Liquid IV Review: Nice to Have, But Not Essential

What Liquid IV Gets Right

• Offers hydration benefits
• Uses science-backed ingredients
• Contains no allergens, artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors, or preservatives
• Dissolves and mixes easily
• The company is involved in many humanitarian projects

Important Considerations

• Each stick contains 11 grams of sugar, which may be too much for some
• High in sodium with 22% of the Daily Value per stick
• It may be expensive for some, especially when purchased from the brand’s website

Try Liquid IV

Liquid IV at a Glance

Liquid IV is a line of electrolyte powders designed to be added to water to enhance hydration and provide targeted support for energy, immunity, sleep, and digestion. It has 3x the electrolytes of traditional sports drinks with less than half the sugar and calories.

The differentiator of Liquid IV compared to other hydration products is its Cellular Transport Technology (CTT). CTT is based on the oral rehydration therapy formula, an extensively researched way to rehydrate after severe dehydration. It uses a specific ratio of glucose (sugar), sodium, potassium, B vitamins, and vitamin C to enhance the hydration potential of water.

While water alone is a good source of hydration, sometimes it is difficult to drink enough of it, especially if you’re busy or have certain conditions. Liquid IV may be a good fit for:

• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• People who struggle with water intake
• Athletes and highly active people
• People on long-distance rides or hikes
• People who are getting over a cold or flu, stomach bug, or food poisoning as they may be more dehydrated
• People with higher sweat rates where more electrolytes may be lost
• People who work outside or in physical jobs
• Elderly people (who often have a declining sense of thirst, along with a higher risk of dehydration) (1)
• People that need rehydration after an evening of enjoying a few (or too many) adult beverages

Liquid IV is also great for anyone to stack in your pantry (we will share how we use it later in this review).

Understanding How Liquid IV Works

Liquid IV applied the oral rehydration therapy (ORT) approach to their product and rebranded it for a health-focused consumer and athlete.

Oral rehydration therapy (ORT), originally promoted by the World Health Organization to help children with diarrhea and dehydration, has been extensively researched and used for over 40 years. (2)

Classic ORT beverages contain a combination of sodium chloride, glucose, and potassium to create a liquid of a very specific osmolarity, allowing the liquid to move into the body faster. (3)

Specifically, Liquid IV uses Cellular Transport Technology (CTT®) and contains a combination of glucose (sugar), sodium, potassium, and water in specific ratios that can be absorbed and utilized by your body more quickly than plain water can. This is due to the differences in the way these components are absorbed.

One study that involved recreationally active, healthy male subjects found that oral rehydration solutions (ORS) similar to Liquid IV improved fluid balance more than water. (4)

Water alone is absorbed into the body via a passive process called osmosis, which occurs gradually throughout the digestive tract.

However, when in the presence of sodium, glucose, and potassium, water is absorbed earlier and more quickly in the digestion process, along with the other components, through a process known as active transport. (5)

The Products Liquid IV Offers

Below we’ll talk about the five variations of Liquid IV that support your hydration, energy, sleep, immune system, and digestion.

Hydration Multiplier

The Hydration Multiplier is Liquid IVs primary product. The ingredients include CTT (glucose, sodium, potassium), water-soluble B vitamins, and vitamin C. Each stick has 45 calories.

The sodium comes from mined salt. The potassium is in the form of potassium citrate. The glucose comes from pure cane sugar that is non-GMO.

Hydration Multiplier is high in sugar and sodium, with 11 grams of sugar and 500 mg of sodium per serving (this amounts to 22% of the Daily Value for sodium). Since most of us already consume too much sugar and salt, we would not recommend consuming more than 1 of these packets per day. (6)

Energy Multiplier

The Energy Multiplier provides hydration and added ingredients that may help boost energy. These include coffee fruit extract, which comes from the fruit of the coffee plant, and L-theanine. Caffeine and L-theanine can each improve attention and focus, and the effect may be more potent when combined. (7)

Each serving provides 100 mg of caffeine, which is equivalent to about one cup of coffee (so be mindful if you are getting additional caffeine from other sources throughout the day to stay within a safe range or if you’re sensitive).

Sleep Multiplier

Sleep Multiplier contains evidence-based ingredients that can promote relaxation, reduce stress, and help improve sleep. Still, some are in smaller dosages than are recommended. Such ingredients include melatonin, L-theanine, and valerian root. (8, 9, 10)

We recommend not drinking more than one packet at nighttime of this drink because too much valerian root, L-theanine, and melatonin can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, and excessive sleepiness. However, the amounts of these ingredients in one packet are in safe ranges.

Hydration Multiplier+ Immune Support

The Immune Support product contains CTT, vitamin C, zinc, and a proprietary ingredient called Wellmune, which is important for immune function. Wellmune contains beta-glucans, which have been found to support immune health. (11, 12, 12)

Hydration Multiplier+ Probiotic Kombucha

Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier+ Probiotic Kombucha contains 1 billion colony-forming units (CFU) of the bacterial strain Bacillus coagulans and kombucha (fermented tea) in the powder. Both are sources of probiotics, or living bacteria, that can populate the gut and potentially help improve digestive health. (13)

Where to Get the Best Price

The price of Liquid IV varies significantly depending on the retailer. Most retailers carry a limited variety of flavors, so ordering from the brand is the only option if you want a greater variety. In addition, some products, like Sleep Multiplier and Probiotic Kombucha, are only available from the brand’s website.

Here is how the prices compare among popular retailers:

You can get additional discounts (5%–20%) by opting into a monthly subscription directly from the brand as well as Amazon and GNC. When buying directly from the brand, you also get free shipping on all orders and a 60-day money-back guarantee.

How Liquid IV Compares to Alternatives

Here’s how Liquid IV compares to four popular alternatives.

Nuun

Nuun is similar to Liquid IV, offering dissolvable tablets containing electrolytes. These tablets dissolve easily in water. Nuun also carries a variety of products for energy and immunity, similar to Liquid IV.

Both Nuun and Liquid IV contain stevia leaf extract. However, one key difference between the products is that Nuun does not contain pure cane sugar. So, if you're looking for a product free of cane sugar, Nuun may be a better fit.

Drip Drop

Drip Drop also uses ORT in its products and offers packets of electrolytes that can be easily mixed into a water bottle. However, they offer two sizes — 8-ounce and 16-ounce.

Drip Drop contains the artificial sweetener sucralose in addition to fructose and sugar.

Gatorade

Gatorade is a popular sports drink available in several flavors and varieties. You can purchase it at nearly all grocery, convenience, and big box stores.

Thirst Quencher contains significantly more sugar at 21 grams per bottle and fewer electrolytes than Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier. It also contains food dyes and other artificial ingredients.

Pedialyte Electrolyte Water

Pedialyte is a convenient and sugar-free alternative to Liquid IV that requires no mixing. Pedialyte started by offering oral rehydration solutions for kids, but now they offer several different hydration products for adults as well.

Their electrolyte water can be purchased by the liter. It is sweetened with the artificial sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame potassium.

Try Liquid IV

Liquid IV is an exciting, convenient, and tasty product that will keep you hydrated and more. The brand also offers a 60-day money-back guarantee and free shipping.

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