Add electrolytes to the list of wellness trends that have become uber-popular over the past several years.
It seems like people are trying to ‘optimize’ everything these days, including hydration. And while some people may see it as gimmicky, the truth is that many people are living in hotter climates, our food is not as mineral-rich as it once was, more folks are dealing with stress and fatigue, and the coronavirus triggered chronic conditions like POTS in more people.
So on one hand, electrolytes may just be a trendy functional beverage pushed by influencers, but on the other hand, it makes sense that more people genuinely need them!
As requested by readers, I’ve evaluated a lot of different brands for this article. I’m giving you the rundown of the best natural electrolyte brands that I’ve tried, along with some of the brands I personally would not drink on a regular basis.
☝️ Heads up! I know you already know this, but all of this information is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. You shouldn’t start a new supplement without consulting your doctor, especially if you have a medical condition such as high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart failure, or if you’re taking certain medications.
What this guide covers:
- Do You Really Need Electrolytes?
- What I Look For In The Cleanest Electrolyte Powders
- My Favorite Clean, Natural, & Organic Electrolyte Brands
- Let’s Evaluate These Other Popular Electrolyte Drink Brands
- How to Make Your Own Homemade Electrolyte Drink
- Electrolyte Basics
- 🍋 Join Thousands of Subscribers Reducing Toxic Chemicals
This guide contains product recommendations and we may receive compensation if you purchase through certain links. As always, we only make recommendations that are genuine!
Do You Really Need Electrolytes?
There are some haters out there who get annoyed about the electrolyte trend. They yell passionately from their corner of the internet that “No one except hardcore athletes need electrolytes!”
And while I can empathize with the annoyance that comes with the constant barrage of wellness trends that constantly tell us to “optimize!” and “buy this other thing!”, I disagree with the sentiment that only hardcore athletes can benefit from electrolytes.
For example:
- People with POTS, chronic fatigue, or other types of chronic illness
- People who go to the sauna or hot yoga regularly
- People who sweat a lot at work
- Chronically-stressed folks (prolonged stress can increase cortisol and adrenaline, which can increase urine output and affect thirst cues)
- Pregnant women (seriously though, talk to your doc)
- Those following a keto diet
- People living in areas of extreme heat
- Individuals who don’t get adequate vitamins and minerals from their food (for whatever reason)
- Folks who drink a lot of caffeinated beverages or alcohol, which can dehydrate you
- Acute illness (vomiting or diarrhea)
- People who drink a TON of water and/or drink reverse osmosis water that has not been remineralized
As you can see, that’s kind of a lot of people who might benefit from drinking electrolytes!
Personally, I drink electrolytes for several of the above reasons. I don’t drink them every day, but I will say that if I’m working out a lot and not drinking electrolytes, I can usually tell.
All that to say: I’m not here to say whether or not you really need electrolytes. Only you and your care team can make that decision.
What I can do for you is give you a rundown on which brands use “clean” ingredients (and we’ll talk about what I mean by that), which brands don’t, which ones are my favorite, and how you can make your own homemade electrolyte recipe if you want to.
What I Look For In The Cleanest Electrolyte Powders
Low or No Sugar: Most people don’t need added sugar for basic hydration, and too much can actually work against you by causing blood sugar spikes, gut issues, or cavities.
Electrolyte Ratio: The ratio you need can vary depending on various things like how much you sweat, what health conditions you have, etc, so there’s really no one-size-fits-all answer here. However, a general good rule of thumb is to look for a sodium-to-potassium ratio somewhere in the range of roughly 2:1 to 3:1, which is what most experts recommend for balanced everyday hydration.
- It might be worth noting here that the sodium levels for the brands below are all over the place. Some of them are so low that the product can barely be considered an electrolyte drink. Others are so high that you really shouldn’t be drinking them unless you are a very heavy sweater or have a medical condition like POTS. How much sodium you consume and when is a personalized decision.
Bioavailable Mineral Forms: Look for well-absorbed forms like magnesium citrate, glycinate, or malate rather than oxide, and calcium malate/citrate instead of carbonate.
Not-Great Ingredients: Watch out for things like artificial dyes and flavors, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, and other artificial sweeteners.
Contaminant Testing: Look for brands that provide third-party testing for things like heavy metals since that can be a common problem when it comes to concentrated amounts of salt.
Third-Party Certifications: While definitely not required, third-party certifications such as USDA Organic or NSF Certified for Sport (which ensures things like label accuracy and no banned/weird substances) can be helpful.
Low-Waste: The individual stick packs can obviously be convenient for traveling, but for everyday use, I want something that comes in a larger container in order to reduce waste.
What About…
Anti-Caking Agents & Preservatives? These aren’t always harmful, but they’re usually unnecessary in electrolyte powders. To give you two of the most common examples: silicon dioxide and calcium silicate mostly pose a problem when inhaled in larger amounts. Most of the time, these two ingredients are not problematic for most people at the levels used in foods. It’s just something to be aware of it you have sensitivities or just prefer to consume the “cleanest” options available.
Citric Acid? I personally don’t have an issue consuming citric acid, but some people want to avoid or minimize it so I’ve noted which of the brands below use it. You can read more about my thoughts on citric acid here.
Natural Flavors: Unfortunately “natural flavor” is a pretty murky term. Even if the starting material comes from a plant or animal, it can be very heavily processed so that the end result is not really ‘natural’ anymore. It’s also a ‘mystery’ ingredient—the FDA lets companies add things like solvents or preservatives under the ‘natural flavors’ umbrella without listing them on the label. It’s basically the food version of the “fragrance loophole” in personal care products—you just don’t really know what’s in it.
This is a tough one though because as you’ll see, a lot of brands below use natural flavors, including many of the ‘cleaner’ options. So, if the rest of the ingredients are good but the brand does use natural flavors, I would say it’s not the biggest deal. You gotta work with what’s available.
You can always reach out to the brand to see if they will give you more info, too!
My Favorite Clean, Natural, & Organic Electrolyte Brands
Roots & Leaves
What sets it apart: I love the lemon lime flavor. Also, there is 0 calories and 0 sugar.
Electrolytes Included: 500mg of sodium, 25 mg of calcium, 100mg of magnesium, 400 mg of potassium + 200mg of vitamin C
Packaged In: A little tub with scoop (50 servings per container)
Flavors: Lemon Lime or Orange
Flavor Strength: Strong
Actual Mountain Dew drinkers are probably going to hate me for saying this, but I think this gives Mountain Dew vibes! It has a relatively strong flavor that makes for a nice afternoon pick-me-up.
In fact, the flavor is so strong that you could totally just do half a scoop if you wanted to and make the container last longer.
This natural electrolytes powder has minimal ingredients, including Himalayan pink salt for the sodium, granulated lime juice, granulated lemon juice, stevia leaf extract, turmeric, and spirulina.
There’s no sugar and no artificial or “natural” flavors.
Lastly, Roots & Leaves is made by a fellow mold-exposed female small business owner, so you know I want to support!
Does not contain added citric acid.
Use code THEFILTERY for 10% off.
GoodOnYa
What sets it apart: USDA certified organic. Also, it’s lighter on the electrolytes so it would be a good daily option for people who don’t want to overdo it.
Electrolytes Included: 25 mg sodium, 30 mg potassium, 62 mg magnesium + 16 mg vitamin C
Packaged In: Sticks or a bag
Flavors: Lemonade
Flavor Strength: Light
I really like these ones—it’s one of the best organic electrolytes for everyday use.
They’re actually certified USDA Organic, and they only have 6 ingredients: organic lemon juice, organic coconut water powder, organic stevia leaf, pink Himalayan salt, magnesium, and vitamin C. (Aka no artificial or natural flavors)
It does taste kind of like lemonade, but more subtle (not super lemon-y or sweet). It’s refreshing, for sure. But if you’re looking for something with a super strong taste, this one might not be for you.
Another thing I really like is that you have the option to buy them in a bag, instead of just the individual stick packets. (They do have the individual sticks if you need those, though.)
When it comes dissolvability, it’s not too bad. I do mix mine up and then let it sit for a couple minutes to let it dissolve all the way before drinking.
A few other things you might want to know are:
- It only contains 1g of sugar, which comes from real fruit
- They are Biochecked Non-Glyphosate certified
- They say they are third-party tested for things like heavy metals (although they do not publicly share the actual test results)
Does not contain added citric acid.
Just Ingredients
What sets it apart: So many flavors to choose from!
Electrolytes Included: 300 mg potassium, 50 mg magnesium, 100 mg sodium, 145 mg chloride, and 50 mg calcium.
Packaged In: Sticks or a bag
Flavors:
- Raspberry Lemonade
- Fruit Punch
- Lemonade
- Coconut Lime
- Blue Hawaiian
- Lemon Lime
- Mango Lemonade
- Guava Mango
- Orange Pineapple
- Tropical Paradise
- Grape
- Strawberry Limeade
Flavor Strength: Moderate
Another good option for clean electrolytes, these packets are made with all real fruit, and there’s no artificial ingredients at all. They use things like cassava root to source their citric acid, and stevia leaf and monk fruit for the sweetener. Many of the ingredients are organic, too.
They contain 1-6 grams of sugar, depending on the flavor. I think my personal favorite flavor is the Lemon Lime.
They’ve got a 3:1 potassium to sodium ratio, which gives you optimal hydration without excessive sodium. These are higher in electrolytes compared to GoodOnYa, but they do not come with an overly salt taste that some of the other brands (like LMNT) do.
I also appreciate that they link to their Certificate of Analysis (COA) right on the product page, so anyone can easily access it. There you can find the test results for heavy metals and other potential contaminants.
I do use a handheld frother to get these to dissolve and I might let it sit in the water for a few minutes to let it dissolve all the way before I drink it.
Does contain added citric acid.
Pique
What sets it apart: More of an ‘inside-out’ beauty product that is focused not only on hydration but also on skin health and anti-aging.
Electrolytes Included: 150 mg sodium, 150 mg potassium, 100 mg magnesium, 30 mg calcium
Packaged In: Single-serving sachets
Flavors: Yuzu Berry
Flavor Strength: Moderate
The aim of the B•T Fountain Beauty Electrolyte Drink mix is to aid in skin health from the inside out. It contains natural ceramides, which have been shown to improve skin elasticity and reduce fine lines, as well as hyaluronic acid to increase the skin’s moisture content.
Lots of other reviewers on Pique’s website say they’ve noticed their skin as brighter, tighter, and softer. I would say that when I drank this consistently for several weeks, I did notice a slight difference in my skin. (But it can be difficult to know what exactly to attribute that to when I’m also trying out new skincare products!)
The taste is “Yuzu Berry,” which is kind of like raspberry. It’s really refreshing, in my opinion.
It’s vegan and has no added sugar, preservatives, or artificial ingredients. It does contain natural flavors and citric acid.
You can check out my full Pique review here (including their matcha, which I’ve been drinking for years!)
LMNT
What sets it apart: I’d say this one dissolves the best.
Electrolytes Included: 1000 mg of sodium, 200 mg of potassium, 60 mg of potassium
Packaged In: Single-stick packets. I hope they offer a lower-waste option in the future!
Flavors: Citrus Salt, Grapefruit Salt, Watermelon Salt, Orange Salt, Raspberry Salt, Raw Unflavored, Mango Chili, Chocolate Salt, Chocolate Caramel, Lemonade Salt
Flavor Strength: Very strong (salty!)
I couldn’t possibly do an article on electrolytes without including the most popular kid on the block! 😆
LMNT is actually pretty clean. The biggest potential downside of the level of sodium (1000mg). That’s on the very high end, and most people probably don’t really need that much.
If you haven’t tried it before, you should also know that this makes for a very salty flavor! I personally like the taste, but I can see how it would be too strong for some people.
I actually really like to make hot chocolate with their chocolate flavor. Otherwise, the Citrus Salt is my favorite flavor if I’m drinking it during the day.
They have a Raw Unflavored option if you want to avoid the flavor ingredients entirely.
It does contain citric acid.
LTH Hydrate
Electrolytes Included: 720 mg of sodium, 390 mg of potassium, 1160 mg of chloride, 45 mg of magnesium
Packaged In: Available in 15 single-serve packets or 60-scoop jars
Flavors: Blood Orange, Lemon Lime, Peach Mango, Spicy Margarita, Strawberry Lemonade, Wild Berry
Flavor Strength: Moderate
I’m a member of Lifetime, so I bought this once purely out of convenience. Overall, I like it! The flavor is nice and it dissolves well.
It’s powered by Redmond Real Salt, which is known for quality sourcing.
It’s got a good electrolyte ratio. The sodium is on the moderate to high end but it’s not as high as LMNT.
It does contain natural flavors and citric acid.
Let’s Evaluate These Other Popular Electrolyte Drink Brands
Baja Gold Salt Co.: This is just pure, unrefined sea salt. Which means in terms of added ingredients, it’s one of the ‘cleanest’ on this list. It’s a good source of sodium and magnesium (kind of), but it’s not actually a full electrolyte formula (it doesn’t have significant amounts of potassium or calcium). If you like to DIY your electrolytes, though, this might be a good one to use. You can also learn more about their heavy metal testing here.
Bioathletic: This one is lower on the electrolytes. It’s more of a functional drink with some hydration support as opposed to a real electrolyte drink. What sets it apart from the rest is that it has pre- and probiotics. It also has xanthan gum, which is fine for me but some people can be sensitive to. It is certified USDA organic.
BUBS: Not bad. It contains cane sugar, which some people might not want if you’re going for a sugar-free option. It also contains natural flavors and added citric acid. I personally would not go for this one due to the 7g of added sugar (8 total).
Buoy: I get ads for this one all the time. And I still haven’t tried it yet. I kind of want to now though, after looking more into it. One main thing that sets them apart is that it comes in liquid drops as opposed to powder. So if you hate trying to get your electrolytes to dissolve, this one might be worth trying. I don’t love that their ingredient list includes two different “proprietary” blends—one for the trace minerals and one for the “Wild Harvested
Antioxidant Blend.” I do love that they have info about their third party testing on their website (for mold, heavy metals, and more). It does contain added citric acid, but it is sourced from cassava.
Cure: These are pretty good. Contains organic natural flavors and added non-GMO Citric acid. They come with a few certifications such as Non-GMO Verified and Certified Gluten Free. I like how the “Energy” ones contain L-theanine to balance out the caffeine. The primary ingredient is coconut water powder and they use monk fruit for sweetener. If I was at Target or something and needed to grab something at the store, I would probably choose these.
FlavCity: This is a pretty good one. It does have 7g of sugar, but it comes from real fruit. It contains non-GMO citric acid. It does not contain natural flavors. It’s pretty low on some of the minerals, including sodium and calcium.
Gatorade: Obviously Gatorade has a bunch of different options at this point, but I’m looking at the original drink and the Thirst Quencher powder. These drinks are extremely high in sugar (more than Coke!) in the form of conventional refined sugar and dextrose. Second, they don’t contain magnesium, calcium, or chloride, so it’s not really a complete electrolyte profile. It contains artificial dyes as well as processed anti-caking agents and emulsifiers. Also, I don’t like that I couldn’t find the full ingredient lists for their products on their actual website and I had to find them from a retailer. In other words: unless I’m really dehydrated and this is the only thing available to me, I’m not choosing it.
Healthillie Minerals & Chill: This is a very clean electrolytes powder. The citric acid is sourced from cassava. No natural flavors. Note that the combination of high vitamin C and high magnesium could potentially cause loose stool for some people. Code THEFILTERY10 for 10% off.
Liquid IV: I personally would not choose their regular options simply because of the amount of added sugar (11g of added sugar; 13g total). It’s in the form of cane sugar and dextrose (which is considered highly refined). They do have a sugar-free option, which uses allulose. It also does not contain magnesium, which is weird and doesn’t make for a complete electrolyte drink. In addition to natural flavors and citric acid, it also just contains a lot of synthetic ingredients and fillers, including things like dipotassium phosphate and silicon dioxide. These aren’t necessarily “bad,” but all of the ingredients together add up to a processed electrolyte drink that I wouldn’t want to drink day in and day out.
Mt. Capra: This one is different than all the others because it uses minerals that are sourced from grass-fed goat whey. Actually, it only includes two total ingredients—Grass-Fed Goat Whey Mineral Concentrate and Organic Rice Hulls (to prevent caking)—which makes it one of the most “whole, real food” options on this list. A few things you may want to know is that it does contain dairy and sugar, and you do have to dissolve it in hot water.
Needed: Technically, this brand is targeted toward pregnant and postpartum women, but you can totally still drink their ‘Hydration Support’ electrolytes if you don’t fit into that category. This is a good brand, ingredient-wise, but I haven’t tried it yet. They do use added citric acid.
Nuun: Not terrible, but contains natural flavors as well as dextrose, which is considered an ultra-processed sugar. It uses magnesium oxide and calcium carbonate, which are generally not as well absorbed compared to other forms such as magnesium citrate and calcium citrate. Also contains added citric acid.
Paleovalley: These are good, ingredient-wise! I personally have not tried them yet, but I’d like to. The ingredients come from real (mostly organic) food and there are no natural flavors or added citric acid. They have a ‘moderate’ amount of electrolytes, so if you know you need a lot for some reason, then I would check the amounts to see if they work for you.
Pedialyte: I looked at both the pre-made liquid drink and the powder sticks. There’s quite a bit of added sugar in the form of sugar and dextrose. It also contains sucralose and acesulfame potassium, which are increasingly becoming more concerning for potential gut microbiome disruption. It contains both artificial flavors and dyes (although they do have an unflavored and dye-free version). It also contains citric acid and natural flavors. I would not choose this one.
Re-Lyte (from Redmond’s Salt): This one is pretty good, ingredient wise. I like that they get their salt from a pristine, underground salt deposit, which makes it generally ‘cleaner’ than other types of salt such as sea salt. I like that they have several different options, including regular electrolytes, one for energy, an option for kids, and more. They do contain natural flavors and added citric acid. The citric acid, however, comes from cassava.
Sallt: This one is pretty good. It does contain natural flavors. Be aware that the sodium is on the higher end.
Salt of the Earth: This looks like another good one, ingredient-wise. It does include natural flavors as well as allulose (which is find for most people but can cause GI upset in some). They do have an unflavored option, too. Be aware that this one also includes a level of sodium that’s on the higher end.
Thorne: I generally like Thorne as a high-quality brand for supplements. (The supplement industry is essentially unregulated, so I want to buy things like Creatine and Vitamin D from a reputable brand that is NSF certified, etc.) Their electrolytes are okay. It includes silicon dioxide and calcium silicate, which are synthetic anti-caking agents. Again, they aren’t the worst, but some people would prefer not to ingest a lot of them. It also contains natural flavors and added citric acid.
Ultima: Like most of the other brands, this one also contains natural flavors. It’s also relatively low in most minerals, so this one is for you if you want a more low-key electrolyte drink. It contains citric acid.
Waterboy: This one is not bad. I like how they have different options for daily electrolyte consumption versus if you need something stronger for post-workouts or hangovers. 😅 It does contain natural flavors and citric acid.
Wellmade (by Thrive Market): This one isn’t too bad. Citric acid is pretty high up on the ingredient list, which means it could potentially be aggravating for people with GERD or acid reflux. It does contain natural flavor and silicon dioxide. I have tried this in the past and I remember it being refreshing—a light lemonade similar to GoodOnYa.
How to Make Your Own Homemade Electrolyte Drink
If you don’t want to buy a mix (or you just prefer full control over the ingredients), it’s surprisingly easy to make your own homemade electrolytes recipe. You only need a few basic ingredients to cover the essentials: sodium, potassium, a little magnesium (optional), and either fruit or a natural sweetener for taste.
Below are a few simple formulas you can customize to make your own natural electrolytes drink based on what you need that day.
1. Basic Everyday Electrolyte Drink
This version is great for mild dehydration, light sweating, or daily sipping.
Ingredients:
- 1–2 cups water
- 1 pinch high-quality salt (Himalayan, Redmond, or sea salt)
- 1–2 tsp lemon or lime juice
- Optional: a small squeeze of honey or maple syrup
- Optional: trace mineral drops (for a small magnesium + potassium boost)
Instructions: Stir or shake until dissolved. Taste and adjust to your liking.
2. Higher-Sodium Drink for Workouts or Hot Weather
This one is closer to what many commercial mixes mimic when you’re sweating more.
Ingredients:
- 1–2 cups water
- ⅛–¼ tsp salt (depending on how salty you like it)
- 2–3 tsp citrus juice (lemon, lime, orange)
- 1–2 tsp honey or maple syrup
- Optional: a splash of coconut water for extra potassium
Note: Coconut water naturally contains potassium, but not much sodium. So combining it with salt creates a more balanced electrolyte profile.
3. Coconut Water Version (Naturally Higher in Potassium)
Great for someone who needs more potassium and prefers something naturally sweet.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup coconut water
- ½ cup water
- A pinch of salt
- Squeeze of fresh lime
- Optional: trace mineral drops or magnesium powder
This tastes really refreshing and requires almost no measuring.
4. Sugar-Free Version
If you want electrolytes without sugar or carbs, try this:
Ingredients:
- 1–2 cups water
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 1–2 tsp lemon juice
- A tiny pinch of potassium chloride (like “NoSalt” or “Lite Salt”)
- Optional: a drop of liquid stevia
Potassium chloride is what many electrolyte brands use. It’s safe in small amounts and helps mimic the sodium–potassium balance found in commercial mixes.
More Tips for Making Homemade Electrolytes
- Taste: If it tastes too salty or too sour, adjust until it’s enjoyable.
- Start small: You can always add more salt or potassium, but you can’t take it out.
- Use real citrus: Lemon, lime, and orange juice add flavor and trace minerals.
- Chill it: Homemade electrolytes tend to taste better cold.
Electrolyte Basics
In case you’re new to electrolytes or want a refresher, here are some of the basics you’ll want to know before you start drinking electrolytes on the daily:
What Do Electrolytes Do?
Electrolytes include things like:
- sodium
- potassium
- magnesium
- calcium
These are all minerals that help your body maintain basic life functions. They carry an electrical charge, which allows them to regulate things like:
- Hydration: Sodium and potassium work together to keep fluid levels stable inside and outside your cells, which is essential for proper hydration and normal blood pressure.
- Muscle Function: Magnesium and calcium help your muscles contract and relax. Everything from your heartbeat to lifting your arms depends on these electrical signals.
- Nerve Signaling: Electrolytes allow messages to travel between your brain and body.
- Blood Pressure: Sodium and potassium help regulate the balance of fluids in your blood vessels, which directly affects your blood pressure.
- pH Balance: Electrolytes help keep your body’s acid–base balance stable so your cells can function properly.
Symptoms of An Electrolyte Imbalance
Electrolyte imbalances happen when levels of minerals like sodium, potassium, calcium, or magnesium become too high OR too low. (⚡️ This is important to remember if you start drinking electrolytes because you don’t want to consume too much!)
Because these minerals help control muscle contraction, nerve signaling, hydration, and heart rhythm, even small shifts can cause noticeable symptoms.
Common symptoms of an electrolyte imbalance (too little OR too much) include:
- fatigue
- headache
- muscle cramps
- weakness
- dizziness
- nausea
- confusion
- irritability
- irregular heartbeat
More serious imbalances—especially involving sodium or potassium—can lead to seizures or life-threatening cardiac issues if not addressed quickly. Heat illness, vomiting/diarrhea, certain medications, kidney issues, and heavy sweating are some of the most common triggers.
I hope this guide has been helpful for you in choosing the best clean electrolyte powder for you and your preferences! Let me know in the comments what your favorite brand is!
