Hi Growing Friend,
I'm excited to share exactly what products I've been using to stay hydrated! It's truly been such a game changer for my life.
You know that feeling when you chug water but you're still thirsty? That's usually your body craving minerals to help absorb the water. I can drink one electrolyte glass of water a day and feel like the rest of my water intake is better absorbed and more hydrating! Seriously, pay attention to the signs your body is giving you when you're trying to hydrate.
Ok, let's get to it—here's what I've used!
For Post-Workout or Dehydration
ReLyte Electrolytes (my favorite is strawberry lemonade)
This is my go-to when I'm feeling dehydrated—after a workout, time in the sun, or when I just feel really thirsty. You can buy it on Amazon or directly from their website. Pro tip: try the variety pack first before committing to a full 60-serving jar!
What I love about ReLyte is the ingredient quality. It's made with Redmond Real Salt—an unrefined, ancient sea salt mined in Utah that naturally contains 60+ trace minerals. It includes a complete electrolyte profile: sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and chloride, plus all those trace minerals from the salt itself. And it's completely sugar-free, sweetened only with stevia.
Full transparency: They do use natural flavors, which I'm not a fan of. But I think they're a really intentional company with third-party Informed Choice certification (meaning it's tested for banned substances and contaminants), and let's face it—we can't be perfect 100% of the time. I wouldn't drink this more than once a day unless you've been sweating heavily or working out intensely, since it has a higher ratio of sodium and potassium.
Real Salt (from Redmond)
This mineral salt is how I stay hydrated daily—it's all we use on our food! It uses the same quality salt that’s used in the electrolyte drink. My absolute favorite is their garlic pepper seasoning—I put it on EVERYTHING.
I noticed such a difference in staying hydrated once I added Real Salt to our food plus the ReLyte drink almost daily, especially since I've been nursing and need extra hydration!
For Daily, All-Day Hydration
Just Ingredients Electrolytes (orange pineapple is my favorite)
I truly love this company—they're seriously changing the industry in everything they do. They use quality mineral sources and are completely transparent about every ingredient. This is perfect for everyday use and you can drink it multiple times per day. It has a higher potassium-to-sodium ratio, so it helps your body balance rather than rehydrate after a big workout (use ReLyte for that). And it has all real ingredients, which I love! You can buy from their website, Amazon or even Target!
Quick tip: it’s usually the best priced directly from their website!
Buoy Drops
This is probably the most budget-friendly option because of how many servings you get. Buoy uses a blend of trace minerals and electrolytes in liquid form, which makes them super versatile—you can add them to anything without changing the flavor. The liquid mineral drops are absorbed quickly and don't have any unnecessary additives or sweeteners. Can also be used multiple times per day.
Other Brands & What to Avoid
A lot of you asked about other brands this week! There are so many great options out there like FlavCity, Live Healthillie, and Taylor Dukes Wellness. I haven't tried them personally so I can't speak to flavor, but they're also solid choices based on ingredients!
Two popular brands I personally wouldn't use:
LMNT — They have a very high ratio of sodium that's typically unnecessary unless you're seriously dehydrated or working outside in the heat all day. Just my personal opinion!
Liquid IV — This is probably the most popular electrolyte brand out there, but here's why I skip it: When you use quality salt, there's no need to add in a bunch of synthetic vitamins and filler ingredients. Liquid IV also contains silicon dioxide, which can be harmful to your gut—potentially altering your gut microbiome, causing inflammation, and damaging the intestinal barrier.
They also use vague "mined salt" and sodium citrate (a processed salt) instead of unrefined mineral salt. Their original formula is 69% sugar by weight (about 3 teaspoons per serving), and even though they offer a sugar-free version, the quality concerns with additives remain.
What to look for in electrolyte products:
Unrefined, mineral-rich salt (like Real Salt, Celtic sea salt, or Himalayan salt) vs. processed sodium citrate or vague "mined salt"
Broad electrolyte profile including magnesium and calcium, not just sodium and potassium
Minimal additives — avoid silicon dioxide, artificial sweeteners, and unnecessary synthetic vitamins
Transparency — companies should be upfront about sourcing and ingredient quality
Third-party testing when possible
Remember, the goal is to support your gut health and overall wellness—not add more synthetic ingredients or fillers that work against that goal!
This Month's Challenge
Focus on increasing your hydration using Real Salt or mineral salt! Keep drinking regular water too, but add in an electrolyte drink—it's going to be so helpful.
On a budget? No problem! Use what you already have at home:
Water + Real Salt + squeeze of lemon = natural electrolytes that work great!
Replace your table salt with mineral salt
Super easy, non-expensive ways to support your hydration—I know affordability matters on this journey!
I've heard from so many of you how much you're loving these newsletters and how helpful they've been—I love hearing this! Keep sending in your feedback, it really helps guide these each month!
I've had questions about castor oil packs, red light therapy, toilet paper (lol) and more nutrition topics. Let me know what you're most interested in hearing about next! I'll post a poll on Instagram, so either respond to this email or answer the poll. You get to decide next month's topic, so make sure to chime in!
Rooted in Wellness & Rising Together,
Erica
