The Science OF Hydration

WHY E8+ - There are 8 main ingredients that play a major role in hydration. 

What is our product:

Our Electrolyte mix is uniquely designed for you. What does that mean? When humans sweat, we all might have similar sweat components but the amounts can vary widely among individuals in terms of the amount of sweat and the concentration of sweat (the electrolytes in the sweat).Simply put, if two people say you and your friend both go and run a marathon and you both drink an off the shelf product like Gatorade or a hydration mix like Nuun. At the end of the race your friend could be hydrated properly while you could be dehydrated. 

Sweat is composed primarily of water, sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium and calcium and glucose (fancy word for sugar), and a few other minor components. 

The normal sweat range varies in sodium concentration from about 200 ppm (parts per million) to a little above 2000 ppm per liter. That means if you are on the low end, that Gatorade might work decently (not optimally) for you at rehydrating. But if you are on the high-end, say 1500 ppm, then regular Gatorade would not do a good job. All of the other ingredients can mostly be derived based on sodium levels in the body. 

So how do we know what's right for you?

Simple, we TEST YOUR SWEAT!

An Introduction to Salty Sweat

How salty is your sweat? If you’re a “salty sweater,” you might notice white stains on your workout clothes, crusty salt on your helmet straps, sweat stinging your eyes, or even your dog trying to lick you after you’ve worked up a sweat.

What does all of this mean in practice? Let’s find out…

Chances are, you have a better understanding of your sweat rate than your sweat concentration. Your sweat rate—the amount you sweat—varies greatly depending on factors like temperature, exercise intensity, and individual physiology. We’ve observed up to a five- or six fold difference in sweat rates between athletes.

Understanding your sweat rate can be a huge help in dialing in your hydration strategy, and I’ve written a blog post on how to calculate it if you’d like to learn more.

On the other hand, sweat concentration is less commonly understood. It refers to the amount of electrolyte—especially sodium—that’s lost when you sweat. While you also lose magnesium, calcium, and potassium, their losses pale in comparison to sodium.

Unlike sweat rate, sweat concentration is relatively stable and largely determined by genetics. Yet it can still vary significantly between individuals. We’ve tested athletes who lose fewer than 200mg of sodium per liter (32oz) of sweat, and others who lose more than 2,300mg per liter. Our data suggests the average athlete loses around 950mg/l, which is in line with other major studies.

Your sweat makeup is determined largely by genetics. Once you know your formula, you should be good to go. A new diet or crazy workouts dont change your body's formula enough to make a difference. Most people will be in the level 2 range for our formulas.

Let's start with what sweat is made of and what's in our mix?

What's in 1L of sweat (Around 2.2 lbs)

We want to drink back what's in our cells

• Sweat is composed primarily of water, sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium and calcium, phosphate and some other minor components. Your body also utilizes glucose (sugar derivative) as a means of energy. These are the same ingredients we include in our formula. We use organic ingredients and top of the line minerals with the lowest levels of heavy metals or other harmful chemicals. We use natural flavoring and color to ensure only the best goes into your body. The glass containers and bamboo scoops help conserve the environment and eliminate the risk of harmful chemicals and microplastics. 

The 8 main essentials for hydration and performance

1. Sodium (Na⁺)
   • Sodium helps maintain fluid balance, supports nerve function, and regulates blood pressure. It also aids in muscle function and helps control the amount of water in and around cells. 

1. Potassium (K⁺)
   • Potassium plays a crucial role in maintaining normal heart rhythm, muscle contractions, and nerve signals. It also helps balance the effects of sodium in the body.

1. Calcium (Ca²⁺)
   • Calcium is essential for bone and teeth health. It also supports muscle function, nerve transmission, blood clotting, and heart rhythm.

1. Magnesium (Mg²⁺)
   • Magnesium supports muscle and nerve function, regulates blood sugar levels, and contributes to bone health. It also plays a role in protein synthesis and enzyme reactions.

1. Chloride (Cl⁻)
   • Chloride works with sodium to maintain proper fluid balance and electrolyte levels. It also helps regulate acid-base balance in the body and is a component of stomach acid (hydrochloric acid), which aids digestion.

1. Phosphate (PO₄³⁻)
   • Phosphate is important for energy production, cell function, and the formation of bones and teeth. It also helps regulate acid-base balance and is involved in the storage and release of energy in cells.

1. Sugar (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁)  
   • Adding sugar to water significantly enhances water absorption and increases energy. It can increase absorption by 2–3 times compared to plain water. Too little sugar and you don't get the maximum absorption and performance, too much and you can get gastrointestinal discomfort and extreme blood sugar spikes. Our hydration formulas use a 2:1 glucose-to-fructose ratio, which has been shown to maximize absorption and energy replenishment while minimizing gastrointestinal discomfort. Together, they increase energy availability and hydration efficiency without saturating a single absorption pathway.

1. Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)
   • sodium bicarbonate for an added fizz and enhanced performance by maintaining acid-base balance in the body. Athletes sometimes use sodium bicarbonate to help buffer lactic acid, potentially aiding performance in short, high-intensity efforts.

Real Fruit Flavors and Extracts:

We only use organic real natural flavoring and coloring because fake chemicals are bad for you!

The container can make a difference:

We tend to use glass for our jars to eliminate any microplastic contamination. When available we also use bamboo scoops. Please reuse or recycle your bottle when finished.

What happens when you’re dehydrated:

Dehydration has a significant negative effect on the body. Some negative effects could be:

premature aging, hypertension (high blood pressure), damage to the heart, kidneys, liver and other organs, diabetes, dry and damaged skin, poor digestion, weakness, headaches, mood swings and general fatigue. Fatigue toward the end of a prolonged sporting event may result as much from dehydration as from fuel substrate depletion. Exercise performance is impaired when an individual is dehydrated by as little as 2% of body weight. Losses in excess of 5% of body weight can decrease the capacity for work by about 30%.capacity to perform high-intensity exercise, which results in exhaustion within a few minutes, is reduced by as much as 45% by prior dehydration corresponding to a loss of only 2.5% of body weight in some cases.

How being dehydrated impairs performance:

• Reduction in blood volume

• Decreased skin blood flow

• Decreased sweat rate

• Decreased heat dissipation

• Increased core temperature

• Increased rate of muscle glycogen use causes reduced maximal cardiac output

Dehydration can also cause fatigue, sap endurance, and interfere with your mood and ability to concentrate. 

Example of percentages of fluid loss amount in a 185 lb athlete:

1%= 1.8 lbs

2%=3.7 lbs

2.5%=4.6 lbs

3%=5.5 lbs

5%=9.2 lbs

How do you know if you are dehydrated:

Thirsty, harder to breathe, skin test…..sluggish, brain fog, weak….

What affects hydration/dehydration rates:

body size

exercise intensity

exercise duration

prehydration status

heat and humidity. 

Surprisingly the foods you eat don’t contribute to wild swings in body changes like most would think

Components that play into Hydration:

Do you eat a lot of water-rich foods?

Most people get their hydration from a couple of sources:

50% water, 20% from food, 30% from other fluids. 

Most fruits and veggies are 85% water or more. Even eggs and meat are mostly water. 

Highly processed foods like bread and chips are low in water. 

A general rule of thumb - More activity, more water needs. less activity, less water needs. 

So how do we measure hydration?

Many hydration testing methods have been developed and implemented, the most common of which include:

Body Weight Changes

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis

Urine Specific Gravity

Urinary indices

Blood Indices

Whilst there are numerous methods for assessing the hydration status of athletes, each of them have varying levels of validity, reliability and practicality.

There are also devices to measure our electrolyte levels: 

-Osmo Check:

-Body Sensors:

-Test Strips: 

-Blood test:

-Sweat testing devices:

No Devices? You still have options:

Urine: Check the color of your urine with the chart above.

If you are using a multivitamin supplement or eating certain foods, your urine color may change and may confuse the results. It could be bright or discolored. If you’re drinking water and then, within two hours, your urine output is really high and [your urine] is clear, that means the water is not staying in well. Clear urine can be a sign of “overhydration.” -

Thirst: If you are thirsty

Skin: You can quickly check for dehydration at home. Pinch the skin over the back of the hand, on the abdomen, or over the front of the chest under the collarbone. This will show skin turgor. Mild dehydration will cause the skin to be slightly slow in its return to normal.

Dry mouth in morning (make sure you are breathing through your nose or this gets skewed) 

General notes: if you are thirsty then its too late…jk. Studies have found that drinking 32oz of water can help repair most issue with dehydration fairly quickly. Don't chug it all at once but a few sips every couple of mins. 

Sweat volume/loss test: 

To get an idea of how much you sweat an hour or how much sweat you need to replace, use the weight method. Meaning weigh yourself before, during and after as well as the drinks you consume. The difference in weight in the end is the amount you need to make up. We recommend drinking 120% of that number. 

Most sweat rates are 1 to 5 lbs an hour, most are 3 lbs of sweat or higher an hour

Determining if you're a salty sweater is essential for tailoring your hydration strategy, especially during exercise or heat exposure. Here's how you can identify if you might be a salty sweater:

1. Visible Salt Residue:
   • After exercising, check your skin or clothing for a white, chalky residue. This is salt left behind from sweat evaporation.
   • Look for visible streaks on darker workout clothes or hats.

1. Taste Test:
   • If your sweat tastes noticeably salty, it’s another indicator. While all sweat contains salt, salty sweaters often have a more pronounced taste.

1. Stinging Eyes:
   • Sweat dripping into your eyes that causes burning or stinging can indicate a higher salt concentration.

1. Skin Irritation:
   • Salty sweat may irritate your skin, leading to chafing or redness, especially around areas like your underarms or where clothing rubs against your skin.

1. Cramping and Dehydration Symptoms:
   • Salty sweaters may lose electrolytes quickly, leading to muscle cramps, fatigue, or dizziness during prolonged physical activity.

1. Dry Mouth or Excessive Thirst:
   • These can be signs of high salt loss, especially if you feel them after sweating heavily.

1. Sweat Patch Test:
   • Use a dark shirt or sweatband during exercise and let your sweat dry. Check for white streaks afterward.

1. Paper Towel Test:
   • Dab a paper towel on your skin during heavy sweating. If it dries with a salty crust, you’re likely losing a significant amount of salt.

1. Professional Sweat Analysis:
   • For an exact measurement, some sports labs or performance centers offer sweat tests to analyze your sweat’s sodium content.

1. Use our Test Strips
   • Follow instructions here. 
   • 
     

Test your sweat to find your right level

Use our test strips, or follow our guide to determine your level

Most people will be level 2. If you don't want as much salt go with level 1. And if you feel you are a super salty sweater go with level 3. look at our guide below for more.

How fast does it work?

There are a lot of factors that come into play regarding how quickly water is absorbed into the body but generally the good effects of rehydration can be expected within 5 minutes! 

Salt Level:

Salt has a bad wrap sometimes, and for good reason.  Over consumption isn't always good for you.  But did you know that salt is vital to our everyday health?  Your body uses salt to balance fluids in the blood and maintain healthy blood pressure, and it is also essential for nerve and muscle function.  Not only that, it allows water to be absorbed more efficiently. Finding the right formula for your body matters. Too much sodium or salt and you could overload your body potentially leading to high blood pressure and other health complications. Too little sodium or salt and your body can't rehydrate itself properly causing poor performance and health. Amount of sodium and other ingredients ----only use what you need no more or it’s a waste and a sales gimmick

Salt Type:

Pink Himalayan, Celtic Sea Salt, Kosher Salt, Table Salt - What's the Difference?

Salt is harvested from salt mines or by evaporating ocean water. All types of salt are made of sodium chloride, and the nutrient content varies minimally. Although less processed salts contain small amounts of minerals, the amount is not enough to offer substantial nutritional benefit. Different salts are chosen mainly for flavor. We use the most finely ground Sodium Chloride for the quickest absorption and optimal performance. Other salts like Celtic or Himalayan may seem to be better with more trace minerals but this often leads to more heavy metals and other bad components that could negatively affect your health like arsenic and lead. Our salt we use is virtually free of all microplastics, heavy metals or other bad components. 

The Science of Sugar: 

SUGAR-FREE SOUNDS GOOD, BUT THE SCIENCE MAY SURPRISE YOU

Water alone isn’t the most effective way to rehydrate. 

Adding sugar can help absorption by 2-3x

Did you know that real sugar plays a fundamental, scientifically proven role in the hydration process? It’s not about sweetness — it’s a functional powerhouse working hard for you behind the scenes. Sugar is not some annoying additive that gets in the way or makes you fat. It’s the secret ingredient that makes it all work. It all started around 1960. Physiologists found that glucose (or sugar) helps increase the body’s absorption of water and sodium. This is known as the “sodium-glucose cotransport system.”. This work contributed to what is now known as Oral Rehydration Therapy. This discovery has had wide-reaching implications, from elite athletics to everyday health, and is the foundation of modern hydration science. It’s been studied countless times since the 1960s, and the power of sugar still holds up. In fact the World Health Organization says 

“Without Glucose (Sugar), Oral Rehydration Solution would be ineffective.”

For those of you actively working out and not on a special diet or health concerns, you should consume some sort of carbohydrates before, during and after exercise for optimal performance. There is a common misconception that sugar is bad for you and shouldn’t be included in a sports drink. Sugar turns into glucose which the body uses to help transport water molecules to your muscles. Without it your body will need to pull its glucose from another source like your liver or your muscles, the process is slower and harder on your body. When you need to perform at your highest level and need to perform now, glucose additions can help.

If you are actively working out, the calories should be burned off. And in fact, not replacing the glucose you used can actually end up making you fatter.  

Different types of sugars need to be broken down and can’t absorb as quickly as others. Also, some sugars are absorbed in different parts of the body. We choose glucose and fructose because of their quickly absorbable nature and they absorb in different parts of the body. 

We include a small amount of fructose, because glucose causes K+ secretion in the jejunum, while fructose causes K+ absorption. Together, they increase energy availability and hydration efficiency without saturating a single absorption pathway.

While we do offer sugar-free products, we suggest you use the sugar version to provide you with the energy you need to finish your workout. The glucose and fructose in our formulas match the sugars your body is designed to absorb. Therefore, your body can absorb them quickly, so you don’t have to worry about sugar upsetting your stomach or gaining extra fat. Get rapid rehydration and energy for your cells when you need them.

Remember we are replacing what we used.

When is the right time to use what formula:

Drinking water and eating a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables is an effective way for most people to stay hydrated. But pounding large quantities of water morning, noon and night may not be the best or most efficient way to meet the body’s hydration requirements

Introducing electrolytes with glucose into your body can 2-3x the speed of hydration. If you are looking for optimal performance then you would benefit from adding electrolytes in your life, especially before, during and after exercise. Electrolytes are an appropriate and recommended treatment for dehydration in most people.*

Fluid is either in our cells, in between our cells or in our plasma.

Too diluted = Just plain water (not optimal for most athletic endeavors)

The part in between the cells and the blood gets really expanded but it's also incredible dilute so there is not enough time for your body to pull water into the cell from there so you are actually peeing out out a lot of the fluid, too dilute you waste fluid, not optimally hydrating, your also turning off thirst senor so you don’t think you have to drink more and peeing clear thinking you are hydrated when you are actually not.

Too concentrated = Too many electrolytes and sugars

You actually pull fluid into your intestine but you want it to go into plasma from the gut. If it's too concentrated during digestion it pulls water from plasma, osmosis, balances both sides, when you pull a bunch of water into your intestines that can equal diarrhea and gut ache.

This is why finding the right formula for your body and activity level is so important

E8+ should be a fundamental ingredient of pre, during and post-workout formulas, or as ingested during other physical exertion. When you need the amounts YOU need and no extra! We have formulas for before, during/after as well as just chillin and relaxing.

You generally only need to replace your sweat when you lose it and most often that's when you workout. If you're not actively engaged in physical exertion or recovering then you can use a reduced formula like our 0 or 24 formula for daily sipping. 

Find your Goldilocks (Just right) Level

1,2, or 3

1- Your sweat contains lower amounts of sodium and you don't need large amounts of salt in your diet to rehydrate,

2- Your sweat contains a medium level of sodium around 700-1200 ppm- choose this formula to start, this is where the average person will be.

3- Your sweat contains a high level of sodium 1200+, you need a high salt replacement to function properly, typical sports drinks won't be enough.

Second match your sweat type with the activity level

1. Endurance- If you are engaged in activities that are physically demanding and lots of sweat could occur use the full formula.
2. Active- If you are engaged in light physical exercise, the environment is warm, or you are generally active. You should use the active formula and use your corresponding level. This formula has less sugar than the full concentration formula.
3. Zero- If you are just looking for general hydration throughout the day then you can use this formula. It has 1 gram of sugar and also uses cluster dextrin to act as its transport agent for hydration. If you are not actively working out then you don’t need the added sugar so this formula is for you. This formula also has a lower concentration of electrolytes and sodium 
4. Formula 24 - Rest and relaxation formula- use this for general hydration 24/7 needs when no activity is taking place and you don’t need to overload your body with lots of sodium which could lead to higher blood pressure. Think of this as your daily sipper or an enhancement to your regular water throughout the day.

How much should I drink- is the 8 glasses a day rule good?

Pre-hydrate: Drink ½ bw in oz of water per day- adjust based on lifestyle and environment

16-24 oz 2-3 hours prior to exercise and 6-12 oz 20-30 mins before exercise.

Peri-hydrate: bw(lbs)/30 in oz every 15 mins (may need gut training, for gastric emptying rate)-

-Drink back “Sweat” 4:1 ratio of Na+ (Sodium) to K+ (Potassium) + 5-8% glucose/fructose and other added electrolytes.

Post-hydrate: BW weight pre/post plus added fluids difference and drink 125% of that. 

Common Measurements:

-Weigh yourself before and after activity

-In the mornings after you use the bathroom (for normal daily weight)

Proper Hydration Notes:

-Drink in the morning upon waking

-Solution should be right for you body

Added Components: 

Don’t be fooled by their marketing

Only use what you lose! 

We only include the ingredients that you lose in sweat. 

You might have seen electrolyte or drink mixes with some of the below ingredients or words:

-Immune support - Vitamin C and Zinc

-BCAA’s

-EAA’s

-(Insert fancy named supplement here)

-Antioxidants

While all of these may have benefits on their own or combined, their effectiveness does not seem to have any large benefits during physical exercise. The most important thing to focus on during physical activity is that you stay hydrated. You do the activity, while your body helps reabsorb the nutrients. You don’t need your body trying to process excess and wasted nutrients and stuff it doesn't need at the moment. You want it to work optimally.  Including some of the above ingredients in our main formula would only drive up the price and make it harder on your body to perform optimally. 

Vitamin supplementation effectiveness (like vitamin E and C alone and/or combined) on muscle mass and strength have been inconsistent. Given that antioxidant supplements tend to block anabolic signaling pathways, and thus, impair adaptations to resistance training, special caution should be taken with these supplements. It is recommended that athletes consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, which provides vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and other bioactive compounds to meet the recommended intakes of vitamin E and C or other vitamins and minerals. 

FAQ

What are electrolytes: In chemistry and physiology, an “electrolyte” refers to any ion or charged particle that helps conduct electrical signals in solution.

What if I need more:

If you think your formula is too low for you, go one formula up. You can also add a no sugar level 1 packet to get more electrolytes without the sugar. 

Disclaimer:

• Infants with mild to moderate dehydration should be treated under medical supervision
• E8+ is not indicated for people with heart disease, kidney disease, and fluid/electrolyte/salt restrictions.
• Consult your medical professional before consuming any supplements or before engaging in physical activities.

NSF certified for sport

Vegan

Dissolve in 16oz of water

Gluten Free

Too much sodium in the diet can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. It can also cause calcium losses, some of which may be pulled from bone.