Summer approaches and with rising temperatures comes the need for smarter approaches to maintaining hydration. Whether you're hitting the gym, running trails, or just existing in the Texas heat, replenishing electrolytes is extremely important for overall performance, recovery, and health.
MyFitFoods is proud to boast locations in some of the highest, hottest, and wettest parts of the United States—Hello Denver, Houston, and Portland—meaning we know firsthand the importance of a robust, year-round hydration protocol. With so many MyFitFoods clients staying active and breaking a sweat, proper hydration is a must. While drinking water is a great start, supplementing with added electrolytes is essential for replenishing what’s lost and maintaining peak performance.
But with so many supplements on the shelves, how do you know which one is right for you?
We’ll break down four electrolyte brands—Brain Water, LMNT, Liquid IV, and Re-Lyte, dissolving the marketing hype and influencer endorsements to focus on what really matters: ingredients and your specific needs. We won’t compare prices (spoiler alert: they’re all expensive), nor will we dive into brand controversies and questionable claims. Instead, we’ll focus on each brand's formula and how it supports hydration.
Plus, stick around until the end because MyFitFoods has a hydration hack for the summer you won't want to miss!
Water: The Elixir of Life
Life cannot exist without water. From the smallest bacteria to the largest mammals, every living organism depends on it. The human body is about 60% water, while the brain and muscles are composed of an astonishing 75%! Given this, it’s easy to see why staying hydrated is key to living well and feeling good.
Water plays a crucial role in:
Regulating body temperature through sweat and evaporation
Delivering nutrients to cells by dissolving and transporting essential compounds
Lubricating joints to support smooth movement
Facilitating restful sleep decreasing symptoms that disrupt sleep
Enhancing cognitive function, helping with focus, memory, and mood
Without enough water, we become fatigued, irritable, and might even struggle to remember our own name! But as we’ll explore below, proper hydration isn’t just about drinking more water—it’s about maintaining the right balance of electrolytes, too.
Hydration: More than Just Water
According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine the average male should drink about 15.5 cups of water per day (almost an entire gallon!) and the average female 11.5 cups. This may sound intimidating however keep in mind coffee and other drinks count and approximately 20% of fluid intake will come from the food you eat too. (1)
However, good hydration isn’t just about drinking water. When we sweat, we lose more than just fluids, we also lose essential minerals. In fact, drinking only water can lead to excessive flushing of vital electrolytes, making it harder for the body to retain the nutrients that facilitate effective hydration.
We’re fortunate to have access to clean, potable water, a true luxury of our modern time. However, the reality is that our water is so heavily filtered and disinfected that many of the naturally occurring minerals found in water are no longer present by the time they leave our tap.
If our water sources still contained their full spectrum of minerals, there likely wouldn’t be the same market for electrolyte supplements.
Enter: Electrolytes
We’ve all heard the word electrolyte, but do we really know what they are or how they work? An electrolyte is any mineral that, when dissolved in water (like in the body), becomes an electrically charged particle.
All electrolytes are minerals however not all minerals are electrolytes—and these minerals (acids, bases, or salts) play a crucial role in storing and transporting water throughout the body.
Many electrolyte supplements focus on replenishing these three common minerals:
Sodium – Maintains fluid balance, supports nerve function, and aids in muscle contractions.
Potassium – Regulates nerves, muscle function, and heart rhythm.
Calcium – Supports bone health, muscle function, nerve signaling, and blood clotting.
However, there are three additional electrolytes that are just as important for maintaining proper hydration:
Magnesium – Aids in muscle and nerve function, energy production, and bone health.
Chloride – Helps regulate fluid balance and maintain the body's pH levels.
Phosphate – Essential for energy production, bone strength, and DNA synthesis.
You may consider keeping this list handy this summer, it will aid you when you inevitably find yourself standing in front of an aisle with 20 different electrolyte supplement brands to reach for.
Braintree Nutrition: Brain Water
Brain Water by Braintree Nutrition is an all-in-one hydration and cognition supplement. Unlike standard electrolyte drinks which prioritize the three common minerals mentioned, Brain Water includes four of six essential electrolytes with the powerful addition of zinc, a mineral which plays a crucial role in water retention and blood pressure regulation. Zinc aids in the production of vasopressin, a hormone released before sleep to help the body conserve water.
One single serving of Brain Water Watermelon contains:
Sodium – 390 mg
Potassium – 210 mg
Calcium – 60 mg
Magnesium – 30 mg
Zinc – 2 mg
Sugar – 0 g
In addition to its hydration benefits, Brain Water contains L-Tyrosine, Taurine, and Choline Bitartrate—three compounds known for their role in cognitive function and nerve stimulation, offering brain-boosting benefits alongside a robust hydration formula!
LMNT
LMNT is a widely recognized electrolyte supplement and popularized by some of the biggest names in health and fitness. If you’re familiar with the brand, you’ve perhaps seen or heard their slogan: “More Salt, Not Less”. This branding highlights LMNT’s core focus: sodium replenishment.
On the front page of their website, LMNT presents data arguing that contrary to popular belief most people do not consume enough sodium, and for this reason they make it the dominant focus of their hydration formula.
According to the CDC, the average American consumes over 3,300 mg of sodium per day, far exceeding the federal recommendation of less than 2,300 mg daily for teens and adults. (2)
As MyFitFoods readers know, everybody and every body, is different. For many, the CDC’s recommendation may be right for you, while others may require more sodium to support their lifestyle. If you're one of these people LMNT may be the right choice for you.
One serving of LMNT Watermelon Salt contains:
Sodium – 1,000 mg
Magnesium – 60 mg
Potassium – 200 mg
Sugar – 0 g
LMNT is often praised for having an expansive selection of flavors as well as some of the best-tasting options. However LMNT’s most defining hydration characteristic (when sitting on the shelf amongst countless hydration supplements) is that it is very salty.
Liquid IV
Liquid IV is another very well-known electrolyte supplement and chances are you're familiar with this product because it's almost certainly on the shelves of your local pharmacy or supermarket. What sets Liquid IV apart (according to Liquid IV) is its Cellular Transport Technology (CTT)—a feature the brand uses to support its claim that it “hydrates better than water alone.”
What is CTT? In simple terms, Liquid IV’s formula is designed to actively transport electrolytes into cells, rather than relying on passive transport. Passive transport, like osmosis, moves substances through cell membranes without requiring energy. In contrast, active transport accelerates electrolyte absorption by utilizing a specific ratio of sodium, potassium, and glucose (sugar), helping the body absorb nutrients more efficiently.
While this claim is compelling, it’s not exactly new or unique. Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS)—which use a similar sodium-glucose pairing to speed up hydration—have been around for decades. If you’ve ever been hospitalized and needed rapid rehydration, you’ve likely been saved by an ORS. That said, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), Liquid IV does meet the criteria and is classified as an ORS.
Each serving of Watermelon Liquid IV contains:
Sodium – 520 mg
Potassium – 370 mg
Sugar – 11 g
Liquid IV’s defining characteristic (aside from the fact that it's on every shelf in the United States) is that it is very sweet. But, much like LMNT’s saltiness, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it all comes down to your personal health and hydration needs.
Redmond Relyte
Redmond Relyte is a hydration supplement formulated with Redmond Real Salt and is marketed as a natural, high-quality source of electrolytes, particularly sodium and chloride. Redmond is a company known for mining and selling salts and seasonings, and has therefore built a reputation for high mineral content and purity in their products. Given that this is their speciality, it’s reasonable to trust that the sodium in their supplements is of very high quality—the same should not be assumed for other brands of whom the use of table salt in their formulations is often a source of criticism.
Relyte’s formula contains salt mined in Utah, which is known for its rich iron content, a key component in red blood cell production. Additionally, Relyte is formulated with what the company considers the ideal sodium-to-potassium ratio of approximately 2:1 (The WHO recommends a 2.5:1 ratio). This ratio is very important in maintaining healthy blood pressure with potassium helping regulate the effects of high sodium intake.
One scoop of Relyte Lemon Lime contains:
Sodium – 810 mg
Potassium – 400 mg
Calcium – 60 mg
Magnesium – 50 mg
Chloride – 1,280 mg
Sugar – 0
The defining characteristic of Redmond Relyte is the company’s dedication to the quality of their salt. Of the electrolyte brands explored today, it is fair to say that Redmond likely offers the highest-quality sodium source.
Alternative Supplementation
As suggested above, these electrolyte supplements are not inexpensive. If you’re maintaining an active lifestyle, especially during the summer months, you’ll likely want to supplement with electrolytes at least once a day. Needless to say the price of staying hydrated will add up.
One cost-effective alternative is making your own homemade electrolyte supplement.
There are many DIY electrolyte recipes available, and many are worth exploring. Perhaps the simplest is called Sole Water, which is made simply by dissolving pink Himalayan sea salt into water over 12–24 hours. While Sole Water won’t cover all your hydration needs, it will effectively replenish sodium and trace minerals, making it a better option than drinking regular water alone.
Beyond Sole Water, there are a wide range of homemade electrolyte formulas, often referred to as “nature’s Gatorade.” These recipes vary from simple to complex but typically include natural fruit juice (lemon, watermelon), Redmond Real Salt or pink Himalayan salt, and a natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup. These DIY options taste great and will cover the most important aspects of a robust hydration strategy.
And last but not least —let's not forget about Coconut Water (the real nature's Gatorade)! This affordable and accessible drink is loaded with potassium, magnesium, sodium and calcium.
Hydration Without the Hype
With the summer heat approaching, proper hydration will be increasingly important. While drinking lots of water is a good start, supplementing with electrolytes is the extra push you need to sustain energy and performance amidst rising temperatures.
We’ve explored four electrolyte brands—Brain Water, LMNT, Liquid IV, and Redmond Relyte—each offering unique benefits depending on your specific hydration needs.
Some prioritize sodium replenishment, others focus on rapid absorption, and some emphasize mineral quality—but ultimately, the best electrolyte supplement will be the one that aligns with your health goals and hydration needs.
Understanding the ingredients behind the labels is important for making informed choices and if you’re concerned about covering all your electrolyte bases, don't forget that healthy food choices will take you far.
MyFitFoods offers nutrient-dense meals designed to support an active lifestyle, keeping you energized, feeling sharp and performing at your best.
Looking for fuel to complement your hydration strategy?
Stop by your nearest location or visit MyFitFoods.com to find fresh, high-quality meals that work for you and not against you.
