolytes, a low sodium formula, and natural sweeteners and flavors. Still, the unbalanced ratio of sodium to potassium raises questions about its hydration support and the inclusion of added sugar gives me pause.
Because of these reasons, I believe Live it Up Vital Minerals offers a superior product, due to its balanced electrolyte formula with vitamin C and no added sugars.
What Is Hydrant?
Hydrant founders, John Sherwin (an Oxford scientist) and Jai Kim (a finance consultant), set out to find a solution to their hydration woes. Despite frequently drinking water, they both struggled with symptoms related to dehydration (headaches, fatigue, and low energy), so they designed an electrolyte powder to support their hydration needs.
The brand provides a variety of hydration powders, in addition to energy, sleep, and immunity supplements.
Hydrant Pros
- 9 flavors
- Low sodium compared to many competitors
- Non-GMO, vegan and gluten-free
- No artificial flavors or sweeteners
- Sugar-free options
- Naturally flavored with fruit powders and monk fruit
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Hydrant Cons
- Added sugar (4g)
- Sodium to potassium ratio is off (nearly 1:1 instead of 2:1)
- No calcium, chloride, or vitamin C for added benefits
- Free shipping only for subscribers
- No bulk purchase options
Hydrant Hydration Purported Benefits
Now, let's dive into some of the Hydrant's purported benefits, including enhanced hydration, muscle recovery and performance support, and energy production.
#1: Enhances Hydration
This hydration powder features four electrolytes: sodium, potassium, magnesium, and zinc. These minerals carry an electric charge and can help rehydrate you and regulate fluid balance within your body.
However, the Hydrant formula doesn't contain the appropriate balance between sodium and potassium. I prefer to see a 3:1 or 2:1 sodium-to-potassium ratio, but this formula is nearly 1:1. Additionally, I would like to see additional electrolytes included in the blend, such as calcium and chloride, which provide further hydration support.
#2: Supports Muscle Recovery and Performance
When you engage in an intense workout, your body loses electrolytes through lost fluid (sweat), which can lead to side effects like muscle cramps. However, replenishing your sodium, potassium, and magnesium levels can help not only rehydrate your body but also support muscle function, as they play a key role in muscle contraction and relaxation.
Being under hydrated can negatively impact your athletic performance in several other ways, too. For example, it can affect your flexibility, speed, endurance, and even your breathing, mood, and focus. I believe Hydrant’s light electrolyte formula is likely better suited to daily hydration needs rather than post-exercise replenishment.
#3: Promotes Energy
Although electrolytes are not directly responsible for energy production, some do support energy-facilitating processes when you’re properly hydrated. For instance, magnesium activates ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is commonly referred to as the "energy currency."
I would have liked to have seen the inclusion of vitamins in Hydrant’s formula to better support their “energy boost” claims. For instance, B vitamins convert food into energy, while vitamin D regulates metabolism and energy levels. Without these vitamins, it's unclear whether drinking Hydrant’s electrolyte mix would contribute to your energy. You’d have much better luck with Hydrant’s dedicated energy mix, which includes caffeine and L-theanine.
Hydrant Hydration Ingredients
Some of the brand’s flavors and sugar-free options may have slightly different ingredients. However, these are some of the main ingredients commonly found in Hydrant Hydration powders.
- Electrolytes: The formula contains four electrolytes: sodium (260mg), potassium (200mg), magnesium (30mg), and zinc (2mg).
- Real fruit powder: Depending on the flavor, the blend may include a variety of real fruit juice powders to help enhance the flavor and color of the product. Examples include lemon juice, strawberry juice, raspberry juice, and red beet juice.
- Cane sugar and monk fruit: The blend includes both cane sugar and monk fruit, which contribute to the powder's sweet flavor.
- Citric acid, malic acid, and natural flavors: These additives contribute to the taste of the powder and may act as preservatives.
Hydrant Hydration Quality and Safety
The Hydrant brand mentions that its products undergo third-party testing to determine their osmolality levels, but I would like to know if these practices include testing for ingredient purity.
I hope that the company tests its final products to ensure they're free of any contaminants like harmful bacteria and heavy metals. For example, all Live it up Vital Mineral products undergo third-party testing and are produced in GMP-certified facilities to ensure quality and safety.
Hydrant Hydration Cost Analysis
Understanding the costs of these supplements is important to ensure you can afford to incorporate them into your daily routine. When compared to similar products on the market, Hydrant supplement prices fall around the middle of the road. The pricing is as follows:
- $44.99 ($1.49) for a one-time purchase of a 30-serving pouch
- $35.99 ($1.19) for a 30-serving pouch with a subscription
- Free shipping on all subscriptions and orders over $75
- 30-day satisfaction guarantee
- No bulk order options or discounts
Comparing to Vital Minerals, however, shows a much better price. The subscription cost for 30 servings is less than $1 per serving, and there are 30-, 60-, and 90-day bulk options. Additionally, all Live it Up orders come with free shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Hydrant Hydration Taste Review
Hydrant comes in the following nine fruity flavors:
- Lemon Lime
- Berry Burst
- Lemonade
- Watermelonade
- Fruit Punch
- Blood Orange
- Grapefruit
- Chili Lime
- Iced Tea Lemonade
I was pleased to see that this brand features nine different flavors to choose from, because I was sure there would be at least one flavor I'd enjoy. Usually, I find these powders are overly sweet, but that wasn’t the case for this product. Despite containing both monk fruit and cane sugar, the formula actually lacked a distinct flavor. I would have liked a little more sweetness to make the powder more enjoyable.
I checked Hydrant Hydration reviews from verified customers to see if they had similar experiences, and several did:
Now, taste is a personal preference, and some customers did think the powder tastes great:
As for texture, it took quite a bit of stirring to get the powder to dissolve in my glass, and even then, I still had clumps swirling around my drink.
Why I Choose Live it Up Vital Minerals
Hydrant Hydration has a lot going for it from its low sodium electrolyte formula to its natural flavors, but doesn’t stand up to my top hydration formula on price, sugar content, and electrolyte ratios.
Live it Up Vital Minerals is my go-to electrolyte drink mix because it contains balanced electrolytes for optimal daily hydration support (2:1 instead of 1:1), and vitamin C, which offers a variety of additional health benefits, such as heat tolerance.
Unlike Hydrant, Vital Minerals doesn’t contain added sugar. Moreover, it contains non-GMO ingredients and is vegan and free of gluten, soy, dairy and nuts. It also comes in two delicious, grit-free flavors (Lemon-Lime and Pomegranate Mango), which are not too sweet or salty.
While everyone has their unique preferences and health goals, I believe Live it Up Vital Minerals is a great way to stay hydrated and feel refreshed every day.
Hydrant Hydration Frequently Asked Questions
Want to learn more? Check out our FAQs below!
Are Hydrant electrolytes good for you?
The Hydrant electrolyte drink mix contains sodium (260mg), potassium (200mg), magnesium (30mg), and zinc (2mg). These electrolytes are considered beneficial for your health because they can help support hydration and manage fluid balance. However, it's important not to consume more electrolytes than your body needs.
Why shouldn't you drink electrolytes every day?
You should drink electrolytes when you're dehydrated and have lost fluids, such as after an intense workout, sun exposure, or illness. Consuming too many electrolytes or consuming them when you don't need them could cause an electrolyte imbalance in your body, leading to adverse symptoms, such as confusion, headaches, and muscle cramps.
What is the healthiest electrolyte drink powder?
While there are many healthy electrolyte drink mixes on the market, my go-to choice is Live it Up Vital Minerals. The non-GMO and vegan electrolyte powder has a great balance of electrolytes and contains vitamin C for added benefits. Unlike many other brands, Live it Up Vital Minerals is a low-calorie powder that does not contain any added sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Is Hydrant better than Liquid I.V.?
Hydrant and Liquid I.V. offer their unique advantages. For instance, Hydrant has more electrolytes than Liquid I.V., but Liquid I.V. includes vitamins for additional health benefits. Hydrant also contains much less sugar, sodium, and calories than Liquid I.V. If you're interested in optimal hydration support, I recommend Live it Up Vital Minerals.
References
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1323420/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/290814#15-benefits
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/21790-electrolytes
- https://nigms.nih.gov/biobeat/2020/11/pass-the-salt-sodiums-role-in-nerve-signaling-and-stress-on-blood-vessels
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/nutrition-and-fitness/sports-and-hydration-for-athletes
- https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10818509/
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/too-many-electrolytes
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R25PQMB2D5EZPI/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8
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- https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2YD23HEYDP7AE/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/RKO7Y40VGHJFP/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK236216/
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