LMNT Drink Mix Ingredients: A Nurse + Health Coach Review
Curious about LMNT?
Here is a breakdown of its ingredients, my thoughts as a registered nurse and health coach, and how it may support your holistic wellness + hydration💧
Regardless of who you are, hydration is important. And depending on what season of life you are in, or your current activity level, you may be more susceptible to dehydration. Over the last couple of years, there has been a huge increase in available electrolyte products- some far better than others. So what's my favorite? What's their purpose?
I'm hoping to shine some light on one of the most popular brands, as well as share about their key ingredients and what makes them so beneficial.
(p.s. shopping through any of the links on this page will automatically add a free sample pack to your order 🎉 my favorite way to try new flavors)
What Are Electrolytes?
Ever wonder why sports drinks boast about their electrolytes? Well, these tiny but mighty minerals play a crucial role in keeping our bodies hydrated and functioning at their best.
Electrolytes like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium help to regulate fluid balance, muscle function, and nerve signaling. When we sweat or lose fluids through activities like exercise or hot weather, we also lose electrolytes. That's where replenishing them becomes essential. By ensuring we have adequate electrolyte levels in our body, we can help maintain proper hydration levels, prevent dehydration, and keep our bodies performing at their peak.
For a long time, sodium has gotten a bad rap in the health industry. However there is a growing body of research that shows its benefits in your holistic health and hydration levels. LMNT claims to have the perfect ratio of sodium, potassium, and magnesium which is based on a robust body of scientific literature as well as thousands of customer experiences. They have a great blog post here that dives into this ratio and the science behind it.
If you are looking to increase your electrolyte intake, LMNT is a product that has proven to be tried and true in my own health. Plus the health of dozens of clients too!
LMNT Ingredient List
Unlike other traditional electrolyte drinks and popular sports drink brands, LMNT isn't packed full of added sugar or unhealthy ingredients. Instead, it has zero sugar and fits within.a paleo diet and gluten-free diet.
Here are the ingredient lists for all their flavors (pulled directly from their website):
Raw Unflavored: Salt (Sodium Chloride), Magnesium Malate, Potassium Chloride.
Grapefruit Salt: Salt (Sodium Chloride), Citric Acid, Magnesium Malate, Potassium Chloride, Natural Flavors, Stevia Leaf Extract.
Orange Salt: Salt (Sodium Chloride), Citric Acid, Magnesium Malate, Potassium Chloride, Natural Flavors, Stevia Leaf Extract.
Citrus Salt: Salt (Sodium Chloride), Citric Acid, Magnesium Malate, Potassium Chloride, Natural Flavors, Stevia Leaf Extract.
Raspberry Salt: Salt (Sodium Chloride), Citric Acid, Magnesium Malate, Potassium Chloride, Natural Flavors, Stevia Leaf Extract.
Watermelon Salt: Salt (Sodium Chloride), Malic Acid, Magnesium Malate, Potassium Chloride, Natural Watermelon Flavor, Stevia Leaf Extract.
Mango Chili: Salt (Sodium Chloride), Malic Acid, Magnesium Malate, Potassium Chloride, Natural Mango Flavor, Natural Chili Flavor, Stevia Leaf Extract.
Chocolate Salt: Salt (Sodium Chloride), Cocoa Powder, Magnesium Malate, Potassium Chloride, Natural Chocolate Flavor, Stevia Leaf Extract.
Chocolate Caramel: Salt (Sodium Chloride), Cocoa Powder, Magnesium Malate, Potassium Chloride, Natural Chocolate Flavor, Stevia Leaf Extract.
As you can see, some of the flavors include citric acid as a preservative. This is what LMNT says about how they source it :
"Our citric acid is manufactured by a submerged fermentation process which employs a strain of the micro-organism aspergillus niger to convert a dextrose carbohydrate substrate into citric acid. Aspergillus Niger is a ubiquitous, non-GMO, and non-pathogenic organism. The citric acid we use is rigorously tested and does not contain corn."
LMNT uses the latest nutritional science and natural ingredients to support your physical and mental health, unlike other popular electrolyte drinks that have artificial ingredients, a large amount of sugar, and lack adequate electrolytes for hydration. I have also found that it mixes better than other electrolyte drinks 👏
How I Use LMNT
While writing this, I am currently breastfeeding my son. I also try to stay active with daily workouts and use the sauna multiple times per week. All of these play a role in my body's need for hydration and electrolytes.
Currently I am drinking 1-2 packets of LMNT per day. I notice that it helps keep my breastmilk supply up, supports my energy levels, and I recover well from workouts. I have tried many electrolyte mixes but ultimately have always come back to LMNT and really believe it to be the best electrolyte drink mix.
Personally my favorite flavor is the Orange Salt, but also love the Mango Chili as a mocktail when the weather gets warmer. I simply mix it with ~20 ounces of water in a water bottle and drink it within the first hour or so of waking. If I am going to use another stick packs later in the day, it's usually after a heavy workout or increased activity. level, or sauna session where I am sweating a lot (because your body loses lots of salt through sweat)!
Related Reads:
Nourishing + Supportive Breastfeeding Drinks
diy LMNT recipe
If you are interested in meeting your electrolyte needs but want to make a tasty electrolyte drink mix on your own, LMNT shares a few recipes on their website.
But here is the standard recipe:
½ teaspoon salt provides about 1 gram sodium
400 mg potassium chloride provides about 200 mg potassium
¼ teaspoon of magnesium malate provides about 60 mg magnesium
This would be comparable to the Raw Unflavored version of LMNT. Seriously love that they share this publically on their site, truly making the benefits of high-quality electrolyte accessible to all.
Who Should Not Drink LMNT
Ultimately, that is the decision for you and your healthcare provider. There are some medical conditions where watching your sodium and potassium intake are very important (like people on certain medications, renal disorders, people struggling with fluid retention issues, or high blood pressure to name a few). Remember, nothing on this page is medical advice, and do your due diligence with your health and wellness.
Wanting to try LMNT? If you order through any of the links in this post, a free sample pack of flavors will be added to your LMNT orders! This is my favorite way to try new flavors.
latest on the blog
Curious about colostrum? I tried it for 6 weeks to let you know my experience 🤠