LMNT Review- a nurse’s review on the electrolyte powder drink

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Did you know 75% of people are chronically dehydrated?

This LMNT review will blow your mind!

Influencers are all over social media raving about this electrolyte powder they pour into their morning water every morning with claims that their energy is restored after their morning water drink. What exactly is the science backing this electrolyte craze? I will get into the science in this LMNT review. 

Disclosure: Nothing in this blog post should be taken as medical advice. Always check with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplementation if you have an health conditions.

*Taylor(The Clean Living Nurse) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

What is LMNT?

LMNT is salt! Well, it is not JUST salt, it is salt with electrolytes: Potassium and magnesium. You might be thinking, “I thought salt was bad for you?” Sodium, one of the minerals found in salt is vital to our health when it is in its pure form. LMNT packets contain 1000 mg of sodium, 200 mg of potassium, 60 mg of magnesium and zero sugar. 

Our bodies need electrolytes to function properly, but unfortunately due to our standard ways of living, we don’t get near the amount of electrolytes needed. Electrolytes get depleted when we sweat, urinate, and when we are sick. 

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the definition of an electrolyte is:

“Electrolytes are substances that have a natural positive or negative electrical charge when dissolved in water. They help your body regulate chemical reactions, maintain the balance between fluids inside and outside your cells, and more. They’re also a key way to diagnose a wide range of medical conditions and diseases.”

Personal LMNT Review

I was a little scared to try a “salt” drink. Not knowing what to expect, I took a shot and to my surprise, it was so good! I put it in my water bottle every morning when I wake up as that is when our bodies are the most dehydrated after not drinking for 7-9 hours.  It does have the most “salty” taste out of all the electrolyte drinks I have tried but it tastes amazing. Citrus salt is one of my favorite flavors, followed by watermelon salt and raspberry salt. One packet a day takes care of my electrolyte needs

I know myself well enough to know that I will not drink enough water on its own. I have never liked the taste of just plain old water, and I love coffee like it’s going out of style. Knowing now, however, just drinking plain water, even if I am drinking a gallon a day will not hydrate my cells as it should due to the stripping of minerals from the water purifying process. 

I notice a huge difference in my day, mental clarity, and energy levels if I don’t incorporate any form of electrolytes into my day. I get dizzy easily, my energy tanks, and I deal with headaches. LMNT has been a game-changer in my daily overall health.

Who made LMNT?

LMNT was founded by Robb Wolf who was on a whole-food, low-carb diet and had a high activity level as a jiu-jitsu participant. He noticed that for whatever reason he just couldn’t get to that next level in his fitness. When he got together with his coaches, and they figured out that he needed more salt and electrolytes. He couldn’t find an electrolyte on the market that wasn’t filled with sugar or a bunch of junky additives. He started making his own electrolytes at home but realized it was too time-consuming and messy. LMNT was then founded.

Importance of Electrolytes

As mentioned above, electrolytes play a huge role in health. Our body’s chemical regulations and functions depend on the balance of electrolytes in our bodies. Sodium, potassium, and magnesium are some of the 3 major electrolytes that drive proper body functioning. According to NCBI

Main Electrolytes

Sodium, an osmotically active cation, is one of the essential electrolytes in the extracellular fluid. It is responsible for maintaining the extracellular fluid volume and regulating the membrane potential of cells. Sodium is exchanged along with potassium across cell membranes as part of active transport.

Magnesium is an intracellular cation. Magnesium is mainly involved in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) metabolism, proper functioning of muscles, neurological functioning, and neurotransmitter release. When muscles contract, calcium re-uptake by the calcium-activated ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum is brought about by magnesium.

Potassium is mainly an intracellular ion. The sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase pump is primarily responsible for regulating the homeostasis between sodium and potassium, which pumps out sodium in exchange for potassium, which moves into the cells. 

We need more salt!

As you can see, these three electrolytes are extremely important to keep our bodies properly functioning. 

As for other main electrolytes like calcium, LMNT’s stance on not using calcium is that many people already get their RDA(recommended dietary allowance) of calcium through their diet.

Phosphorous was also not included due to the fact that phosphorous deficiency is extremely rare and a majority of people actually consume too much of it. This can lead to an issue where our bodies tell our cells to shed calcium; not good.

People are chronically dehydrated

As mentioned above, 75% of the population is chronically dehydrated. How is that so? Well, for one we as a society don’t drink enough water. We love our sugary sports drinks, our sodas, and our alcohol all of which dehydrate us.

Secondly, if you are drinking water coming from a source such as RO (reverse osmosis) or filtered water(which you definitely should be) the minerals get stripped from the water during the filtration process. You can think you are drinking a ton of water but your body is not getting hydrated from it without the electrolytes.

The best way to counter this? Drink electrolytes or add a pinch of Himalayan sea salt into your water with a squeeze of lemon or lime. Himalayan sea salt has awesome trace minerals in it.

LMNT is great though because it is portable, has what your body needs and has great taste. They have so many different flavors you can change it up. They have sweet AND savory options. Here are the flavors available in the LMNT electrolyte packets:

• Citrus salt (my favorite)
• Grapefruit salt
• Watermelon salt (so good in the summer!)
• Raspberry salt
• Raw unflavored(my least favorite but good to just put in something that needs a little salt!)
• Mango Chili flavor
• Chocolate Salt(good in hot chocolate!)
• Chocolate Caramel 
• Orange Salt

**Note the chocolate flavors are meant to be consumed in HOT water or beverages! Delicious to add to your morning coffee or make a keto hot chocolate!

Isn’t too much salt bad for us?

We’ve all been told that sodium is bad for us. While I will agree that bleached table salt stripped of all its nutrients is not helping our health, sodium is underrated in our health. Sodium is essential for hydration, performance and energy. When sodium is restricted our body responds by sending a hormone cascade to help our kidneys retain sodium. The result in this hormone cascade is a rise in blood pressure. A study done by The FASEB journal describes low sodium diets are not associated with low blood pressure levels.

The recommendation given to consumers by the government is to consume  <2.3g daily of sodium, however science is showing us that consuming 4-6g of sodium daily is ideal.

Physical signs of Electrolyte imbalances

According to the Cleveland Clinic, signs of electrolyte imbalance can include:

• Confusion and irritability.
• Diarrhea or constipation.
• Fatigue.
• Headaches.
• Irregular or fast heart rate (arrhythmia).
• Muscle cramps, muscle spasms or weakness.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Numbness or tingling in limbs, fingers and toes.

I don’t know about you, but I definitely can have one or more of these physical signs all within a day. This is why I incorporate electrolyte intake into my daily routine. The world needs their electrolytes!

Ingredients in LMNT

There are so many electrolyte products on the market these days, but so many of them contain added sugars, artificial coloring, and fillers that are not needed. What I love about LMNT is that they have simple ingredients and are truly the healthier option:

• Salt (sodium chloride)
• Citric acid
• Magnesium malate
• Potassium chloride
• Natural flavors
• Stevia extract

Who Shouldn’t drink LMNT?

Always check with your healthcare provider before starting something new, but those with chronic high blood pressure, those who need to watch their sodium intake or sodium levels due to kidney or other issues. 

Pros and Cons of LMNT

Pros

Cons

 If you are a Thrive Market member you can grab a box for even cheaper at 39.99 for a 30 pack. 

Check out my post on my Thrive Market favorites here or click here to get 30% off your first order with a membership purchase and a free gift valued at $60!

LMNT FAQs

Is LMNT actually good for you?

Yes! LMNT is the ultimate hydration and energy supplement that most people are lacking in their diets. You can do all the things like exercise and eat healthy, but if you are lacking in electrolytes you will notice a difference.

How often should you drink LMNT?

At least daily! Especially if you live an active lifestyle. Always talk to your healthcare professional if you have any medical issues before starting a new regimen. It is recommended to drink first thing in the morning (what I do) 30 minutes prior to working out or a high-intensity activity or sauna. Preparing ahead of time is always better than trying to replenish after electrolytes are already depleted.

Does LMNT make you bloated?

In my own experience, no! It makes me feel less bloated. Upping your hydration game will help with bloating. Again, always check with a healthcare professional if you have any medical issues before starting any dietary supplement. 

Does LMNT break my fast?

No, it has zero sugar so it will not break a fast!

I hope you enjoyed the LMNT review! Please leave me a comment if you have tried LMNT and what your thoughts are!

Check out my previous posts here!