Reviewing My Three Favorite Electrolyte Brands
Plus, How Electrolytes Have Helped Manage My POTS Symptoms
Do we consume too much sodium? Or not enough? At least for those with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), we are told to consume an excessive amount of sodium. This assists in blood volume, retention, and circulation issues.
I’ve spent the past few years trying a wide variety of electrolyte brands. I struggle to consume the amount of sodium my doctor recommends (8-10 grams per day). Electrolyte powders are easier for me to manage than consuming this level of salt through food alone. However, I’ve found that ingesting too much sodium at once has quite the adverse effect. So, it’s really a balancing act to figure out what works best for you.
Today, I’m going to review my top three favorite electrolyte brands. I give them a rating based on the following categories:
Health benefits
Flavor options
Price point
Online and in-store availability
Ease of mixing the powder, especially while on the go
Any specific dislikes
To note, I will not be reviewing electrolytes I don’t like today, but I promise you that I’ve tried most brands on the market.
3. Liquid IV - best price point
Liquid IV was the electrolyte brand I was taking before I even knew I had a chronic illness. It’s readily accessible and available for bulk purchases at stores like Sam’s Club and Costco. Plus, it has the largest variety of flavors. However, one must be cautious when consuming more than one packet a day due to the high vitamin count, especially for vitamins dangerous in excess, like B6.
Health benefits: high in vitamins, sugar-free options available
Flavor options: plentiful, I particularly enjoy their vitamin C boost “tangerine” flavor
Price point: 30 for $29.99 (~ $1/packet) at Costco
Online and in-store availability: widely available, both in-store (Target, Costco, Sam’s Club, some markets) and online (Amazon, Liquid IV.com)
Ease of mixing the powder, especially while on the go: mixes best with handheld electric whisk; shaking bottle works well but some clumps sink to the bottom
Any specific dislikes: as someone with a family history of diabetes, I’m hesitant of the sugar content (though some swear by it for hydration purposes, I tend to avoid options with sugar because of how many I consume a day). I dislike how there is Allulose in the sugar-free option. Further, for those who drink multiple electrolyte packets a day, be cautious of consuming multiple Liquid IVs. The high vitamin content, especially B6, can be dangerous (like those of us with POTS who might drink 3-5 a day…)
Overall, I rate Liquid IV at a 3.75/5. I appreciate their accessibility and flavor options, but it’s not the best formula out on the market for my needs.
2. LMNT - best flavors
I think some might be surprised to find LMNT coming in second. I absolutely love their flavors, especially Watermelon Salt. As someone who watches their blood sugar yet simultaneously needs to consume copious amounts of salt, I appreciate the high sodium content of their packets (1,000 mg!) and sugar-free formula. However, and perhaps too much information…too much salt at once makes my stomach fully turn over. I have no problem drinking LMNT, it’s the consequences of this decision that I regret.
That being said, I really dislike sugary, flavored water as a whole, and having to consume electrolytes has been quite the change for me. I try to stomach them with as little water mixed in as possible. When I do drink LMNT, I must drink it with at least 24 oz. of water mixed in to prevent the adverse consequences.
Health benefits: high sodium content, especially great for POTS
Flavor options: not quite as many options as Liquid IV, but I like all their flavors
Price point: 30 for $45 (~ $1.50/packet), definitely pricier
Online and in-store availability: as of now, I’ve only found them available on their website
Ease of mixing the powder, especially while on the go: mixes best with handheld electric whisk; shaking bottle or stirring with a straw doesn’t work well, and if there’s ice inside, powder clings to ice
Any specific dislikes: sometimes the sodium can be TOO much
Overall, I rate LMNT a 4.25/5 for flavor options (not a single bad one, I even like Chocolate Salt) and using stevia as their sweetener, but unfortunately the sodium content might be a bit too high, even for me.
Note: I’m not a sparkling water drinker, but the LMNT sparkling waters are AMAZING and a great change up when I need to consume so much salt per day.
Thorne Daily Electrolytes - best overall
Two months ago, I had never even heard of these. I think they’re somewhat new, and they’re definitely not well advertised. But my god, these are the best electrolytes I’ve tried and I’ve tried almost every brand. They follow a very specific ratio in their electrolytes, and they’re quite easy to drink with 16 oz. or less of water (which is my preference). They’re are not many flavor options (I count three on their website as of posting), but they’re all fantastic.
I also notice I reap the benefits of these electrolytes fairly soon after drinking them. I feel more energy, my vision seems brighter, and my POTS symptoms are somewhat quieter.
Health benefits: third-party tested for heavy metals, transparent about their ingredients
Flavor options: limited, only three options; all great but my favorite is Mango Limeade
Price point: 30 for $39 (~ $1.30/packet)
Online and in-store availability: as of now, I’ve only found them available on their website
Ease of mixing the powder, especially while on the go: easily mixed stirring or shaking bottle
Any specific dislikes: I wish they had more flavors!
Overall, I’m rating these a 5/5. I sincerely appreciate their ingredient transparency, third-party heavy metal testing, and how I feel while drinking them.
What’s your favorite electrolyte? Let me know what I should review next in the comments!
Disclaimer: All my writings are regarding my personal experiences. I’m not a medical professional—just someone figuring things out as I go. Everything I share here is based on my own life and should not be taken as medical advice. Always chat with your doctor before trying anything new.
will have to try out Thorne!