There is a growing popularity of sports drinks among athletes, sports teams, and gym-goers. As a result of hydrating and replacing electrolytes after intense exercise, they can be beneficial. There are a variety of sports drinks available to meet a variety of needs. 

Our bodies are rehydrated and fuelled by electrolytes and carbohydrates found in most of them. A sports drink’s carbohydrate and electrolyte content will depend on your activity. Choosing one that enhances your performance requires knowing what to look for.

A variety of sports drinks are available on the market, including ready-to-drink beverages, powders, and tablets for mixing with water. If you choose a product, keep in mind what you need regarding electrolytes, fuel, and hydration. In addition to flavor, carbohydrate, and electrolyte content, and the quality of the ingredients, a product’s quality was assessed. 

And based on our evaluation, the best healthy sports drinks with electrolytes, according to dietitians, are:

Sports Hydration Drink Mix by Skratch Labs is the best overall

Need a sports drink with the right ingredients and nutrition to keep you going? A top pick among sports drinks is Skratch Labs Sport Hydration Drink Mix. For optimal recovery and rehydration, each scoop contains 80 calories and 21 grams of carbohydrates, as well as 380 milligrams of sodium. 

Skratch hydration mixes come in strawberry lemonade, lemon-lime, summer peach, and fruit punch flavors. With natural fruit flavors and a refreshing taste, they’ll encourage you to drink more. No artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners are used in Skratch products, which are gluten-free, dairy-free, kosher, and non-GMO.

In addition to the resealable stand-up pouch, single-serve packets are conveniently available. Add one scoop of powder to 12-16 ounces of water to hydrate and refuel.

They are indeed one of the most popular healthy sports drinks with electrolytes that people love to drink.

Advantages

• Recovering from exercise requires carbohydrates
• You can replenish the lost electrolytes by sweating
• Sweeteners and colors are not artificial

Disadvantages

• The sugar content may not be tolerated by some people. 

The best on-the-go electrolyte drink mix is Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier Drink Mix

Taking your sports drink with you on the go is easy with Liquid I.V. because it can easily be tossed in your gym bag. After a hard workout, you can refuel and rehydrate with these packets containing 11 grams of carbohydrates and 500 milligrams of sodium. For a complete post-workout recovery, pair this with carbohydrate-containing foods.

The liquid I.V. is available in a pina colada, lemon-lime, and acai berry flavors, so you’re sure to find one you love. Besides vitamins B3, B5, B12, and vitamin C, Liquid I.V. also contains other essential nutrients that are important for active individuals. Gluten, soy, and dairy are also free from this product. It is also one of those pretty healthy sports drinks with electrolytes to replenish your body.

Pros

• Easy to take on the go
• Higher sodium content for heavy sweating

Cons

• Lower carbohydrate content

The best endurance fuel with caffeine is Tailwind Nutrition Caffeinated Endurance Fuel

Athletes can hydrate and replenish electrolytes while on the go with Tailwind Endurance Fuel. You can replace what you lose in sweat with 310 milligrams of sodium in each serving. In addition to electrolytes, Tailwind includes sugars such as dextrose and sucrose, making it a convenient fuel source during exercise. Those who prefer to avoid consuming bars, gels, chews, or whole foods while exercising might find this to be a practical option. Besides being non-GMO and soy-free, Tailwind is also vegan-friendly and dairy-free.

The product contains 35 milligrams of caffeine, a substance that has been shown to boost athletic performance in studies. You may not be able to tolerate this if you are sensitive to caffeine. If you’re caffeine sensitive, you can look for other healthy sports drinks with electrolytes to refuel yourself.

If you intend to use Tailwind during a race, make sure you practice with it beforehand.

The pros

• For a boost of energy, it contains caffeine
• Increased carbohydrate requirements can be met with this product
• Neither artificial flavors nor dyes are present in this product
• Per serving, it is more affordable than other options

The cons

• Caffeine may cause sensitivity in some people.

Best Ready-to-Drink: Gatorade Endurance Formula

Most people think of Gatorade when they think of sports drinks. Gatorade was created in 1965 by a football coach from the University of Florida, home of the Albert and Alberta Gators. As a thirst-quenching drink, it was created with athletes in mind to replenish and recover after a tough workout. Therefore, it is one of the most popular healthy sports drinks with electrolytes that you can find everywhere.

This drink contains electrolytes and carbohydrates, which are lost during sweating, and have a sweet flavor to entice you to drink it. This go-to sports beverage has been a favorite since the NFL first introduced it 44 years ago.

Endurance athletes with high sodium needs should drink Gatorade’s endurance formula. For endurance athletes seeking easily digestible carbs, the 22 grams of carbohydrates, including sugar, are useful. The 310 milligrams of sodium help replenish sweat losses.

Gatorade is affordable and available almost everywhere, making it an easy choice after a long run. Many types of Gatorade are colored and flavored artificially, but endurance formulas are not. Lemon lime and orange flavors are available, and both are flavored with natural flavors and colored with beta carotene, which is found naturally in orange vegetables.

Attributes

• It is suitable for people who need more carbohydrates
• Easy-to-drink, budget-friendly beverage
• Sweeteners, colors, and flavors are not artificially added to this Gatorade, unlike other Gatorade options

Drawbacks

• Many Gatorade options contain artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners.

Coconut water from Harmless Harvest is best for daily use

You may find Harmless Harvest Coconut Water to be a good option if you’re looking for an organic, potassium-rich drink to use on low-intensity exercise days. Despite its higher price, this drink uses only USDA organic, fair trade coconut water. Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and sodium are all present in this drink. It is a good option among healthy sports drinks with electrolytes if you’re looking for a quick carb fix.

With 15 grams of carbohydrates per bottle, Harmless Harvest Coconut Water helps replenish glycogen stores and hydrate the body. If you drink coconut water after exercising, consider pairing it with foods high in sodium. You can choose from various sizes for these bottles, and one serving is 8 ounces.

Positives

• One simple ingredient is all it takes
• A USDA-certified organic product and a fair trade product
• Drinking ready
• It is a good source of carbohydrates

Negatives

• There may be a problem with athletes consuming low-sodium foods
• Some people may be allergic to coconut
• The cost per serving is higher

Best Higher Sodium: Precision Hydration PH 500

Different people sweat at different rates and have different sweat compositions. Precision Hydration offers hydration packets with varying sodium and carbohydrate levels to suit your needs. With 250 milligrams of sodium and 17.5 grams of carbohydrates in each packet, the PH 500 Hydration Packet keeps you hydrated and fueled. A PH 1000 or PH 1500 hydration packet with a higher sodium content may be suitable if you are a salty sweater.

Informed-Sport certified Precision Hydration hydration packets had been tested for substances banned in sports competitions. You can take these single-serve packets with you wherever you go. There is only one citrus flavor available in these packets. Due to all these factors, it is one of the best healthy sports drinks with electrolytes for fitness freaks.

Pros

• It is suitable for people who need more carbohydrates
• Certified by Informed-Sport
• You can choose from a variety of sodium and carbohydrate options

Cons

• There is only one flavor available
• The cost per serving is higher

Final Words

Drinking sports drinks regularly is not recommended. High sodium consumption can lead to hypertension and heart disease over time. Additionally, added sugars can contribute to cavities and excess sugar consumption. Fluid intake should be individualized according to age, gender, activity level, climate, lifestyle, and overall health status. As a result of sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea, you may need more fluids during periods of excess loss. Therefore, we recommend that you consider your health conditions before choosing any one of the healthy sports drinks with electrolytes to consume.