Latest Update: 30 October 2024
Discover the Truth Behind Electrolytes: What Your Favorite Brands Aren’t Telling You
Mineral and electrolyte supplements are widely used to fill nutritional gaps, boost energy, support hydration, immunity, sleep, and more. The benefits are extensive—but with so many options, how can you choose the right supplement for your needs? At Functional Health SA, we’re here to help you cut through the marketing claims, make informed decisions, and find the product that truly supports your health goals.
What Are Minerals and Electrolytes?
Minerals are essential elements your body needs for functions like bone health, energy production, and immune support. They’re absorbed through the digestive system and work gradually to support long-term health. Electrolytes, on the other hand, are a specific type of mineral with an electric charge, allowing them to be absorbed quickly and directly into the bloodstream. This fast absorption makes electrolytes key for regulating immediate needs like fluid balance, muscle contraction, and nerve signaling. Not all minerals are electrolytes, but all electrolytes are minerals.
Why Are Minerals & Electrolytes Important?
Minerals and electrolytes are essential—our bodies can’t function without them. Think of it this way: our bodies communicate and operate through tiny electrical signals, much like how a jolt of electricity can restart a heart. Electrolytes play a critical role here by conducting electricity, allowing for smooth communication between cells, muscle contractions, nerve signaling, and even heartbeat regulation. As shown in our EC test, electrolytes facilitate this electrical flow, keeping processes like hydration, muscle function, and nerve communication balanced. Without the right balance, these systems can falter, leading to issues like cramps, fatigue, and even more serious disruptions.
What Do EC and PPM Tests Tell Us?
EC measures how well water can conduct electricity, correlating with the amount of electrolytes present. PPM measures total dissolved solids, including electrolytes. Together, they give a snapshot of the electrolyte concentration in a solution. However, these tests only provide a visual representation of the quantity, not the quality, of the electrolytes.
The Limits of EC and PPM Tests
While EC and PPM measurements can indicate the quantity of electrolytes present, they don’t reveal the specific types, their bioavailability, or how effectively they’re absorbed by your body. A high EC, for instance, might reflect a high concentration of sodium while overlooking other essential electrolytes needed for balanced health.
What to Look for in an Mineral & Electrolyte Product
After rigorous testing, we’ve ranked the top electrolyte solutions of 2024/25. Here’s how they performed:
Effectiveness Score
9.5 / 10
Naturally ionic minerals for maximum absorption.
Hypertonic and Isotonic concentrations.
Single-dose servings to prevent nutrient degradation.
Comprehensive mineral profile mimicking blood plasma.
Free from sugars, sweeteners, additives, and preservatives.
Unflavored taste may not suit everyone.
In a market full of additives, Quinton and Totum are a breath of fresh air. As the only unflavored, unsweetened electrolyte solution aside from basic salt, they meet every standard for a truly effective product.
Quinton and Totum are 100% natural, free from additives and contaminants, delivering over 78 ionic minerals and electrolytes in ratios that mirror blood plasma. Each mineral is offered in single-dose ampoules and sachets, ensuring nutrients stay potent while allowing optimal absorption and hydration.
By simplifying, not reinventing, they bring pure, mineral-rich ocean water from some of the most nutrient-dense areas to support both short-term, proven results and long-term health. Users report increased energy, better sleep, enhanced focus, and reduced muscle cramps—all sustainable for daily use, covering a wide range of needs and solidifying their position as a leading, bioavailable solution for overall wellness.
Effectiveness Score
7 / 10
Clean formulation with no artificial ingredients.
No sugar or calories.
Convenient sachet form.
Multiple Flavours
Limited mineral profile.
Requires dilution, making it harder to control the final product.
Contains flavoring and stevia.
In the electrolyte category, we found that while Revive and similar powdered forms offer a clean, sugar-free solution, they come with notable drawbacks. These products generally contain a limited range of three primary minerals, which require dilution in water—making it harder to measure accurate concentrations. Additionally, flavorings and sweeteners are common, which may not support long-term health due to potential impacts on gut health and taste receptors.
Sci-Core Salt also falls into this category but ranks behind Revive due to its inclusion of preservatives, maltodextrin, and other additives.
For those who prefer electrolytes with flavor, Revive stands as our preferred flavored option and is a step in the right direction. However, we found the taste somewhat artificial, and we prefer to avoid unnecessary ingredients that could compromise long-term health. Even when unflavored, these products don’t match the bioavailability, purity, or comprehensive mineral profile of Quinton, which set a high standard in our tests.
Effectiveness Score
6.5 / 10
No sweeteners, flavorings, or preservatives.
Natural source of bioavailable minerals and trace elements.
Cost-effective.
Limited mineral range.
Difficulty determining correct concentration (hypertonic, isotonic, hypotonic).
Potential contaminants like microplastics and heavy metals.
For those seeking a budget-friendly option, Celtic salt and similar natural salts emerged as our top choice. These salts offer a bioavailable source of minerals, primarily sodium chloride, along with trace amounts of a broader range of nutrients.
However, this category comes with important considerations: salt can crystallize around environmental contaminants like heavy metals and microplastics, making careful sourcing essential. For instance, Celtic salt has reportedly tested high in lead, while Himalayan salt has shown elevated levels of mercury. If opting for salt as an electrolyte source, we strongly recommend asking for analytical results to verify microplastic and heavy metal levels.
Additionally, calculating the final mineral concentrations when mixed with water is necessary for accurate dosing. While limited in mineral diversity and requiring attention to sourcing and concentration, salts remain an economical, natural, and bioavailable option.
Effectiveness Score
5 / 10
Comprehensive mineral profile with 92 elements.
100% natural.
Non-ionic minerals.
Requires digestion, not suitable for exercise.
Acts as a binder, risk of contaminants.
Sea moss provides a broad spectrum of minerals, giving it the largest mineral profile in our test. However, it falls short as an electrolyte source, as it contains minerals rather than electrolytes, limiting its use for exercise or fluid balance regulation. While this mineral variety can be appealing, the ratios are not aligned with human needs, which can lead to imbalances—particularly in elements like iodine.
Bioavailability and digestion are key concerns, as sea moss requires more digestive processing, and individual tolerances vary. Additionally, due to its binding properties, sea moss can accumulate environmental contaminants, making careful sourcing and requesting analytical tests for heavy metals and toxins essential. Though it may appeal to those seeking a natural supplement, sea moss is not ideal for athletes or those needing a balanced electrolyte solution.
Effectiveness Score
4 / 10
Cost-effective.
Widely available.
Generally well-received taste.
Limited electrolyte range.
Contains sweeteners, flavourings, and other additives.
Not ideal for long-term use.
We were pleasantly surprised by Rehidrat in our EC test, finding it highly effective for specific needs. Its carbohydrate content can be beneficial in certain circumstances, such as intense exercise, and it’s a product we can recommend for these targeted uses. However, as with other brands, Rehidrat falls short as a comprehensive mineral and electrolyte solution due to its limited mineral range and inclusion of additives like flavorings and sweeteners, making it less suitable for daily use.
That said, Rehidrat does not position itself as a daily health supplement, and we commend them for this honest approach. While ideal for short-term, intense activity, its reliance on synthetic minerals and additives limits its efficacy for those seeking a complete, long-term health and electrolyte solution.
Our overall health depends on the optimal function of our cells, and their performance is closely tied to the minerals and electrolytes they receive. These essential nutrients enable critical processes throughout the body, and when balanced, they bring a host of benefits that promote vitality and wellness.
Electrolytes help cells generate energy, improve mental clarity, and enhance focus.
Magnesium and other minerals support restful sleep, regulate the production of hormones like melatonin, and influence stress response systems. Balanced electrolytes ensure a calm, restorative night’s sleep by stabilizing the body's internal clock and aiding the production of neurotransmitters.
Electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium prevent muscle cramps, support recovery, and allow muscles to contract efficiently during physical activity.
Electrolytes control fluid balance within and outside of cells. This ensures proper hydration levels, which is vital for smooth cell communication, nutrient transportation, and waste removal.
A healthy electrolyte balance contributes to cell repair and skin hydration, reducing dryness and improving skin elasticity. Proper mineral intake also supports collagen synthesis, contributing to youthful, healthy-looking skin.
Electrolytes such as potassium help balance sodium levels, reducing blood pressure and supporting proper heart function. A healthy balance prevents strain on the cardiovascular system.
In today’s world, supplementing with minerals and electrolytes is more essential than ever. Modern farming, soil depletion, and processed foods have led to significant nutrient loss in our diets. Combined with exposure to environmental toxins and higher stress levels, our bodies need effective supplementation more than ever. Proper intake of electrolytes and minerals is crucial—not only for rehydration but for foundational health.
By maintaining an optimal electrolyte balance, you can prevent dehydration, fatigue, muscle cramps, and brain fog. Beyond hydration, these nutrients are vital for immune support, hormonal regulation, and long-term wellness.
Our review provides insights based on user experiences, brand information, and a scientific understanding of how these nutrients function. We are not endorsed by any brand; our goal is to help you make an informed choice. This guide is not conclusive, as we did not conduct laboratory tests, relying instead on existing studies and reported data.
We hope this guide helps you navigate your options and empowers you to choose what’s best for your health journey. The right electrolyte and mineral support is ultimately an investment in your vitality, now and for the future.
Please read this disclaimer carefully before using our website, www.functionalhealthsa.co.za, operated by Functional Health South Africa (“us”, “we”, “our”)…
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