ELECTROLYTE DRINKS
As the mercury rises, replace salts and minerals lost through sweat, while maintaining optimum hydration, with our pick of the best electrolyte drinks
Put simply, electrolyte drinks are specifically designed to help replenish the body’s electrolytes – naturally occurring salts and minerals that help to balance our bodies’ fluids. The best electrolyte drinks typically contain a blend of electrolytes, carbohydrates and other nutrients that work together to help support hydration and recovery. These drinks generally come as a powder or tablet that you dissolve in water.
Electrolytes are minerals that have an electrical charge when dissolved in water, meaning they can conduct an electrical current. The role of electrolytes is to help regulate the body’s fluid balance, nerve function and muscle contraction, while also assisting with the passage of nutrients in and out of cells.
The electrolytes sodium, potassium and chloride are found in the highest concentrations in bodily fluids, such as sweat, blood and urine. The most important one concerning exercise performance is sodium, but if you’re not a heavy sweater, or need to reduce your intake of sodium for health reasons, you might want an electrolyte drink with lower sodium levels (say, less than 250mg per serving).
SIS HYDRO
£8 (1 tube), scienceinsport.com
Science In Sport is a brand driven by scientific data, so it knows a thing or two about optimal hydration. Its HYDRO range has the highest sodium content per serving of any electrolyte drink on test and it’s also one of the most reasonably priced.
Taste: ★★★★★
Solubility: ★★★★★
Effectiveness: ★★★★★
OVERALL: ★★★★★
High 5 Zero
£62.99 (8 tubes), highfive.co.uk
