Major companies that produce many of the consumed goods in the US leech off of false information and tactics created in order to sell more products. If I were able to attract your attention easily, think about how easily companies that invest millions into advertising and research can mess with your brain. Inaccurate studies, surveying a select group of people, and animal studies are all ways that companies can get away with spreading their lies. They are able to back it up with “evidence” from literature that most people would not be able to comprehend. 

With all this being said, I come forth with information that isn’t intended to sell a product, but rather improve your lifestyle. There is a common misconception that drinking water hydrates you. Although it does lead to extracellular hydration, the water in your blood, it does not contribute to intracellular hydration. In order for the cells to be hydrated, an electrolyte is necessary. The most common found electrolytes include potassium, sodium, chloride and magnesium. These can all be found in a good diet, but supplementation is very important especially for athletes and people who sweat often during exercise. 

Brands such as Gatorade, Pedialyte, and Liquid IV all advertise their ability to hydrate. While this is true to a certain extent, these drinks all contain dyes, multi-dextrose, cane sugar, and other ingredients that I’d advise staying away from. If you’ve ever felt poorly in the gym or during practice, these ingredients are most definitely a cause. They are not sports drinks but rather colorful and sugary garbage. 

So what can you do? Putting salt in your water is the easiest and cheapest solution to this issue. This way you can get your normal water and your electrolytes in at the same time while still feeling good. I personally use a salt based electrolyte, which also contains magnesium and potassium chloride. There are no fillers, artificial sweeteners, or dyes. Adding just 2 scoops of this to my gallon of water is noticeably beneficial.  Next time you drink your bottle of water or your Gatorade, think about how easy it is to boost your performance by just adding a good electrolyte to your water.