BACK IN SEPTEMBER, the Bureau of Meteorology confirmed that Australia was in for a hot summer. Although, despite the rapid technological advancements of the 21st century, weather reports are often taken with a grain of salt, as if we’re unwilling to believe a prophesy unless we see it with our own eyes. But, for the most part, the weathermen got it right this time.
While summer along Australia’s East coast hasn’t exactly been dry, it sure has been hot. The first two weeks of December were the hottest start to summer on record in Sydney, with average temperatures skyrocketing to a blistering 29.5 degrees and zero days where the maximum temperature stayed below 26 degrees. The stifling heat hasn’t let off in January, either. Thursday January 11th was Sydney’s muggiest day on record, with conditions turning tropical and the humidity rising to 94 per cent.
Unfortunately for prospective new year’s resolutioners (that’s most of us, right?), the scorching Australian summer coincides with a period when our fitness activity is highest. Summer’s heightened temperatures also mean heightened levels of sweat. As such, it’s recommended that you drink an extra half litre of water per day during summer, to replace lost fluids and prevent heat exhaustion. But if you’re also embarking on daily exercise endeavours, your fluid intake should be even higher, as you’ll be losing valuable electrolytes and other minerals in the process.
Under these circumstances, it can be difficult to consume the requisite amount of water, and even if you do, you risk drinking too much and losing electrolytes as a result. To combat this paradoxical challenge, a trusty hydration supplement is the most obvious solution. These supplements can deliver the necessary hydration and even bolster your electrolyte levels. Here’s five of the best hydration supplements on the market, to help you get through summer.
LVL-UP
LVL-UPPrice: 10 sachets – $12.99 | 30 hydration sticks – $24.99
Freshly launched, LVL-UP are new players in the hydration supplement space. Featuring a premium blend of vitamins and electrolytes, just one LVL-UP stick per day can support energy levels and activate fast-acting hydration. Whether you’re taking on an arduous workout or relaxing by the beach, LVL-UP will provide the hydration you need. While taste is the Achilles heel of many supplements, that isn’t an issue with LVL-UP, with lemon & lime, orange and mixed berry flavours.
Science in Sport Go Hydro Electrolyte Tablets
Science in Sport Go Hydro Electrolyte TabletsPrice: $24
Simple, practical and effective. SiS Go Hydro was designed to deliver effective hydration in the most efficient way possible. Drop a single effervescent table into water, watch it dissolve and drink up. Then the job is done, 300mg of electrolytes have been injected into your system and you’re primed for peak performance. With zero sugar and zero calories, SiS Go Hydro contains sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, B vitamins and green tea extract—excuse the excessive vitamin jargon, but be assured that’s everything you want in a supplement.
Precision Hydration PH1000
Precision Hydration PH1000Price: $16.95
If you’re a salty sweater, you can’t look past these tablets from Precision Hydration—to check if you are one, look for the tell-tale white marks on your clothes that present themselves after a workout. Specifically formulated for athletes who expel high amounts of sodium during exercise, PH 1000 is optimal for workout warriors who like to push themselves to their limit.
SaltStick Fastchews
SaltStick FastchewsPrice: $38.95
Not only are these compact tablets packed with all the vitamins you need for hydration, consuming them is also incredibly convenient. Pop one into your mouth mid-run, or in-between sets at the gym, and you’ll feel the fast-acting effects almost immediately. With ingredients that minimise heat stress and muscle cramps, Fastchews ensure you’re performing at your best, when you need to be. They also come in a seemingly unlimited range of flavours.
Berocca Sport Powder Sachets
Berocca Sport Powder SachetsPrice: $14.99
An established force in the vitamin supplement market, Berocca is a big name for a reason. Berocca Sport takes the brand’s typical everyday supplements to the next level, with a formulation that promises to deliver the hydration needed for exercise. It’s low calorie, 99% sugar free, vegetarian and vegan friendly, and all you have to do is drop some into your water bottle. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
What foods have electrolytes?
If you’re still not keen on supplements, despite their convenience and effectiveness, there are other ways to stay hydrated and replenish electrolytes. Plenty of foods contain electrolytes, but they will take longer to consume, and are still less effective than supplements. Here’s some of the most electrolyte-heavy foods:
- Lentils
- Spinach
- Sunflower seeds
- Pickle juice
- Dried apricots
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