Electrolytes have had a glow-up. Once the preserve of marathon runners and people in a lot of Lycra, they now live in kitchen cupboards up and down the country.
Here's the thing nobody on the tub tells you: most of them were built for sweating buckets. Big doses of salt, plenty of sugar, flavours that taste like a science experiment. Brilliant at mile 20. A bit much when the hardest thing you've done today is a Teams call.
So here's the straight-talking version: what's in them, what's worth having, and what to leave on the shelf.
What's actually in an electrolyte powder?
Electrolytes are minerals that carry a tiny electrical charge once they hit water. Four do most of the work:
- Sodium: the one in salt, lost when you sweat.
- Potassium: the banana mineral.
- Magnesium: busy in hundreds of processes in the body.
- Calcium: not just for bones and teeth.
Here's what's in every Spruce Daily Electrolytes sachet:
All with 0g sugar, plus vitamin C, B1, B3, B12 and zinc. Potassium contributes to normal muscle function, and magnesium contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
Five things to check before you buy
- SugarPlenty of electrolyte drinks are basically squash with a gym membership. For every day, you want 0g.
- SodiumSports formulas can pack a serious dose, made for heavy sweating. UK adults are advised to keep salt under 6g a day (about 2.4g of sodium), and most of us hit that from food already. An everyday powder doesn't need to pile more on: a Spruce sachet has 120mg, about 5% of that limit.
- The other mineralsSodium on its own is only one part of the picture. Look for potassium, magnesium and calcium too.
- What's sweetening itCheck the small print. Spruce uses stevia, so there's no sugar and nothing artificial doing the sweetening.
- TasteThe best electrolyte is the one you'll actually drink. If it tastes like a swimming pool, it'll live at the back of the cupboard.
Sachets, tubs or tablets?
| Sachets | Tubs | Fizzy tablets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In your bag | Yes, one per pocket | Good luck | Yes |
| Dose | Exact, every time | Scoop and guess | Exact |
| Mess | None | Powder on the worktop | None |
| Mixes into | Any glass or bottle | Any glass or bottle | Needs a wide glass to fizz |
Sachets win for everyday life. Tear, tip, top up. Thank us later.
Where Spruce fits
We're not a sports drink, and we're not trying to be. Spruce Daily Electrolytes are made for everyday water maxxing: getting more out of your water on the days that ask more of you. Training, travel, a hot commute, the morning after a big night, or just a long day running on coffee.
Water comes first. The minerals are the bonus. Real fruit, zero sugar, and a flavour that gets you to your next glass.
Water first. The minerals are the bonus.
Do you need electrolytes every day?
If you eat a varied diet and drink enough, you're probably getting what you need from food. An everyday electrolyte is about making water easier to drink and topping up on the busy days. Our guide to drinking electrolytes every day goes deeper.
Electrolyte powder FAQs
Is electrolyte powder good for you?
It can be a handy way to make water more appealing and add a few minerals. For every day, choose a sugar-free one with a moderate amount of sodium, and save the high-sodium sports formulas for long, sweaty sessions.
When should I drink electrolytes?
Whenever your water needs a hand: around exercise, travelling, hot weather or a long busy day. Plenty of people have one in the morning and one mid-afternoon.
How do I use a Spruce electrolyte sachet?
Tear, tip into 300 to 500ml of water, stir or shake, and sip. Less water makes it bolder, more water makes it lighter.
Is Spruce electrolyte powder sugar free?
Yes. Every sachet has 0g sugar and is sweetened with stevia.
