Increased participation in endurance sports, heightened awareness of health and wellness, and warmer temperatures have caused the U.S. electrolyte market to explode. There’s Nuun by CPG giant Nestlé, the classics Gatorade and Powerade, Liquid I.V., Live it Up Vital Minerals, and now Waterboy. All these options are enough to make anyone’s head spin.
Waterboy’s viral marketing and TikTok campaigns make a serious case for their electrolyte mix. As a nutritionist, I had to go beyond the hype and look at the science. Here’s my fair review of Waterboy Daily Hydration and why I say Live it Up Vital Minerals still has some serious advantages over this viral sensation.
This review goes over:
- Is Waterboy Hydration Worth a Try?
- What Is Waterboy Hydration?
- Purported Health Benefits
- Ingredients Breakdown
- Cost Analysis
- Quality and Safety
- Taste Review
- Why I Choose Live it Up Vital Minerals
Waterboy Daily Hydration Quick Facts
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Key ingredients:
- Pink Himalayan salt
- Potassium citrate and magnesium malate
- Citric acid
- Natural flavors and organic stevia leaf extract.
-
Flavors: 5 options
- Watermelon
- Strawberry lemonade
- Cucumber citrus
- Blue raspberry
- Raw (unflavored).
- Purported Benefits: Helps meet daily hydration needs, supports energy, and aids nutrient absorption
- Possible side effects: Stomach upset, acid reflux, bloating, muscle weakness, restlessness, and irritability
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Nutrition facts: One 3.2-gram stick has
- Calories: 0
- Total Carbohydrates: <1g
- Total sugars: 0g
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Container Size:
- 15-pack
- 30-pack
- 45-pack
- 60-pack
- Price: $1.67 per stick for a one-time purchase or $1.33 per serving with subscription
- Shipping: Free shipping only for orders above $40
Formula Snapshot: How Well Does Waterboy Hydrate?
Why ratios matter: When it comes to hydration drinks, the secret isn’t just what electrolytes are inside, it’s how they’re balanced. Every brand uses a different ratio of electrolytes, which affects how your body absorbs the drink.
Waterboy’s hydrating mix includes four key electrolytes:
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Potassium: 140 mg
- Chloride: 830 mg
- Magnesium: 20 mg
Thankfully, the blend doesn’t overload on too much sodium in its own right, but the electrolyte ratios are imbalanced. I typically look for a 2:1 ratio of sodium to potassium for optimal daily hydration, but Waterboy has a ratio of nearly 4:1, just not enough potassium to counter the amount of sodium and help with recovery.
Bottom Line: Is Waterboy Worth a Try?
Waterboy Daily Hydration stands out for its clean ingredients and sugar-free formula. The electrolyte mix is backed by the OsmoLab certification, which speaks to its quality and safety. However, I question how well their electrolyte profile hydrates. Their no returns and restrictive free shipping policies are also factors to think about.
Live it Up Vital Minerals offers a more well-rounded approach to daily hydration, with proportionate doses of sodium, potassium, and calcium. Live it Up also wins for its flexible shopping experience. The affordable price, free shipping and a 30-day refund policy make it a low-risk option for those new to electrolytes.
What Is Waterboy Hydration?
Co-founders Mike and Connor (yes, the same guy who was on The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise) started Waterboy Hydration as a cure for hangovers. The company quickly gained steam on social media thanks to the founders’ engaging and infamous personalities.
Today, the company is more than a hangover recovery drink. Waterboy has repositioned itself as a zero-sugar electrolyte mix. You can find it on Amazon and at various retailers like Target and Walmart.
Waterboy offers three kinds of hydration mixes: Daily, Weekend Recovery, and Workout.
Waterboy Hydration Pros
- No sugar or caffeine
- Vegan
- Gluten- and dairy-free
- Available online and in person through certain retailers
- Daily Hydration is available in 5 flavors
- No fillers
- Third-party certified
Waterboy Hydration Cons
- Higher salt content is not ideal for daily use
- No calcium or vitamin C
- Minimal amounts of magnesium and potassium
- Sweetened with stevia
- Salty taste and may cause acid reflux
- No return policy–all sales are final
- Free shipping only on orders above $40
- Slightly higher price per serving
Waterboy Hydration Purported Benefits
Waterboy says their product impacts overall health in the following ways:
Benefit #1: Hydration
Sodium regulates how much water exists outside our cells. This electrolyte also moves water across the cell membrane. When you sweat a lot, the body loses sodium, which impacts how your body retains water.
Magnesium plays an unsung role in supporting hydration at a cellular level. Magnesium, unlike potassium or sodium, has a unique ability to bind more tightly with water molecules. This allows the body to retain water more efficiently. Magnesium is also a known cofactor in over 600 enzyme reactions, from muscle movement to protein synthesis. Through this, it indirectly influences how the body recovers from dehydration.
For proper hydration, what’s more important than simply having both sodium and potassium is the sodium-to-potassium ratio. As a dietitian, I look for a 2:1 to 3:1 sodium-to-potassium ratio. With Waterboy Daily Hydration, this ratio is nearly 4:1, as the formula includes 500 mg of sodium to just 140 mg of potassium. Their Weekend and Workout electrolyte mixes have an even more skewed sodium-to-potassium ratio. In contrast, Live it Up Vital Minerals provides a more balanced ratio.
Benefit #2: Energy Support
Waterboy relies on sodium and potassium to deliver sustained energy. Sodium is essential for nerve functioning, which sends signals to the muscles to contract, a process that’s directly involved in energy expenditure. Emerging research also hints at sodium’s ability to influence energy metabolism and maintain energy balance.
However, Waterboy Daily Hydration doesn’t provide any calcium and offers only 20 mg of magnesium—a minimal amount unlikely to induce health benefits. Both minerals are correlated with fatigue, muscle weakness, and lethargy. Magnesium is known to support energy production and even aid in athletic performance. The mitochondria, our body’s energy-producing system, requires sufficient calcium to stimulate ATP.
Benefit #3: Nutrient Absorption
Sodium helps our cells absorb nutrients as it functions as a special transporter that allows glucose and amino acids (the building blocks of protein) to pass across the intestinal membrane. Science also tells us that chloride is an important part of gastric acid, which aids digestion and allows better absorption of vitamin B12.
Magnesium plays a supporting role in nutrient absorption. For starters, it activates the enzymes responsible for breaking down food. Secondly, malic acid, a key component of magnesium malate, is known to support the Krebs Cycle, the metabolic process responsible for converting nutrients into usable energy. However, as mentioned earlier, Waterboy’s magnesium content is negligible, and the formula is also missing vitamin C, which is critical to non-heme iron absorption.
Waterboy Hydration Ingredients
Waterboy Hydration has three electrolyte mixes, and, for the most part, the ingredients across all three remain the same.
- Pink Himalayan salt: This less-processed salt has a slightly higher mineral content than iodized table salt. Some studies claim that pink salt can support skin health, but more substantial research is required to justify these findings.
- Magnesium malate: A combination of magnesium and malic acid. Researchers have noted magnesium malate’s high bioavailability, meaning it’s the easiest form of magnesium for our bodies to absorb.
- Potassium citrate: In older men and women, potassium citrate supplementation had a positive impact on calcium balance, which is important for bone health. Emerging research has also linked potassium citrate with improved kidney function.
- Citric acid: Citric acid, the property that makes your lemons tangy, can act as an antioxidant that can protect the body against damage from free radicals. However, in the food industry, manufactured citric acid is primarily used as a flavoring and preservation agent.
- Stevia leaf extract: This natural sweetener is a popular sugar substitute. Some studies have reported that stevia may disrupt gut bacteria and cause bloating and nausea.
Waterboy’s workout recovery mix includes L-glutamine, an amino acid your body can produce and get from the food you eat. L-glutamine is frequently associated with supporting immune function, as it serves as a fuel source for lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production.
Their weekend recovery blend features another type of amino acid, L-theanine. Research suggests that L-theanine supplementation may support relaxation and sleep quality.
Waterboy Hydration Quality and Safety
Waterboy's quality and safety standards get 5 stars. This is because Waterboy is classified as a food product and, therefore, is mandated to meet all FDA regulations, including the rigorous Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Their products are third-party certified by Osmolality, which highlights their formula's adherence to the scientific standards for rapid hydration.
Waterboy Hydration Cost Analysis
If you want to make Waterboy a part of your daily routine, here’s what the money math would be:
- Waterboy can be purchased in packs of 15, 30, 45, or 60.
- One-time purchase costs $1.67 per serving.
- A subscription saves 20%, bringing the price to $1.33 per serving.
- Free shipping kicks in after a minimum spend of $40.
Also, Waterboy has a restrictive refund policy as they only accept returns if the product is defective. If you happen to try Waterboy and find it to not suit you, there’s no way to get your money back.
If you are seeking an electrolyte mix with a customer-friendly policy, go for Live it Up Vital Minerals. The cost with a subscription is only $0.99 per serving. There’s also free shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee on all purchases.
Waterboy Hydration Taste Review
Waterboy Daily Hydration comes in five flavor profiles:
- Watermelon
- Raw (unflavored)
- Strawberry lemonade
- Cucumber citrus
- Blue raspberry
The Weekend Recovery mix offers additional flavor options like lemon lime, fruit punch, and cherry limeade. Taste is subjective, and I was happy to see that most customers found their flavors to be quite delicious.
“This was a fun drink. I enjoyed the flavor. It replenished me quickly during the hot summer days when electrolytes need to be refueled quickly.” ~Raj C, verified buyer
I tried the cucumber citrus flavor and enjoyed it, though it was a little salty for my taste. For the most part, the mix dissolved well when I used a stirrer and gave me the refreshment I was seeking. However, the times I didn’t wait for the drink to dissolve completely, the taste was overwhelmingly salty and gritty. Several users had a similar experience.
One Amazon customer mentioned, “I love the ingredients and the flavor is pretty good. I gave 4 stars because they can be SO salty if you don't thoroughly mix it up.”
Why I Choose Live it Up Vital Minerals
Choosing between electrolyte mixes comes down to lifestyle, budget, and hydration needs. There’s no one-size-fits-all. Waterboy is a solid option: it's readily available, offers a clean formula, is third-party tested, and is vegan and gluten-free. However, when I recommend products to clients, I evaluate them on overall value and, more importantly, the balance of all nutrients.
I recommend Live it Up Vital Minerals to my clients because:
- It has a good sodium-to-potassium ratio for daily hydration.
- It includes calcium and vitamin C.
- It’s vegan and has no GMOs, no gluten, no soy, and no nuts.
- It’s third-party tested
- Live it Up is customer-friendly with free shipping and a strong return policy.
- It provides better value for money.
Vital Minerals is a clean electrolyte mix with delicious flavors designed to hydrate you faster than water and help you feel absolutely refreshed.
Waterboy Hydration Frequently Asked Questions
When to drink Waterboy Daily Hydration?
Unlike other specialized hydration drinks that are recommended at specific times, Waterboy’s Daily Hydration is designed to be had at any time of day. The main purpose is to help you stay hydrated and energized without the dependence on sugar. So yes, you can have Waterboy as soon as you wake up or in the evening.
Is Waterboy safe?
Yes, Waterboy and other electrolyte mixes are generally considered to be safe. Waterboy's hydration formula has been independently verified by OsmoLife Labs. However, its higher salt content is not for everyone. Speak to a registered dietitian before making Waterboy Hydration a part of your daily routine.
Does Waterboy Hydration have caffeine?
No, Waterboy is a caffeine-free electrolyte mix.
Is Waterboy better than Liquid I.V.?
There is no better or worse. It comes down to personal needs and preferences. Both use proprietary formulas that aim to enhance electrolyte absorption while supporting health goals like hydration and energy. Liquid I.V. is a convenient hydration option that has more sugar and nutrients (although in synthetic forms) and comes at a lower price point. Waterboy, on the other hand, has no sugar and synthetic vitamins, but has a slightly higher price per serving and a salty taste.
References
- https://www.waterboy.com/pages/waterboy-daily-hydration-launch#
- https://www.reddit.com/r/jennapaleksnark/comments/1c9i1jk/i_tried_waterboy/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/POTS/comments/13oqldb/salty_electrolyte_drinks_causing_reflux/
- https://www.retailbrew.com/stories/2023/05/18/how-tiktok-helped-waterboy-grow-its-business
- https://www.cbinsights.com/company/waterboy
- https://blog.marketresearch.com/health-consciousness-fuels-global-electrolyte-drink-market-growth
- https://www.grandviewresearch.com/horizon/outlook/electrolyte-powder-market/united-states
- https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
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- https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/minerals/sodium#
- https://www.liquid-iv.com/products/lemon-lime-hydration-multiplier?Flavor=Lemon+Lime&Size=16PK&one-time=41865055010852
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11065649/
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- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11557730/
- https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/potassium-sodium-ratio-important-blood-pressure-management
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9237821/
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/glutamine
- https://www.rxlist.com/supplements/stevia.htm
- https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/stevia-side-effects#side-effects
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/citric-acid#artificial-sources
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/pink-himalayan-salt#TOC_TITLE_HDR_3
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/magnesium-malate
- https://www.verywellhealth.com/magnesium-malate-715798
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/20148-potassium-citrate-extended-release-tablets
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3650509/
- https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321865
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