Hydration Drinks: From Clean to Concerning

The Wake Up Label Reader
Sep 2
2 min read

**The ones bloating you, the ones actually hydrating you, and the surprising swaps that won’t spike your blood sugar.**

The Truth About Hydration Drinks (They’re Not What You Think)

You grab a hydration powder because you’re trying to feel better. More energy. Less bloat. Fewer cravings. Maybe you just crushed a workout, had too much wine last night, or your summer skin is screaming for minerals.

But here's the problem…

Most hydration drinks on the shelf are marketed for wellness — but made with the same junk that’s in a gas station soda.

Let’s talk about it.

🚩 Hydration Powders That Actually Dehydrate You

These are the big names — the ones you see everywhere from Target to your favorite influencer’s feed. They promise electrolytes and energy. But here’s what’s really inside:

❌ Liquid I.V.

11g of added sugar
Citric acid, natural flavors, silicon dioxide - means it is literally trash!
Can cause blood sugar spikes, bloating, and headaches in sensitive people

❌ Prime Hydration

Sucralose + acesulfame potassium (fake sweeteners that increase risk of cancer)
Artificial colors in some flavors
Marketed to kids but full of chemical additives

❌ Gatorade Zero

Artificial sweeteners
Natural flavors
Zero nutritional value, just lab-made “hydration”

❌ BodyArmor Lyte

Looks healthy (coconut water! B vitamins!) but contains erythritol (avoid when you can), citric acid (classifies it as not clean because there are other hydration packets and drinks that are cleaner), and “natural” flavors that mess with your gut

❌ Propel

Basically sweetened water with preservatives and chemical additives you don’t need — because there are clean swaps but you just do not know them. Marketing dollars and advertising go to these big brands and it confuses you!

✅ So What Should You Drink?

Hydration isn’t just about water and salt. It’s about electrolyte balance — and quality matters.

Here are a few of my go-to clean hydration options:

My favorite: QUINTON - Why I Choose Quinton Electrolytes

Quinton isn’t your average electrolyte powder—it’s pure marine plasma harvested from deep ocean currents and cold-filtered to preserve all 78 essential minerals and trace elements. Unlike synthetic mixes with sugar and additives, Quinton is in ionic form, meaning your body absorbs it almost instantly. The isotonic formula even mirrors human blood plasma, making it one of the most natural, effective ways to rehydrate, energize, and restore balance. Clean, simple, and unmatched—that’s why I call Quinton the gold standard of electrolytes.