Kaged has been around for more than a decade, providing fitness-focused supplements like Kaged Hydration powder. The company brands its formula as safe for all-day use while being helpful with endurance, performance, and workouts.
Hydration products can have wildly different electrolyte formulas. As a dietitian, Kaged’s low price point had me curious about the value it offers. I'll break down the pros and cons I see in Kaged Hydration, as well as its purported benefits, ingredients, quality and safety, and taste.
After careful review, I would still recommend Live it Up Vital Minerals as the better value for those who want effective daily hydration. Below, I'll discuss the following:
- How Well Does Kaged Hydrate?
- Is Kaged Worth a Try?
- What Is Kaged?
- Purported Health Benefits
- Ingredients Breakdown
- Quality and Safety
- Cost Analysis
- Taste Review
-
Why I Choose Live it Up Vital Minerals
Kaged Hydration Quick Facts
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Key ingredients:
- Electrolytes: Sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium
- Coconut fruit water powder
- Proprietary antioxidant blend
- Sweeteners: Stevia and sucralose
- Taurine
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Flavors: 11 options
- Pina Colada
- Watermelon
- Blue Raspberry
- Pink Lemonade
- Orange Mango
- Glacier Grape
- Strawberry Yuzu
- Fruit Punch
- Lemon Lime
- Hibiscus Pear
- Apple Limeade
- Who should use Kaged Hydration? Suitable for everyday use or before, during, and after workouts
- Claimed benefits: Hydration, muscle recovery, antioxidant support, and overall health.
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Nutrition facts:
- Calories: 5
- Total carbohydrates: 1 gram
- Added sugar: 0 grams
- Taurine: 1 gram
- Sodium: 115 mg
- Potassium: 107 mg
- Container size: Tubs with 30 or 60 servings
- Cost: $24.99 for 30 servings or $19.99 with a subscription
- Shipping: Free for subscriptions or orders over $80. $7.99 for all other orders.
Formula Snapshot: How Well Does Kaged Hydrate?
Why electrolyte ratios matter: Simply drinking electrolytes won't hydrate you properly nor help you stay hydrated. Different electrolytes interact with each other in your body, so the key is to get the right balance of these essential minerals. It's important to know the types and quantities of electrolytes in your hydration supplement.
Kaged Hydration contains five essential electrolytes:
- Sodium: 115 mg
- Potassium: 107 mg
- Calcium: 37 mg
- Phosphorus: 37 mg
- Magnesium: 15 mg
In general, Kaged's total quantity of electrolytes per serving is very low. However, the most important thing I look for is a 2:1 ratio of sodium to potassium, which is the right balance for the most effective hydration. Kaged Hydration has a roughly 1:1 ratio, meaning there's not enough sodium balanced with potassium to have much of an impact on hydration levels.
Bottom Line: Is Kaged Hydration Worth a Try?
Kaged Hydration brands itself as a sugar-free daily hydration supplement with added antioxidants and support for athletes who need muscle recovery. However, its formula has low doses of electrolytes and antioxidants and its sodium to potassium ratio is unbalanced at 1:1.
Those who want more effective hydration support should seek a 3:1 or 2:1 sodium to potassium ratio found in other electrolyte products like Live it Up Vital Minerals.
What Is Kaged?
Kaged was co-founded by bodybuilder, coach, and fitness expert Kris Gethin. The brand has been around since 2014 and produces a wide range of products focused on strength and physique. Kaged supplements emphasize optimization and the hero's journey, and the brand frames the use of its products as the "Kaged lifestyle." It claims to keep its products affordable not by cutting corners on quality, but by taking low profit margins.
Kaged Hydration (formerly called Hydra-Charge) is the company’s electrolyte drink, which emphasizes a low-carb, low-calorie formula that uses coconut fruit water as its base:
- 5 calories
- 1 g carbohydrates
- 1 g taurine
Kaged Pros
- Vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO
- GMP-certified, NSF-certified, and third-party tested
- Available for purchase on Amazon
- 11 different fun and unique flavors
- Budget-friendly
- Includes variety of fruits, vegetables, and antioxidants
Kaged Cons
- Doesn't have an effective 2:1 balance of sodium to potassium
- Contains the fillers silicon dioxide and maltodextrin
- Contains the artificial sweetener sucralose
- Contains up to 1.2 mg of caffeine per serving
Kaged Hydration Purported Benefits
Kaged makes a few key health claims about its hydration powder that are worth examining more closely.
#1: All-Day Hydration Support
Kaged may aid with hydration, as it contains five key electrolytes our bodies need. Electrolyte beverages can help maintain hydration better than water alone by up to 64%. For the best results, however, you need the right balance of electrolytes.
Kaged keeps its sodium content deliberately low to make it safe for daily hydration. However, it’s so low that the ratio of sodium to potassium is nearly 1:1. For balanced quantities that work together synergistically, you want about a 2:1 ratio of these minerals.
#2: Enhances Performance and Muscle Endurance
Kaged recommends using its hydration powder around workouts and combined with its other fitness supplements. It claims to aid with muscle endurance and replenish fluid balances with minerals essential for muscle function.
The minerals sodium, calcium, and phosphorus, in particular, are essential for muscle contraction. However, the sodium content is so low that there’s not nearly enough to replenish what users may lose during intense training or exercise. Kaged needs more electrolytes in the right balance to properly support endurance athletes on their fitness journeys.
#3: Antioxidant Support
Kaged claims that its SPECTRA oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) blend contains enough antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to fight against oxidative stress and free radicals caused by stress, poor diet, and intense exercise.
I was pleased to see that the SPECTRA antioxidant blend does include antioxidants like quercetin and antioxidant-rich foods, such as berries, tomato, spinach, and kale, but these are fractions of a blend that makes up only 100 mg per serving of the supplement. There likely isn't enough antioxidant content to make much of an impact.
Kaged Hydration Ingredients
Ingredients are a key indicator of supplement effectiveness. Here's an overview of what Kaged Hydration is made of:
- Sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus: These five essential electrolytes are all key to proper hydration, but they perform best in the right ratio. Kaged purposefully keeps its sodium content low, which throws off its sodium-to-potassium balance with a 1:1 ratio rather than the more effective 2:1 ratio I prefer to see in hydration supplements.
- Coconut fruit water powder: Coconut water is nice to see here, as it's a great source of potassium and beneficial for hydrating after exercise. It's likely supplying at least some of the electrolytes listed as well as some natural sweetness without adding sugar.
- SPECTRA antioxidants: Kaged claims that this proprietary fruit, vegetable, and herbal extract blend supports overall health. With 29 ingredients spread across just 100 mg, it's likely that they're spread too thin to offer a noticeable benefit. Plus, the first ingredients listed are coffee and green tea, meaning there are trace amounts of caffeine in each dose.
- Taurine: This amino acid is common in energy drinks, but its benefits and side effects are not well-researched. It plays a role in cellular hydration and may help with exercise performance, but findings on these outcomes are mixed. It isn't considered essential, and our bodies also naturally produce the quantities of taurine we need.
- Fillers: One thing I was disappointed to see in Kaged Hydration’s blend is the inclusion of anti-caking agents and additives like silicon dioxide and maltodextrin, which has been linked with detrimental effect on the gut microbiome.
Kaged Quality and Safety
Kaged claims that its hydration supplements are third-party tested and banned-substance free, gluten-free, and non-GMO. The company states it makes all products in facilities that are NSF-certified and use Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), which is a high standard for assuring quality and safety in health supplements.
Kaged also emphasizes clean ingredients and claims that it uses zero artificial flavors or colors. However, you will see the artificial sweetener sucralose listed. Sucralose is a chlorinated sugar, a derivative of natural sugar that uses a chemical process to alter the sugar's structure.
Kaged Cost Analysis
One of the biggest advantages of Kaged Hydration is its pricing.
- One-time purchase of a 30-serving canister: $24.99 ($0.83 per serving)
- Subscription for a 30-serving canister: $19.99 ($0.67 per serving) for the first delivery, then $22.50 ($0.75 per serving) for future deliveries.
- One-time purchase of a 60-serving canister: $34.99 ($0.58 per serving)
- Subscription for a 60-serving canister: $27.99 ($0.47 per serving) for the first delivery, then $31.50 ($0.53 per serving) for future deliveries.
- Shipping costs $7.99 unless you purchase a subscription or your order totals $80 or more.
These prices make Kaged Hydration one of the lowest-cost hydration products I've tried. I'd perhaps argue that you get what you pay for, though. Kaged lacks the hydration potency that comes from a more balanced electrolyte formula, such as Live it Up Vital Minerals, which also costs less than $1 per serving.
Thankfully, the brand offers a 60-day money-back guarantee with no questions asked if you decide that Kaged Hydra-Charge isn't working for you.
Kaged Hydration Taste Review
Depending on the canister size you choose, there are 11 total flavors of Kaged Hydration:
The 30-serving size comes in
- Pina Colada
- Watermelon
- Blue Raspberry
The 60-serving size comes in
- Pink Lemonade
- Orange Mango
- Glacier Grape
- Strawberry Yuzu
- Fruit Punch
- Lemon Lime
- Hibiscus Pear
- Apple Limeade
Kaged Hydration contains sucralose, an artificial sweetener with no calories that's about 600 times sweeter than sugar. While safe to consume, some people find supplements containing sucralose to be overly sweet with an artificial aftertaste. Some choose to dilute the sweetness with more water, but this also waters down the potency of the already-light electrolyte formula.
I found that Kaged Hydration is very powdery and doesn't dissolve well in water. It also has a somewhat thick consistency when drinking. Of course taste differs for everyone, so I looked at the verified customer reviews to see what others thought:
Why I Choose Live it Up Vital Minerals
Kaged Hydration is a basic hydration supplement with the added benefit of fruits, veggies, and antioxidants, plus a low cost that’s accessible for most people. I appreciate that it has no added sugar and fewer calories than some competitors plus high quality standards.
Nonetheless, Kaged falls short for me due to its low quantities of electrolytes and use of the artificial sweetener sucralose and fillers like silicon dioxide and maltodextrin. In my opinion, you'll get a much better overall value from a more balanced hydration formula like that of Live it Up Vital Minerals.
Live it Up is the hydration powder I recommend to clients seeking daily hydration support. It has three times the coconut water powder as Kaged, a more balanced ratio of sodium to potassium at 2:1, and it doesn't rely on artificial sweeteners. Plus it comes in two refreshing flavors at less than $1 per serving, helping you feel revitalized after workouts, work days, and everything in between.
Kaged Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about electrolyte powders and Kaged Hydration below.
Are hydration supplements worth it?
Hydration supplements can be worth it for several reasons. If you’re not getting the hydration or electrolytes you need from your diet, a hydration supplement can help close the gap. Electrolyte beverages can also hydrate you more efficiently than plain water when you’re performing strenuous work or exercise, in extreme heat, or when you’re dehydrated due to an illness.
What are the disadvantages of taurine?
The disadvantages of taurine are unclear due to a lack of sufficient studies on the substance. We know very little about the advantages of taurine, and there have been some reported negative side effects from those who took excessive amounts of taurine. However, these side effects have not been linked to taurine directly.
Who should avoid hydration pills?
If you’re unsure whether or not you should take a hydration supplement, consult with your healthcare provider. Most dietary supplements are recommended for adults ages 18 and older. You should also consult the product’s label to ensure it’s free from allergens or ingredients to which you’re sensitive. Look for signals of quality assurance, such as third-party testing in a GMP-registered facility.
What are three warning signs of dehydration?
Common symptoms of dehydration are increased thirst or dry mouth, darker urine, and fatigue. As a rule of thumb, you should drink water as soon as you feel thirsty, since thirst is your body signalling that it’s dehydrated. Well-hydrated urine should be pale yellow or clear. If you become dehydrated enough, you may experience headaches, dizziness, or lightheadedness.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice or individualized nutrition counseling. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to supplements or medications. Any product or brand mentions are for general information and don’t guarantee results.
References
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1323420/
- https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajprenal.1998.274.5.F868?rfr_dat=cr_pub++0pubmed&url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org
- https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/3/585
- https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-education-resources-materials/sodium-your-diet
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7854827/
- https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/antioxidants
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/antioxidants-explained
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coconut-water-benefits
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/taurine
- https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/water/
- https://ific.org/resources/articles/what-is-sucralose/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK236216/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6409436/
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