Water Is Essential, but Not Enough to Keep You Hydrated
Water is the primary component of bodily fluids and plays a crucial role in many of the body's metabolic processes. It regulates body temperature, aids in digestion, and helps transport nutrients and oxygen to cells. Consuming adequate amounts of water daily is essential, we all know that — but we also need electrolytes too if we really want to ensure proper hydration*.
Why Are Electrolytes Important for Hydration?
Electrolytes are charged minerals that move water where it needs to go — and we lose them as we sweat.*
Electrolytes are essential minerals in our bodies that have an electrical charge. Their unique chemical properties help balance and regulate bodily fluids and support muscle and nerve function.
Throughout the day, our bodies use and lose electrolytes. For instance, we lose sodium through the skin when we sweat. Though water contains trace amounts of electrolytes, it won't be enough to keep you hydrated over an extended period of time. At times, more electrolytes are required to restore the body's optimal state to avoid dehydration.
The Top 4 Times You Need More Electrolytes
Workouts, pregnancy, keto and your senior years all ramp up your electrolyte needs.*
Dehydration happens when the body loses more fluids than it takes in. When we become dehydrated, water is still essential, but our bodies will need electrolytes to recover more quickly. The severity of dehydration depends on various factors, such as the intensity of physical activity, climate, diet, and other underlying health conditions.
When do you need electrolytes the most?
4 times you need more electrolytes
Tap or hover any card to see why.
1. After an Intense Workout
Sweat is water plus sodium — replace both, not just the water.*
We sweat out a significant amount of fluids after an intense workout. Exercising during hot weather can make our body lose about 3 liters of water per hour. Sweat isn't just water; it's also made up of sodium and other electrolytes. So, chugging plenty of water may quench your thirst, but it won't be enough to rehydrate your cells*.
In fact, drinking too much water may lead to hyponatremia — a condition where your body retains water but flush out all essential minerals, particularly sodium.
If you do a lot of exercise or endurance activities, especially in hot environments, it's best to slide in a packet of electrolyte powder like Root'd to add to your drink instead of just chugging plenty of plain water. It's necessary to replace both the fluid and electrolytes; otherwise, you're gonna risk feeling like crap (and who wants that?
2. While Pregnant
Morning sickness drains fluids and minerals fast — replenish both.*
Morning sickness affects roughly 70% of pregnant moms1. Common symptoms include vomiting, nausea, increased sweating, and frequent bathroom trips, which speed up the loss of water and electrolytes. Worse, heartburn and indigestion make eating uncomfortable and less enjoyable, so replacing lost nutrients with food alone can be a real struggle during pregnancy.
We highly recommend taking prenatal vitamins with electrolytes to help you replenish lost fluids and vital electrolytes to relieve dehydration quickly.
3. When On a Restricted Diet Like Keto
Cutting carbs flushes sodium, potassium and magnesium — the "keto flu" culprits.*
The Keto diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that promotes weight loss and improved overall health by putting the body into ketosis2 — a state in which it burns fat for energy rather than carbs. During this process, the body produces ketones, which may increase urine frequency and lead to dehydration.
The restricted carbohydrate intake on a keto diet can lead to lower levels of electrolytes, including sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Supplementing your diet with a keto-friendly multivitamin can help alleviate electrolyte deficiency. Just remember that not all supplements are created equal. Some vitamins, such as gummies, contain an insane amount of sugar that slows down the absorption of nutrients instead of boosting hydration in your body*. (More on this below)
4. During Senior Years
Aging bodies regulate fluids less efficiently — and some meds speed mineral loss.*
As we age, our bodies become less efficient in absorbing and regulating body fluids. Certain medications used to treat heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes (which are common among seniors) can cause the body to excrete more electrolytes than usual.
Due to slower metabolism, dental issues, and other inevitable changes brought by aging, getting all the essential nutrients from food alone becomes more challenging.
Staying healthy and hydrated can take more effort for older adults, so choosing the best supplement for senior is vital to prevent malnutrition and dehydration.
Don’t Fall For “So-Called” Healthy Electrolyte Drinks (Slash Sports Drinks)
Many "sports" drinks are sugar bombs with artificial extras — not real hydration.*
Sports drinks are popular among athletes and are often promoted to hydrate and replenish electrolytes lost during intense physical activity. However, these "so-called" electrolyte-infused beverages often contain high amounts of sugar and artificial ingredients, which can cause more harm than good.
3 Reasons Sugar-Filled Electrolytes Can Cause More Harm Than Good
Excess sugar can add fat, pull water from your cells and stress them — three ways it backfires.*
1. Causes Weight Gain
Extra sugar the body can't use gets stored as fat.*
A study3 conducted on a specific age group revealed that sports drinks could produce more fat than sodas. Researchers found that those who regularly consumed one soda a day gained an additional two pounds of weight, whereas those who consumed at least one sports drink a day gained extra three and a half pounds of fat on their bodies.
When too much sugar is in the bloodstream, the pancreas releases insulin, which allows sugar to enter cells. Sugar may provide short-term energy for cells, but excess sugar is stored as fat4.
2. Triggers Dehydration
High sugar pulls water out of your cells instead of into them.*
While you may feel instantly recharged after gulping a bottle of Gatorade or taking a Liquid IV, their high sugar content actually pulls out more water from your body*. It's because as the concentration of sugar increases, water moves out of cells to balance the concentration of sugar outside of the cell — also known as osmotic stress response.5
3. Reduces Cell Function
Dehydrated cells get stressed — which can impair nerves and more.*
Since water comprises approximately 70% of the cell content, osmotic stress can cause critical cell damage that can lead to various health issues depending on the type of cell and the extent of the impairment. For example, if nerve cells are damaged, it can lead to problems with movement, sensation, or cognitive function.
Hydrate Better With Root’d
Root'd delivers 3X electrolytes plus vitamins and minerals — with zero added sugar.*
In most cases, the human body is good at maintaining fluid balance. But when we're in a state of dehydration, drinking water is not enough — we also need an extra boost of electrolytes!
But hey! Before reaching for a bottle of sports drinks, remember that their high sugar content slows down water absorption into the bloodstream even more. What you need is a sugar-free electrolyte supplement like Root'd!
Water + electrolytes vs. plain water
Root'd pairs water with 3X electrolytes, vitamins and minerals — no added sugar.*
Root'd upgrades your hydration game by providing 3X electrolytes PLUS a bunch of other essential vitamins and minerals, probiotics, and organic superfoods. It's chock full of the natural and most active form of vitamins for much better absorption.
Ready to level up your hydration game?
Shop Root'd now, and get 15% off your first order with code Better-Hydration. Always free shipping, and if you don't feel a noticeable difference in 24 days, just let us know, and it's on us! That's our love guarantee!
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FAQs
Water & electrolytes
Usually, yes — but not always. When you've lost a lot of fluid (through sweat, illness or a restricted diet), plain water can't replace the sodium and other electrolytes you need, so your cells stay under-hydrated. Pairing water with electrolytes restores the balance.*
The big four: after an intense workout, during pregnancy (morning sickness), on a low-carb diet like keto, and in your senior years — all of which increase fluid and mineral loss.*
They can backfire. High sugar pulls water out of your cells to balance concentrations, which can actually leave you more dehydrated — plus the extra calories can be stored as fat.*
Root'd is a sugar-free hydration multivitamin that delivers 3X electrolytes plus vitamins, minerals, probiotics and organic superfoods in the most absorbable forms — third-party tested, with no added sugar.*
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