LifeHacker Guy is a personal-blog. We may earn a small commission on purchases made through our links. Learn more.

Best Electrolyte Replacements Supplements

Best Electrolyte Replacements With Zero Sugar

Electrolytes are vital minerals that the body needs in order to function properly, such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium.

When you exercise intensely, you lose electrolytes through sweat, and therefore it’s important that you rehydrate and top get electrolytes back into the body quickly.

If you have a poor diet that’s not rich in essential minerals may also need electrolyte replacements, and those that have illnesses or that experience bouts of diarrhea may also need to supplement electrolytes.

When I first began researching the best electrolyte replacements most seemed to contain sugar, in fact, a lot of sugar. Although the right amount of glucose may help the body absorb essential minerals, it’s not necessary.

It’s actually best to go for a sugar-free electrolyte supplement.

So, if you’re interested in knowing which electrolyte replacements really are the best out there, check out my full review of the top 5 best electrolyte replacements with zero sugar below.

5 Best Electrolyte Replacements With Zero Sugar

No supplement on the market is the same because each is uniquely formulated, provides different benefits, contains different ingredients, tastes different, and is sold at different prices.

Therefore, each supplement has its own list of pros and cons, which is exactly what we’re going to look at in this review – here’s my recommended list of electrolyte replacements with zero sugar.

1High5 Zero

High 5 Zero Tub

High5 Zero is a sugar-free electrolyte formula that also has zero calories. The formula is sold as drink tablets that you simply pop into a glass of water.

The formula contains the essentials (sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and chloride) as well as vitamin C.

The brand claims that the formula will support the immune system, protect the body from oxidative stress, reduce fatigue, support muscle protein synthesis, and hydrate the body.

High5 Zero is suitable for vegetarians and gluten-free.

The formula has a disclosed ingredients label when it comes to showing the consumer knows how much of each mineral they are consuming with every tablet – this is great brand transparency.

However, unfortunately, the only downside to the High5 Zero formula is that it contains sucralose as a sweetener.

Sucralose is an artificial sweetener that is linked with being detrimental to health, causing issues such as increased blood sugar and insulin levels.

Therefore, although this sugar-free formula might look like the perfect formula for those on a keto diet, the use of sucralose could mean that it’s not keto-friendly due to the fact that sucralose can bring people out of the state of ketosis.

High5 Zero is available in a wide range of flavors – Strawberry and Kiwi, Berry, Citrus, Tropical, Orange and Cherry, Pink Grapefruit, or Neutral.

With a cost per serving of $0.35, the formula is a wallet-friendly electrolyte replacement formula.

Overall, High5 Zero is a good electrolyte formula, especially due to the fact that it’s cheap and High5 is a trusted brand with over 27 years in the industry.

However, if you’re worried about consuming sucralose, it’s probably not the supplement for you.

Pros

  • Popular, trusted brand.
  • Disclosed electrolyte amounts.
  • Pleasant taste.
  • Cheap.

Cons

  • Contains sucralose.

2Nuun Sport

Nuun-Sport-Tubs

Produced by the popular Nuun brand, Nuun Sport is a certified vegan, certified kosher, certified gluten-free, non-GMO, Informed Choice electrolyte tablet drink.

The brand claims that Nuun Sport is specifically formulated to support and hydrate athletes and those that exercise intensely, both before and after working out.

The formula’s ingredients label, much like High5 Zero, discloses the amounts of all of the essential mineral ingredients, making it easy for consumers to know how much of each mineral they’re consuming.

Although Nuun Sport is technically not sugar-free, with only 1g of sugar within each serving, it can be classified as a sugar-free supplement.

Unless you are following an incredibly strict keto diet, you can consume supplements with 1g of sugar or less.

There’s an array of different options of Nuun Sport, with different flavors and added caffeine options.

You can purchase the Nuun Sport tablets in – Cherry Limeade + Caffeine, Citrus Fruit, Fresh Lime + Caffeine, Fruit Punch, Lemon Lime, Grape, Mango Orange + Caffeine, Orange, Strawberry Lemonade, Tri-Berry, Tropical, Watermelon, and Wild Berry + Caffeine.

With a cost per serving of $0.70, these electrolyte tablets are a little more expensive. However, with over 20,000+ positive customer reviews, you’re buying from a tried and tested brand!

Overall, this is a great electrolyte replacement formula, but might not be the best choice for those on a budget or those on a very strict keto diet.

Pros

  • 20,000 + positive customer reviews.
  • Popular, trusted brand.
  • Informed Choice (Banned Substance Tested).
  • Disclosed electrolyte amounts.

Cons

  • 1g of sugar – (still classed sugar-free, but may not be suitable for those on very strict keto diets).
  • Slightly more expensive than other electrolyte supplements.

3Ultima Replenisher

Ultima Replenisher Packets

Ultima Replenisher is a keto-friendly, paleo-friendly, vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, sugar-free formula that contains 6 key electrolytes and trace minerals.

Unlike Nuun Sport and High5 Zero, Ultima Replenisher is a powdered formula, either available by the tub or in on-the-go sticks.

The brand claims that the formula is the perfect electrolyte hydration drink for those that are doing high-intensity exercise, those that are sick, those that are hungover, those who are traveling, and those who are even pregnant and nursing.

I would actually suggest that anyone who is pregnant or nursing check with a doctor before consuming any new supplement, so I’m unsure if the brand should be suggesting this to those people.

Unfortunately, the ingredients label of Ultima Replenisher is not fully disclosed.

Although the % of the daily recommended intake is shown, the amount of each ingredient within the formula is not, meaning it’s unknown how much (weighted) of each ingredient you’re consuming.

You can purchase the formula in a variety of different flavors – Pink Lemonade, Lemonade, Cherry Pomegranate, Blue Raspberry, Grape, Raspberry, and Orange.

With a cost per serving of between $0.47 to $1.05, the formula can be as expensive or inexpensive as you want.

If you want to trial the formula and buy the stick packs, the cost will be more expensive, and the more of the formula you buy, the cheaper it is.

Overall, this is a great electrolyte replacement formula but is more expensive than other formulas for those that want to buy the formula at a smaller capacity.

Pros

  • 10,000 + positive customer reviews.
  • Suitable for those on keto, paleo, and vegan diets.
  • Tastes great.

Cons

  • Doesn’t have a fully disclosed ingredients label.
  • More expensive than other formulas if bought in a smaller serving size tub.

4LyteShow

LyteShow-Tub

LyteShow is a little different from the other electrolyte replacement formulas on this list due to the fact that it’s a liquid concentrate rather than a tablet or powder.

The LyteShow liquid formula consists of the 6 main electrolytes and is fully vegan, keto-friendly (completely sugar-free), gluten-free, and non-GMO.

The brand claims that the liquid formula will support the immune system, aid with muscle recovery, improve energy levels, support fluid balance within the cells, and boost brain function.

The ingredients label is fully disclosed, meaning the consumer knows exactly how much of each essential vitamin they are consuming, which shows great brand transparency.

However, due to the fact that the formula has no flavoring ingredients or sweeteners, some people do find the taste a little bitter and salty.

With a cost per serving of between $0.42, this is a cost-effective formula.

Overall, this is a great electrolyte replacement liquid formula and it’s friendly to the wallet too!

However, for those that are looking for a great-tasting, fruity formula, it might not be the right choice.

Pros

  • 7,000+ positive customer reviews.
  • Fully disclosed ingredients label.
  • 100% sugar-free and suitable for even those on strict keto diets.

Cons

  • Unflavored (salty taste).

5LMNT

LMNT-Packets

LMNT, produced by New York Times bestselling author and former research biochemist, Robb Wolf, is an electrolyte replacement powder containing sodium, potassium, and magnesium.

The formula is sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan-friendly, paleo-friendly, and keto-friendly.

The brand suggests supplementing with LMNT if you are someone that’s experiencing low energy levels, someone that regularly exercises, or someone that needs a boost of essential minerals.

The essential electrolytes within the formula are fully disclosed on the formula’s ingredients label.

However, it seems very strange to me that the brand has chosen to add on ‘iron’ and ‘calcium’ even though neither of them features in the formula!

The brand actually shows that iron – 0% and calcium -0%. Very strange.

You can purchase the formula in a variety of different flavors – Citrus Salt, Watermelon Salt, Orange Salt, Raspberry Salt, Raw Unflavored, Mango Chilli, Lemon Habanero, and Chocolate Salt.

With a cost per serving of between $1.50, LMNT is much more expensive than other electrolyte replacement formulas on the market.

Overall, this is a good electrolyte replacement formula, but it may only be suitable for those with a slightly bigger budget due to the fact that it’s much more expensive than other electrolyte supplements.

In addition, it only actually contains 3 essential minerals.

Pros

  • Over 4,000+ positive customer reviews.
  • Disclosed electrolyte ingredients.

Cons

  • More expensive than other formulas on the market.
  • Only 3 electrolyte ingredients.

Frequently Asked Questions About Electrolyte Replacements – Answered!

Why Are Electrolytes Important?

Electrolytes are essential minerals, such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium.

The body needs these minerals to function at an optimum level – they regulate muscle contractions, keep the body hydrated, support the nervous system to function properly, and help balance pH levels.

If you don’t have enough electrolytes you may become dehydrated, experience cramps, headaches, low energy levels, reduce levels of performance, and slow muscle repair.

What Are The Benefits of Electrolyte Replacements?

If you don’t consume the right amount of essential minerals through your diet and if you experience dehydration, whether after exercise, when you’ve consumed alcohol, or if you’ve not consumed enough water, electrolyte replacement formulas deliver essential electrolytes to your body instantly.

Do Electrolyte Replacements Usually Contain Sugar?

A lot of electrolyte replacement supplements on the market do contain sugar, as people tend to think that sugar is an essential electrolyte, when in fact glucose only assists the body in absorbing essential electrolytes.

Therefore, sugar isn’t needed in an electrolyte replacement.

When Should You Take An Electrolyte Replacement?

You can consume an electrolyte replacement whenever you feel as if you are dehydrated.

However, recommended times to take them are before and after working out, when you’re traveling and you’re low on essential minerals and water, and when you’re sick (especially when you’re experiencing vomiting and/or diarrhea).

Who Can Take Electrolyte Replacements?

Although everyone can benefit from electrolyte supplements, people who exercise regularly, such as athletes, may want to take electrolyte replacements regularly.

I also always suggest that people who are under 18, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, people on medication or with medical conditions, should consult a doctor before consuming any new supplement.

Although you don’t really need to follow the same advice for electrolyte replacements, I would still suggest that if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a medical condition, you consult a doctor before consuming an electrolyte replacement, just to be on the safe side.

I have started taking an electrolyte daily as I live in Malaysia, which is hot. In fact, it's the humidity here that regularly between 60-75%!

The Last Word

Having the correct amount of electrolytes in the body is just as important as consuming the right type of food or doing the right amount of exercise.

Therefore, if you think that you would benefit from consuming an electrolyte replacement due to the fact that you are dehydrated, you do intense regular exercise, or you are sick and losing fluids, this roundup of my top 5 electrolyte replacements.

If you’re worried about your micronutrient consumption in general, or you’re looking for an extra nutrient boost, you may also benefit from consuming a superfood formula daily and therefore you may want to take a look at my roundup of the best superfood supplements on the market.

Adam Author

About the LifeHacker Guy

Hi, I'm Adam the founder of the LifeHacker Guy.

I have a First Class Honours degree in Sports Science from Brighton University, specialising in exercise physiology and nutrition. In my youth I was a competitive Triathlete and long-distance runner placing top 10 in most triathlon races I completed.

Since suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I moved into web development, after a couple of years I then moved onto developing a number of online businesses. I've recently taken a sabbatical and I'm now looking to make big changes in my life, hopefully this may resonate with you - join me in my journey!

2 comments

  1. They contain a range of beneficial micro-organisms including probiotics, which can help to replenish the levels of micro-organisms in the body. This can prove very beneficial for those who are experiencing digestive problems.

  2. I’m searching for info for a high quality electrolyte water for my elderly father, who needs to drink “gatorade” for health reasons. He was told plain water wasn’t good enough. I hate the sugar and other unnecessary ingredients in gatorade but can’t seem to find a bottled water that has as much of the beneficial electrolytes. I’ve been looking for an electrolyte “water” that is comparable to gatorade in electrolytes, but without the additives. I’m not sure about powdered stuff; my mother would have to mix it for him, and knowing him, he won’t like the taste, especially if it’s grainy. Another frustration is that a lot of the items don’t list the complete ingredients, ie. amounts of electrolytes. Any suggestions?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *