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As a wellness editor, I have tried more than my fair share of electrolyte products over the past 5 years. To be frank: it’s pretty hard to tell the difference between them. Every brand has its unique ‘take’ on why their formulation is better than all the others, and as a consumer, it’s a lot to keep up with. That’s where I come in!
A Quick TL;DR on Electrolytes
To take a few steps back, I think it’s worth briefly explaining electrolytes in the first place. While we used to view simply drinking water as the path to staying hydrated, over the past decade or so, we’ve learned that electrolytes – like sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium – are the tools that help your body actually use the water you drink for things like fluid balance, muscle support, and nerve function.
When you sweat, travel, work out, experience stress, or even just drink a lot of plain water, you lose electrolytes. Without replacing them, your body can struggle to stay properly hydrated – no matter how much water you’re sipping.
That’s what the onslaught of electrolyte brands are hoping to help you accomplish. There are a lot of them, and they’re different in impactful ways. After seeing some buzz around Live it Up’s Vital Minerals formula, I decided to check it out – and put it to the test against one of the more popular brands I’ve spent a lot of my money on over the years. Here’s how it went…
The Contenders
Live it Up Vital Minerals: TQE’s wellness editors raved about this brand’s greens formula last year, and its ethos is similar to Vital Minerals’: while many popular supplement brands are designed for intense athletes, Live it Up take a more wellness-forward angle with a formula that’s meant to support daily hydration, not just intense sweat sessions.
LMNT: One of the most recognizable electrolyte brands on the market – especially in fitness and endurance circles – LMNT has received a lot of acclaim from athletes, podcasters, and other wellness experts for its emphasis on ‘more salt.’
Formula Philosophy
Vital Minerals: This formula takes an intentionally balanced approach with 500mg of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, plus trace minerals inside. It’s also worth noting that the sodium-to-potassium ratio is 1:1, which is pretty close to what most people need for everyday hydration (2:1 or 3:1 is generally recommended) versus peak performance.
LMNT: LMNT’s formula includes 1000 mg sodium, 200 mg potassium, and 60 mg magnesium, which you’ll notice is really high compared to Vital Minerals (and many other options on the market). The brand is unapologetically high-sodium, as it’s designed for people who sweat heavily, train intensely, or follow very low-carb or keto diets where sodium needs are higher. As such, its sodium to potassium ratio is 5:1, which is significantly higher than Vital Minerals’ – closer to what’s generally recommended for everyday hydration.
Winner: depends on use case
Ingredients & Sweeteners
Vital Minerals: Beyond the electrolytes mentioned above, this formula is sweetened with a monk fruit and stevia blend, with no added sugar, artificial sweeteners, dyes, or fillers. A few other things worth noting: the calcium (an electrolyte that’s often left out of other blends) supports muscle and nerve function beyond basic hydration and the addition of vitamin C also sets it apart. Overall, this formula is designed with everyday use in mind.
LMNT: LMNT takes a deliberately minimalist, sodium-forward approach. It skips calcium and trace minerals entirely in favor of potency and simplicity, and is sweetened with stevia in flavored versions (with a raw, unflavored option available). Like Vital Minerals, it contains no sugar, artificial sweeteners, or fillers.
Winner: Vital Minerals
Taste & Drinkability
Vital Minerals: I write this often, but that’s because it’s true: no matter how beneficial a product is, I’m not going to stick with it if it’s hard to stomach. Thankfully, Vital Minerals shines in this department. It comes in Lemon Lime and Pomegranate Mango flavors and is really mild and easy to sip (especially compared to LMNT), even first thing in the morning or throughout the day. Simply put, it’s easy to incorporate into my day-to-day (so much so that I actually enjoy drinking it).
LMNT: As you can probably imagine based on everything you’ve read so far, this stuff is salty. It’s also available in 10 flavors, from fruity to chocolate-y. I’ve grown used to it so it doesn’t bother me anymore, but it’s definitely tough for others. It tastes like something that’s good for you post workout, but not something you’d want to casually sip on throughout your day.
Winner: Vital Minerals
Cost & Value
Vital Minerals: It depends how you’re shopping, as subscribing will save you a lot on Vital Minerals. For a 30-day supply, it costs $44.99 for a one-time purchase or $29.95 if you subscribe. Because it’s a scoop format, you can also adjust serving size depending on your needs (something I’ve come to appreciate for daily use).
LMNT: Same situation here: for 30 sticks, LMNT costs $45 as a one-time purchase or $39 if you subscribe. LMNT is proportioned into individual sticks.
Winner: Vital Minerals
Which One’s Best For You?
I’m inclined to more generally recommend Vital Minerals to an everyday person looking for a little boost in their daily hydration and natural energy levels. It’s a balanced option designed for normal life, it tastes great, and it’ll only run you ~$1/day if you subscribe.
LMNT is a solid option if you’re doing a lot of HIIT workouts, endurance training, or intense travel.
Overall, it’s important to remember that anything in the wellness world isn’t one-size-fits-all – and the “strongest” formula isn’t always the smartest choice. The best option is the one that fits your lifestyle, your activity level, and your body.
