Sometimes plain water is exactly what you need.
Other times, you’ve been hiking for hours, sweating through a workout, or working outside in the heat.
That’s where an electrolyte drink can come in.
The best electrolyte drink should be easy to use, taste good enough that you actually want to drink it, and provide minerals that make sense for hydration.
Heart & Soil Electrolytes was built around that idea, with six key minerals and two formulas for different kinds of days.
The information in this blog is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider if you’re seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Key Takeaways
- Electrolyte drinks provide minerals involved in fluid balance, nerve signaling, and muscle function.
- The best electrolyte drink should provide nutrients based on your goals without unnecessary ingredients.
- Unsweetened has 0 grams of added sugar and is designed for everyday activity and moderate exercise.
- Coconut Nectar contains more carbohydrates and potassium, making it the more fuel-forward option for higher-output days.
- Both formulas mix with 12–16 ounces of water, so you can adjust the flavor and concentration to your preference.
Table of Contents
When Does an Electrolyte Drink Make Sense?
You don’t need an electrolyte drink every time you’re thirsty. For many everyday situations, water works just fine.
The best electrolytes drink becomes more relevant when you’re losing more fluid and minerals through sweat.
That might include:
- A hard workout
- A long hike
- Outdoor work
- Hot-weather activity
- Travel days
- Long periods of physical activity
- Any situation where you’re sweating considerably more than usual
Sweat isn’t just water. A whole-body sweat study found sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in the sweat of healthy adults exercising in hot and humid conditions (1).
The exact amount varies from person to person, which is one reason hydration doesn’t look exactly the same for everyone.
When Should You Drink Electrolytes?
Before Activity
If you’re heading into a long workout, hike, outdoor job, or hot-weather activity, having an electrolyte drink ready can help you start prepared.
The goal isn’t to “load up” unnecessarily. If you’re already well hydrated, plain water may be enough before activity.
During Activity
During longer or sweatier sessions, drinking electrolytes along the way can help replace some of the fluid and minerals you’re losing.
Try not to wait until you already feel significantly dehydrated. Starting earlier can make it easier to stay ahead of your losses.
After Activity
After a hard workout, long hike, or anything that leaves you noticeably sweaty, an electrolyte drink can help replace some of the fluid and minerals you lost.
In simple terms: prepare ahead when you expect heavy sweating, drink during longer sessions, and replenish afterward when needed.
What About Plain Water?
Plain water still has an important place.
If you’re sitting at your desk, taking an easy walk, or having a normal low-activity day, you may not need an electrolyte drink every time you reach for your water bottle.
Electrolytes are a tool. They become especially useful when your day involves more sweat, heat, exercise, or fluid loss than usual.
What’s in the Best Electrolyte Drink?
The best electrolyte drink should provide the six minerals you’re body needs:
- Sodium
- Chloride
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Phosphorus
In Heart & Soil’s Electrolytes, those minerals come from organic coconut water powder, ancient mineral salt, seawater magnesium, and microcrystalline hydroxyapatite derived from bovine bone.
The formulas also contain no artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, preservatives, fillers, synthetic vitamins, or added flow agents.
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Unsweetened or Coconut Nectar?
Heart & Soil makes two electrolyte drinks once mixed with water: Unsweetened and Coconut Nectar.
They share the same basic mineral foundation but are designed for slightly different situations.
| Unsweetened | Coconut Nectar | |
| Sodium | 950 mg | 950 mg |
| Chloride | 1,816 mg | 1,816 mg |
| Potassium | 330 mg | 520 mg |
| Magnesium | 175 mg | 176 mg |
| Calcium | 310 mg | 320 mg |
| Phosphorus | 42 mg | 42 mg |
| Carbohydrate | 8 g | 15 g |
| Added sugar | 0 g | 8 g |
| Calories | 30 | 60 |
Choose Unsweetened for Everyday Hydration
Unsweetened is the simpler option for regular days.
The 8 grams of carbohydrate come naturally from organic coconut water powder, with 0 grams of added sugar.
It can work well for:
- Everyday hydration
- Yoga classes
- Mild workouts
- Walks
- Working outside
- Travel
- Days when you want electrolytes without added sugar
Choose Coconut Nectar for Higher-Output Days
Coconut Nectar starts with the same mineral foundation but adds organic coconut sugar.
That brings total carbohydrate to 15 grams, including 8 grams of added sugar, while also increasing potassium to 520 mg per serving.
It’s the more fuel-forward option for situations like:
- Longer workouts
- Hard training sessions
- Extended hikes
- Hot days with significant sweating
- Longer periods of physical activity
Carbohydrate isn’t included just to make the drink sweet. A modest amount of carbohydrate has a functional role in an electrolyte drink.
Glucose and sodium can be transported together across the intestinal lining through a transporter called SGLT1. That relationship is one of the physiological principles behind glucose-electrolyte rehydration solutions (2).
How Much Water Should You Use?
Mix one scoop of either Heart & Soil Electrolytes formula with 12–16 ounces of water. But if you want a stronger flavor, you can use less water. Or use more water if you want something lighter that you can sip over a longer period.
That flexibility is one advantage of mixing your own electrolyte drink from powder instead of relying on a pre-mixed bottle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best electrolyte drink?
A good electrolyte drink should provide meaningful amounts of key minerals, in their bioavailable forms, without unnecessary ingredients.
Can I drink electrolytes every day?
Electrolyte needs vary based on diet, activity, environment, and sweat losses. Some people use electrolyte drinks regularly, while others mainly use them around exercise or hot weather.
Which Heart & Soil Electrolytes formula should I choose?
Unsweetened is the lower-carbohydrate option with no added sugar. Coconut Nectar contains additional carbohydrate and potassium and is designed as the more fuel-forward formula.
Does the best electrolyte drink need sugar?
Not necessarily. However, glucose can assist sodium transport in the small intestine, so carbohydrate can serve a physiological purpose in some hydration formulas.
How much water should I mix with electrolyte powder?
Mix one scoop of Heart & Soil Electrolytes with 12–16 ounces of water. You can adjust the amount of water according to your taste preference.
Related Reading
- Electrolytes for Fasting: 5 Reasons They’re Valuable
- Electrolyte Imbalance: Signs to Pay Attention To
- Sugar-Free Electrolyte Powder: What to Know Before You Buy
The Bottom Line
The best electrolyte drink is the one that fits what your day actually demands.
For everyday hydration and moderate activity, Heart & Soil Unsweetened provides six key minerals with no added sugar.
For longer, harder, or sweatier days, Coconut Nectar adds more potassium and carbohydrate from organic coconut nectar.
Both formulas provide sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus from coconut water, seawater, ancient mineral salt, and bovine bone matrix.
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