Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. This content should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition or health issue. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

However, not all electrolyte supplements are created equal. Most powders and sports drinks are salt-based electrolytes , which are cheap to manufacture but don’t actually give you the minerals you need. 

At BEAM, we offer Electrolyze, an electrolyte supplement that actually makes a difference in your performance.

Here’s a closer look at electrolytes, why they matter, and why most mainstream electrolyte supplements don’t actually work.

The human body needs five electrolyte minerals to function:

• Sodium

• Potassium

• Magnesium

• Calcium

• Chloride

It’s important to have all the above electrolytes in the right balance.

Salt-Based Electrolytes Don’t Work Very Well

Sweating and dehydration are the two main ways we lose electrolytes. That’s why it’s a good idea to take an electrolyte supplement, especially after exercise or during the hotter months of the year.

The trouble is that most electrolyte supplements—especially powders, tablets, and sport drinks—are salt-based electrolytes .

As their name suggests, salt-based electrolytes are electrolytes bound in salt form. They’re cheap and stable, which makes them an attractive choice for supplement companies.

The most common salt-based electrolyte is sodium chloride, or table salt. It’s the same salt you use in cooking, and on paper, it’s the perfect electrolyte supplement. It dissolves into water and reaches your cells within minutes, providing both sodium and chloride, two essential electrolytes.

Table salt is also very cheap, so most electrolyte producers add a large amount of it to their supplements. Sodium chloride is usually the #1 ingredient in electrolyte drinks or powders, with a far greater quantity than other electrolyte salts.

The problem is that most of us don’t need more sodium. According to the latest data, the average American already consumes 160% more sodium than is healthy. [ * ] In fact, research suggests that one of the main benefits of exercise is that it removes excess sodium from your system, improving cardiovascular health. [ * ] Returning all that sodium to your body harms more than it helps.

What most of us need are the other electrolyte minerals: magnesium, calcium, potassium, and so on. In fact, potassium is the single most prevalent nutrient deficiency in America—only 3% of adults get enough of it. [ * ]

But unlike sodium, the salt forms of these other minerals do not dissolve well in water. If you add too much of them to an electrolyte powder, they’ll just settle at the bottom when mixed in liquid. Magnesium and potassium salts are also very bitter, and in meaningful quantities they would make an electrolyte powder too unpalatable to drink.

As a result, most electrolyte supplement companies only add token amounts of magnesium and potassium salts—usually between 5% and 10% of your daily recommended intake, or less.

If you want to see for yourself, check the label of your favorite electrolyte powder. You’ll likely see a huge amount of sodium (often around 1000 mg), with relatively tiny amounts of potassium and magnesium.

This formula may look impressive, but the truth is it doesn’t give you the electrolytes you need to actually replenish your stores and improve your performance. Salt-based electrolytes simply do not work very well.

Electrolyze: A Better Electrolyte Supplement

Here at BEAM Minerals, we take a different approach to electrolyte replenishment.

Our flagship electrolyte supplement, Electrolyze , contains no mineral salts. Instead, it’s made from fulvic substance, an electrolyte-rich component of soil.

Fulvic substance contains all five major electrolyte minerals in an ideal ratio. Instead of a massive amount of sodium without enough other electrolytes to compensate, fulvic offers balance.

Fulvic also improves bioavailability. Because most salt-based electrolytes don’t dissolve well in water, they struggle to integrate into your bloodstream and reach your cells. As a result, absorption is low with most mainstream electrolyte supplements.

But fulvic substance actually enhances absorption. It binds to minerals and carries them into your bloodstream, and because fulvic readily passes through your cell membranes, it delivers electrolytes straight to your cells within minutes of you taking it. It’s like a taxi cab for minerals.

In a 2015 study, researchers added fulvic acid to mineral supplements and measured their impact on magnesium and calcium absorption in the gut. They found that fulvic acid made magnesium 74% more bioavailable and calcium 60-104% more bioavailable . [ * ]

A 2018 study found similar results: fulvic acid improved the absorption of almost every essential mineral, including all electrolytes. [ * ]

In short, the fulvic acid in Electrolyze makes it a superior electrolyte supplement. It’s one of the most effective ways to replenish your electrolytes fast.

Upgrade Your Electrolyte Supplement Today

Electrolyze provides the full spectrum of electrolytes in a balanced ratio, with high bioavailability and rapid absorption.

It’s also easy to take. Because it’s so concentrated, all you do is drink a half-ounce shot of Electrolyze each morning. It tastes like water and gives you the electrolytes you need in 30 seconds a day.

If you want to upgrade your electrolyte supplement, give Electrolyze a try. You’ll feel the difference as soon as you take it.