{"id":929078,"date":"2026-10-11T14:04:47","date_gmt":"2026-10-11T14:04:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/929078\/"},"modified":"2026-10-11T14:04:47","modified_gmt":"2026-10-11T14:04:47","slug":"the-10-best-electrolytes-to-keep-you-hydrated-expert-tested-powders-tablets-and-drinks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/929078\/","title":{"rendered":"The 10 best electrolytes to keep you hydrated \u2013 expert-tested powders, tablets and drinks"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’ve spent any time on TikTok, Instagram or even just the gym floor lately, chances are you’ve seen someone emptying a brightly coloured sachet into their water bottle. Electrolytes<\/a> are everywhere right now \u2013 after all, it\u2019s 2026, when plain old water simply won\u2019t do \u2013 with influencers, marathon runners<\/a> and wellness devotees all claiming they can improve hydration<\/a>, boost energy and speed up recovery. <\/p>\n

As business opps go, this one\u2019s popping off. Boots reports that searches for \u2018electrolytes\u2019 are up 755% year-on-year on their website, with one product being sold in the category every 14 seconds last summer. Sainsbury’s reported a 333% rise in searches for \u2018rehydration sachets\u2019 over the past year, while Waitrose has seen a 171% increase in searches for \u2018electrolytes\u2019. And Tesco says it has nearly quadrupled its electrolyte range over the same period. \u2018Over the past few years, the market has boomed,\u2019 Julia Alsterberg, head of curation at health and wellness retailer Healf, previously told us \u2013 noting that in 2024 it was already valued globally at around \u00a38bn.<\/p>\n

So if you’ve found yourself wondering whether you really need to spend \u00a32 a day on fancy salt water just because, you’re not alone. <\/p>\n

As a seriously sweaty runner, I’d personally be lost without them. If you’re running long distances, training in the heat or sweating buckets, replacing the minerals you lose through sweat can actually help keep you performing at your best and avoid hitting the dreaded wall. <\/p>\n

Like most supplements, though, not all electrolyte products are created equal (nor are they well regulated). With powders, tablets, sachets and ready-to-drink options flooding the market, it can be tricky to work out which ones are genuinely worth adding to your basket \u2013 and which are more hype than help (read: expensive pee). <\/p>\n

That’s where we come in. We’ve rounded up the standout electrolyte products from the Women’s Health Sports Nutrition Awards 2026<\/a>, where our expert panel tested dozens of hydration products for taste, formulation, value and ease of use. <\/p>\n

Whether you’re marathon training, tackling sweaty HIIT workouts or simply curious about all the fuss, these are the electrolyte supplements we’d actually recommend. Keep reading for our top picks.<\/p>\n

\"bestBest electrolytes at a glanceWhat are electrolytes?<\/p>\n

Electrolytes are essential minerals \u2014 such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium \u2014 that help to regulate fluid balance, support muscle contractions and enable nerve signalling.<\/p>\n

As Vlad Sabou, performance nutritionist at Science in Sport<\/a>, previously told Women’s Health: \u2018Given that an adult body is around 60 per cent water, almost every fluid and cell in our body contains electrolytes. Some of the key electrolytes for supporting optimal health and physical performance are sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium and chloride \u2013 these are required in different amounts depending on our age, lifestyle and physical activity levels.\u2019<\/p>\n

During exercise, you lose electrolytes through sweat \u2013 particularly sodium. That’s why electrolyte supplements can be useful for prolonged or intense training sessions, as they help to replace what’s lost and support hydration.<\/p>\n

Who actually needs electrolytes?<\/p>\n

Electrolytes \u2013 specifically sodium \u2013 are primarily aimed at endurance athletes, seriously heavy sweaters and those exercising in high heat for over 60 minutes. But the recent boom in electrolytes means they’re no longer just being marketed to marathon runners, but as an everyday wellness supplement. <\/p>\n

For most people, they’re unlikely to be necessary (some experts like to call them \u2018expensive salt\u2019!) \u2018If you break down what you\u2019re getting, at most it\u2019s sodium, potassium and magnesium \u2013 all three things you can absorb from food,\u2019 says Matthew Carpenter, a lecturer in sport and exercise science at the University of Northampton. If you’re heading to the gym or going for a run lasting under an hour, drinking water when you’re thirsty is usually enough to stay hydrated.<\/p>\n

Research does suggest sodium supplementation can be beneficial during prolonged endurance events. In one small randomised controlled trial<\/a>, experienced half-Ironman triathletes who took salt supplements before and during the race finished faster than those given a placebo, while also maintaining higher blood sodium levels. However, the findings apply to athletes completing several hours of intense exercise, rather than recreational exercisers.<\/p>\n

It’s also worth remembering that many sports drinks contain carbohydrates as well as electrolytes. For long-duration, high-intensity exercise, it’s often the carbohydrates that provide the biggest performance benefit by helping maintain energy levels, while electrolytes primarily help replace minerals lost through sweat.<\/p>\n

When should you take electrolytes?<\/p>\n

Electrolytes can be taken before, during, or after exercise to help you stay on top of your fluids and prevent excessive sodium loss. The best time to take them really depends on your sweat rate, exercise duration and whether you are prone to cramping or dehydration.<\/p>\n

Who should avoid electrolytes completely?<\/p>\n

Pregnant women and anyone with kidney disease or heart failure need to be careful when it comes to electrolyte supplements. Also, you should avoid them if you\u2019re on any medication for blood pressure, diuretics, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen. As always, if unsure, check with a medical professional.<\/p>\n

How we tested the best electrolytes<\/p>\n

To determine the best electrolyte supplements, we drew on the results of the Women’s Health Sports Nutrition Awards 2026<\/a>. Our expert judging panel \u2013 including sport and exercise nutritionist Dr Sinead Roberts, sports dietitian Jenaed Ruddock, WH’s senior health and fitness writer Hannah Bradfield and Runner’s World’s ecommerce editor Ali Ball \u2013 assessed a range of market-leading electrolyte products, including powders, tablets and ready-to-drink options.<\/p>\n

Each product was evaluated on its nutritional profile, taste, ease of use, value for money and overall performance, with our judges considering everything from sodium content and ingredient quality to mixability and flavour. Only the highest-scoring products earned a place in this guide.<\/p>\n

The best electrolyte powders, tablets and drinks 2026Science in Sport Hydro Hydration Tablets\"Women\"Hydro<\/a>Science in Sport Hydro Hydration Tablets<\/p>\n

These tablets are easy to carry, dissolve rapidly and have a palatable taste. The amounts and ratios of the electrolytes also sit within the range typically recommended in sports hydration drinks. The tablets do contain added vitamins, which aren’t necessary for hydration and may not be needed, but they aren’t inherently ‘bad’.<\/p>\n

Calories: 9, Carbs: 0.8g, Sugar: 0.1g, Salt: 0.97g<\/p>\n

Informed Sport certified<\/p>\n

Healthspan Elite Electrolyte Tablet \"Women\"Electrolyte<\/a>Healthspan Elite Electrolyte Tablet <\/p>\n

Now 44% Off<\/p>\n

These aren’t excessively sweet, making them a great option for when you’re fatigued, and sweet and grainy drinks can become hard to stomach. The ingredient list is focused, containing only what’s relevant to hydration and the amounts and ratios of the electrolytes are within the range recommended for sports hydration drinks.<\/p>\n

Informed Sport certified<\/p>\n

NutritionX Hydra 10 Electrolyte Drink\"Women\"Hydra<\/a>NutritionX Hydra 10 Electrolyte Drink<\/p>\n

It’s a powder, so you can vary the dose, making it better for personalisation \u2013 more if you’re a salty sweater, for example. It also contains a low concentration of carbs, which may help the rapid absorption of electrolytes into the body \u2013 ideal when you need to rehydrate quickly. (It does contain unnecessary vitamins for hydration, too.)<\/p>\n

Calories: 43, Carbs: 9.24g, Sugar: 8.47g, Salt: 0.88g<\/p>\n

Informed Sport certified<\/p>\n

Puresport Ultra Electrolytes\"Women\"Ultra<\/a>Puresport Ultra Electrolytes<\/p>\n

Now 30% Off<\/p>\n

One of the higher sodium electrolyte products out there, so an ideal choice for the salty sweaters \u2013 but it’s also important to be mindful of how much salt you’re consuming elsewhere in your diet.Those who enjoy the saltier taste of these sachets love the flavours (they come in Citrus Salt, Raspberry Salt, and Watermelon Salt, with the latter a firm favourite among testers) and the fact they are zero sugar.<\/p>\n

Calories: 9.4, Carbs: 0.4g, Sugar: 0g, Salt: 2.5g<\/p>\n

Informed Sport certified<\/p>\n

\"Women\"Electrolytes\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A rare non-sachet-based electrolyte product here, with one bottle of Oshun electrolytes being enough for 100 litres of \u2018electrolyte water\u2019, contributing to that cost-per-use value. This is more of an everyday hydration product rather than purely sports performance, but we are very partial to the aesthetic bottle.<\/p>\n

HUMANTRA Hydration Packet\"Women\"Hydration<\/a>HUMANTRA Hydration Packet<\/p>\n

These vegan, sugar-free sachets contain all six essential electrolytes, along with added micronutrients. While the product is aimed more at everyday hydration rather than elite performance, it is Informed Sport certified.<\/p>\n

Calories: 5, Carbs: 1g, Sugar: 0g<\/p>\n

Informed Sport certified<\/p>\n

LMNT Recharge Electrolytes\"Women\"Recharge<\/a>LMNT Recharge Electrolytes<\/p>\n

More travel-friendly sachets here from LMNT in four strong flavours: Citrus Salt, Raspberry Salt, Orange Salt, and Watermelon Salt. Like Puresport\u2019s product, this is high on the sodium side, so we wouldn’t recommend chugging it back every day \u2013 save it for the sweatier endurance sessions.<\/p>\n

Calories: 5, Carbs: 1g, Sugar: 0g, Salt: 2.5g<\/p>\n

Free Soul Hydrate Electrolyte Hydration Sachets\"Women\"Hydrate<\/a>Free Soul Hydrate Electrolyte Hydration Sachets<\/p>\n

Thanks to their higher sodium content, Free Soul\u2019s electrolytes are also best saved for sweaty sessions \u2013 where they\u2019ll offer a salty but refreshing hit \u2013 rather than everyday hydration. The 7g sachets are convenient and the three flavours (Citrus, Mango & Lime, and Mixed Berry) are sweet but not sickeningly so.<\/p>\n

Informed Sport certified<\/p>\n

Heights Hydrate\u207a Electrolytes\"Women\"Hydrate\u207a<\/a>Heights Hydrate\u207a Electrolytes<\/p>\n

A well-formulated hydration blend that\u2019s ideal for supporting post-exercise recovery and general wellbeing over super sweaty endurance sessions. That it comes in Peach Spritz, Lime Margarita, and Mango Ginger Mule also makes for a fun mocktail choice if you\u2019re looking for non-alcoholic drink options.<\/p>\n

Myprotein PRO x HYROX The Electro\"Women\"PRO<\/a>Myprotein PRO x HYROX The Electro<\/p>\n

This ready-to-mix powder \u2013 which comes in Watermelon, Pina Colada, Orange, Black Cherry, and an unflavoured option (useful for shakes and those without a sweet tooth) \u2013 provides a balanced electrolyte blend ideal for boosting everyday performance. Because it\u2019s a powder, you can alter the dose accordingly (so long as you don\u2019t exceed the recommended amount) to taste.<\/p>\n

Calories: 8, Carbs: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Salt: 1.625g<\/p>\n

Informed Choice certified<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If you’ve spent any time on TikTok, Instagram or even just the gym floor lately, chances are you’ve…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":929079,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[49,48,84,6707,395],"class_list":["post-929078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nutrition","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-health","tag-most-popular","tag-nutrition"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/929078","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=929078"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/929078\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/929079"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=929078"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=929078"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=929078"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}