There is a new kid on the block MetapWR
Recharge and I have been looking forward to it arriving. So I wanted to see how this new doterra electrolyte drink compared with other electrolyte drinks. But first of all what are they?
Well they are beverages that contain minerals like sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium and they are called electrolytes because they carrying an electrical charge when dissolved in fluid and they play a crucial role in many bodily functions:
Maintaining fluid balance by helping regulate the amount of water in and around your cells.
Muscle contractions - electrolytes are essential for muscle function including heart muscle and an imbalance can cause heart arrhythmias and problems with skeletal muscle.
Nerve transmission - electrolytes help transmit signals between your nerves and muscles.
pH balance - electrolytes help maintain the correct acid base balance in your body which is crucial for enzyme function, cellular function, oxygen transport and more.
Now electrolyte drinks can be beneficial in certain situations such as exercise of more than 30 minutes that causes you to sweat which can lead to electrolyte loss so replacing electrolytes can help prevent dehydration and improve performance.
During illness, conditions such as diarrhoea and vomiting or sweating due to fever can cause significant electrolyte loss so these drinks will help rehydrate and restore electrolyte balance. Not forgetting thos pesky hot flushes too!
In hot weather where there is an increase of sweating and electrolyte loss, these drinks can help prevent dehydration.
Conditions where you might become dehydrated succeed as flying or simply work when you don’t get a chance to drink!
But it is important to note that these are not necessary for everyone so if you are for example not doing a lot of exercise or anything like that you may not need them and there is also some people that should not have them:
People with kidney disease because the impaired kidney function can affect the body's ability to regulate electrolyte levels and excessive electrolytes can cause harm because the body can't balance them.
Certain heart conditions such as heart failure can also be sensitive to high sodium intake so you may need to use these with caution or avoid if you have high blood pressure as the high sodium content in many electrolyte drinks can raise blood pressure and individuals with hypertension should choose low sodium options or consult their doctor who unfortunately probably won't know and simply advise against it.
Individuals on certain medications such as diuretics and certain blood pressure medications can affect electrolyte balance so you need to be mindful as using electrolyte drinks in conjunction with these medications can cause problems and may require careful monitoring. Diuretics both non potassium sparing and potassium sparing ones can potentially cause electrolyte imbalances. ACE inhibitors and Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers can cause potassium levels to rise so combining them with electrolyte drinks with potassium could lead to high potassium levels.
So it is important to monitor for side effects such as muscle weakness, fatigue, irregular heartbeat and dizziness.
Infants and young children are generally not recommended to take these drinks as they don't need the extra electrolytes and if they've got sugar in it it can be a concern.
Diabetics can be affected by the sugar content in many electrolyte drinks as this will affect blood sugar levels so you if you've got diabetes you should only ever have sugar-free.
Electrolyte imbalances after exercise can lead to a whole range of health consequences some of which can be quite serious, muscle cramps when your body loses too much sodium and other electrolytes through sweat it can disrupt muscle function leading to painful cramp these are especially common in calves hamstrings and feet, these imbalances can leave you feeling fatigued weak and generally drained even after rest. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances can trigger headaches dizziness and light headedness and these can occur due to a drop in blood pressure caused by fluid and electrolyte loss and in severe cases it can develop into rhabdomyolysis which is a serious medical condition that involves the breakdown of muscle tissue. This breakdown releases muscle fibre content such as myoglobin into the bloodstream which can damage the kidneys and lead to kidney failure. One of the causes of this is strenuous exercise prolonged or intense exercise especially in hot weather and electrolyte imbalance increases this risk. Potassium imbalances can disrupt the heart rhythm particularly leading to dangerous arrythmias, confusion and irritability and seizures.
So there can be a definite need for them and certainly I suffer terribly with migraines if I exercise before breakfast no matter how much water I drink or what I eat as a snack- so far I have to have protein smoothie (for those electrolytes) for my migraines not to be triggered literally nothing else works.
So with that out of the way what are the things to consider when you are choosing an electrolyte drink.
So first of all sugar content a lot of these drinks are very high in sugar so you want to look for low sugar or sugar-free.
Next sodium content as too much sodium can raise blood pressure so people with high blood pressure should choose low sodium options. Other ingredients you want to look at are whether they've got any artificial colours flavours or sweeteners so you want natural ones.
Now what about the optimum levels of electrolytes in drinks these can vary depending on individual needs and activity levels so I asked Gemini AIt
The first part of the answer I got here is that there is no real consensus
A 1 : 3 ratio of sodium to potassium is often cited as a desirable target for overall health but it's not universally accepted or a proven standard but why this is emphasized is because firstly high sodium intake is linked to high blood pressure and potassium helps counteract this effect by relaxing blood vessels. For optimal heart health a lower sodium to potassium ratio is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular problems and overall health.
Maintaining a balance between these two electrolytes is crucial for various bodily functions including nerve transmission and muscle contractions and fluid balance.
Important considerations such as the ideal ratio can vary depending on factors like age, health conditions, activity levels and medication.
Recommended intake for sodium RDI is 2000 milligrams from the World Health Organisation but the American heart Association recommends limiting sodium intake to 1500 milligrams per day interestingly the British Heart Foundation has guidance that doubles that amount despite the impact on the heart. Adult electrolyte drinks typically contain sodium chloride which is 40% sodium by weight therefore a typical electrolyte drink might contain 100 to 200 milligrams of sodium per serving.
Potassium the recommended daily intake for potassium is 3,400 milligrams for men and 2,600 milligrams for women - more due to the apparent lack in diets and its benefits for the heart. Electrolyte drinks typically contain potassium chloride which is 52% potassium by weight therefore a typical electrolyte drink might contain 100 to 200 milligrams of potassium per serving.
Calcium the recommended daily intake for calcium is 1,000 milligrams and electrolyte drinks typically contain calcium carbonate which is sodium calcium by weight therefore a typical electrolyte drink might contain 100 to 200 milligrams of calcium magnesium.
The recommended daily intake for magnesium is 400 milligrams for men and 310 milligrams for women electrolyte drinks typically contain magnesium chloride which is 25% magnesium by weight therefore a typical electrolyte drink might contain 50 to 100 milligrams of magnesium per serving.
This is a general guide and the optimal levels of electrolytes for you may depend on your individual needs.
So how does MetaPWR Recharge compare well once again I used my new bestie Gemini AI and asked what were the best electrolyte drinks on the market currently and it came up with for different types.
So first of all we had the electrolyte drink Hydrant which is popular for its balanced electrolyte blend and regular flavour. Then we had Liquid IV which claims to hydrate 2 -3 times faster than water due to its Cellular Transport Technology. Then we had LMNT which focuses on electrolytes without added sugar or artificial sweeteners making it a good choice for those watching their intake. Shockinglyly given what I learnt above is that LMNT had a whopping 1000mg sodium and the rest you can see in the table.
And then we had Skratch Labs which is designed for athletes and includes carbohydrates for sustained energy.
Cost wise MetaPWR
Recharge worked out cheaper than all of them and I think very favourable in terms of electrolyte balances but Recharge doesn’t just contain electrolytes - let me tell you more.
Baobab - Emerging preclinical research suggests baobab extract enhances cellular water transport, meaning your cells can stay hydrated for longer.
Ginseng - Larger-dose studies have linked ginseng with lowering cellular oxidative stress and supporting higher energy production in cells.
74 Trace Minerals -sourced from rare red algae found only in Iceland and Ireland, this complex delivers essential trace nutrients absorbed from the sea during the algae's growth phase.
Liposomal delivery can increase absorption by several hundred percent compared to standard powders or tablets, providing enhanced nutrient absorption and nutrient retention.
All in all it is a comprehensive drink and I am looking forward to adding this to my regime not just my pre and post runs but those days at work when I am not hydrating well as well.
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