When choosing a hydration product, the most important ingredients to look for are the ones that help your body maximize its use of the water you drink.
The first two ingredients I’ll focus on are what I call essential electrolytes that any hydration product should have.
Essential Electrolytes
- Sodium
- Potassium
If your electrolyte hydration product doesn’t have these two ingredients, then it’s not a good electrolyte hydration product.
Doses: Sodium 200mg – 1000mg, Potassium 100-400mg
Other Important Electrolytes
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Phosphorous
If your hydration product contains these electrolytes then it is a higher end product.
Doses: Magnesium 50-150mg, Calcium 59-100mg, Phosphorous 30-60mg
Vitamins and Antioxidants
- Vitamin C
- Zinc
- Coconut Water (also contains electrolytes)
- Pomegranate Juice (also contains electrolytes)
Certain vitamins and antioxidants can help neutralize reactive oxygen species (free radicals) that cause muscular inefficiencies and fatigue.
Just be careful: ultra high doses of antioxidants can suppress the benefits of exercise.