Healthy hydration isn’t just about drinking water. It’s about water AND electrolytes.
It makes sense—you lose both water and sodium when you sweat. Both need to be replaced to prevent muscle cramps, headaches, and energy dips that result from:
1) Dehydration (less common)
2) Low electrolytes (more common)
Most people only replace the water. Why? Because since the 1940s, we’ve been told to drink 8 glasses of water per day, thirsty or not.
Drinking beyond thirst isn’t a good idea. Thirst is the way our bodies regulate blood volume and fluid balance. When you need more fluids, you get thirsty. And when you drink plain water beyond thirst, it dilutes blood electrolyte levels (especially sodium levels) and leads to nasty consequences.
These consequences include headaches, low energy, cramps, confusion, and worse. Unfortunately, since low-sodium symptoms mimic dehydration symptoms, people often get confused and drink more water. This only exacerbates the problem.
When blood sodium levels are diluted like this, it’s called hyponatremia. Hyponatremia is common in endurance athletes. Sometimes, it’s fatal.
So, we have a hydration problem on our hands. The solution isn’t to stop drinking water though. It’s to drink water plus electrolytes.
Enter LMNT, which is now sold at No Excuses CrossFit.
Created by former research biochemist Robb Wolf and ketogains founder Luis Villaseñor, LMNT has enough sodium, potassium, and magnesium to get you feeling and performing your best. Plus it has ZERO sugar, artificial colors, or other dodgy ingredients to hold you back.
Let’s get specific about hydration needs now and why LMNT’s science-backed electrolyte ratio makes a difference. We already covered how to get enough fluids: oftentimes, we can simply drink to thirst. But how many electrolytes do we need?
The evidence suggests that we should shoot for 4000-6000 mg sodium, 3500-5000 mg potassium, and 400-600 mg magnesium per day from diet and supplements[*][*][*]. If that sounds like a lot of sodium, consider that athletes can lose up to 7 grams of sodium per day through sweat!
Most people fall short on electrolytes. Sodium restriction, for instance, is celebrated as “heart healthy.” In reality, restricting sodium to fewer than 2.3 grams per day (in line with government recommendations) has been linked to higher rates of heart attack and stroke in heart disease patients. Five grams per day was the sweet spot for optimal health outcomes.
LMNT has your electrolyte needs covered. With 1,000 mg of sodium, 200 mg of potassium, and 60 mg of magnesium, it contains enough electrolytes to move the needle towards each of these electrolyte goals.
You’re also guaranteed to find an LMNT flavor you love. Try fan-favorites Citrus Salt or Raspberry Salt, get spicy with Mango Chili, or mix Chocolate Salt into your morning coffee for a mean mocha.
-Coach Brandon