What Are Electrolytes?

Electrolytes are essential minerals—including sodium, potassium, and magnesium—that help regulate fluid balance, muscle function, nerve signaling, and other important processes in the body. Water is usually all you need for everyday hydration, but when you sweat significantly, you lose both water and electrolytes, particularly sodium. In those situations, water alone may not fully replace what you've lost, which is where an electrolyte can be helpful.

Many of the electrolyte formulas I gravitate toward are made with less processed, whole-food-inspired ingredients such as sea salt, coconut water, seawater-derived minerals, sea moss, and real fruit. In addition to providing electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium, many of these ingredients naturally contain trace minerals as well. While the amount of trace minerals varies by formula, I prefer products that offer a broader spectrum of minerals alongside transparent ingredient lists.

I also like to make at least one glass of water functional each day by adding something that supports a specific goal—electrolytes for hydration, creatine for strength and healthy aging, colostrum for immune and gut support, or another targeted addition. It's an easy way to make hydration work a little harder for you.

What I Look for:

When choosing an electrolyte, I look beyond the sodium count. I want transparent ingredient lists, real fruit or clearly disclosed flavor sources, no artificial colors or sweeteners, minimal unnecessary fillers, thoughtfully formulated sources of sodium, potassium, and magnesium, and third-party testing for quality, purity, and potency.

I prefer formulas that use less processed mineral sources—such as sea salt, coconut water, seawater-derived minerals, or sea moss—when appropriate, rather than relying on a long list of unnecessary additives. I like the broader mineral profile that some of these naturally derived ingredients can provide.

I also pay attention to what the formula is actually designed to do. A lighter electrolyte can be great for everyday hydration, while a higher-sodium formula makes more sense after intense exercise, sauna, hot weather, or significant sweating. You don't necessarily need the same electrolyte every day—the right formula depends on how much you're sweating and what you're trying to replace.

There are so many different electrolytes to choose from, and my list will continue to evolve and expand as I try more and new options come to market. Here are some of my current favorite electrolytes that I’ve personally tried and recommend, depending on your individual needs.

High-Sodium + Intense Sweat:

1. SAVA Electrolyte Variety Pack

One of my favorite higher-sodium formulas when I need meaningful electrolyte replenishment. Formerly Taylor Dukes Wellness Electrolytes, SAVA combines sea salt, organic coconut water powder, and organic fruit ingredients without added sugar or sugar alcohols. With roughly 700 mg of sodium per serving, it's considerably more concentrated than a light everyday electrolyte, making it a great option for workouts, sauna, travel, hot weather, and heavier sweat days.

2. Kaizen Hydration, Lemon Lime

A performance-focused formula that goes beyond basic sodium and potassium, combining Himalayan rock salt, magnesium glycinate, potassium, calcium, sea moss, and taurine. I especially like the Lemon Lime flavor because it uses lemon and lime juice powders rather than a broad “natural flavor” blend. The combination of electrolytes, magnesium, and taurine makes this a great choice for workouts, hot yoga, sauna, and other higher-sweat days.

Currently, this is sold out, but should be available again by the end of this week.

Use code JESSBEWELL for a discount.

3. Promix Unflavored Electrolyte Drink Mix

One of the simplest high-sodium options available. The unflavored formula provides 1,000 mg of sodium, 200 mg of potassium, and 60 mg of magnesium without sweeteners or added flavoring. Because of its higher sodium content, this is one I reach for after long workouts, endurance exercise, sauna, very hot days, or anytime I've been sweating substantially.

Everyday Hydration:

4. GoodOnYa Organic Hydration

One of my favorite everyday options with a simple ingredient list: organic lemon juice powder, organic coconut water powder, seawater-derived magnesium, Himalayan pink salt, stevia, and vitamin C. It's USDA Organic, uses real lemon for flavor, has no added sugar or dyes, and provides a more moderate amount of sodium. It’s an easy daily mineral boost rather than a heavy-duty sweat-replacement formula.

Use code: JESSBEWELL for 30% off your first order.

5. Just Ingredients Electrolytes

A great everyday option if you prefer real fruit over natural flavors. The formula combines organic coconut water with five electrolytes—potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, and chloride—and has a potassium-forward 3:1 potassium-to-sodium ratio. There’s no added sugar, artificial flavor, artificial color, or artificial sweetener, making this a simple option for everyday hydration.

6. Ballerina Farm Farmer Hydrate

A whole-food-inspired electrolyte made with organic coconut water, hand-harvested French grey sea salt, Irish sea moss, real fruit, and a little prebiotic fiber. It provides sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and chloride in a balanced formula that works well for everyday hydration and active days without being an ultra-high-sodium performance drink. It’s also available in a powder bag with 25 servings.

7. PaleoValley Essential Electrolytes

Another great option when you’re looking for electrolytes from whole-food sources rather than a highly formulated sports drink. It’s made with coconut water, sea salt, seawater-derived magnesium, and seaweed. Each serving provides 400 mg of sodium, 280 mg of potassium, 160 mg of magnesium, and 80 mg of calcium, along with naturally occurring sugars from the coconut water.

8. Kroma Cranberry Hydration Elixir

I love this one when I want my water to feel more like a wellness drink than a traditional electrolyte packet. It combines hydration with a fruity, spicy twist of cranberry, ginger, and cayenne. The formula features coconut water, Himalayan pink salt, cranberry, ginger, cayenne, and vitamins B1 and B2, with no cane sugar.

Use code JESSBEWELL15 for 15% off Kroma.

9. BodyBio e-lyte

A liquid electrolyte concentrate that takes a different approach from powders and drink mixes. Instead of a pre-measured powder packet, you simply pour the liquid concentrate into your water or any drink for sodium, potassium, and magnesium without added sugar, sweeteners, or artificial flavors.

It can also be useful before or after a workout, sauna, hot weather, or other times when you’re losing more electrolytes through sweat. For significant sweat loss, I’d choose one of the formulas in the High-Sodium + Intense Sweat category.

Electrolytes + More:

10. Pique X·E Fountain Energizing Electrolyte

Pique’s newest electrolyte, X•E Fountain, combines electrolytes with seven B vitamins, plus magnesium malate and magnesium taurate, making it more of an energizing hydration formula than a traditional electrolyte. It’s caffeine-free and contains no sugar, stevia, or artificial or natural flavors. Instead, cucumber, lime, and celery seed powders give it a naturally refreshing flavor, while organic monk fruit provides sweetness.

Because it contains seven B vitamins, keep the overlap in mind if you already take a B-complex or multivitamin—you may not need another B-vitamin supplement alongside it. I’m also a big fan of Pique’s B•T Fountain Beauty Electrolyte for everyday hydration.

Pique’s Summer Sale is live through August 23, with 20% off for life on subscriptions.

11. BodyHealth PerfectAmino Electrolytes Unflavored

This one is unique because it combines electrolytes with 2 grams of essential amino acids in every serving. The formula provides 300 mg of sodium, 250 mg of potassium, 50 mg of magnesium, 80 mg of trace minerals, and 2 mg of zinc, along with the amino acids.

Amino acids are naturally very bitter, so this unflavored and unsweetened version is best mixed into a smoothie or juice rather than plain water. BodyHealth also offers flavored versions, but their ingredient lists include the broad term “natural flavors,” and I prefer to avoid undisclosed flavoring ingredients and added sweeteners when there are other options. They also offer a separate NSF Certified for Sport version for athletes.

Kids Electrolytes:

12. Hiya Kids Daily Hydration

One of my favorite kid-specific options because it was actually formulated for children rather than simply being an adult electrolyte in a smaller serving. It's made for ages 2+, with real fruit powders, Himalayan pink salt, potassium, magnesium glycinate, prebiotic fiber, vitamin C, calcium, and iron. It has zero added sugar, no artificial dyes or flavors, and Hiya says every product is third-party tested for heavy metals, microbes, and other contaminants.

13. Cure Kids Hydration

A kid-specific option made with real fruit and no added sugar or artificial dyes. I like this one particularly for sports, hot days, or times when kids are losing more fluid than usual. Cure also publishes testing results for heavy metals, allergens, and microbial contaminants, which is something I look for in products made for kids.