Liquid IV vs NUUN: How These Electrolytes Stack Up (+Where They Fall Short)

January 19, 2023

Liquid IV vs Water: Is There Really a Difference?

It’s easy to assume that water alone is enough to stay hydrated. And most of the time, if you’re sipping consistently and eating a balanced diet, it probably is. But Liquid IV promotes the idea that water isn’t always absorbed efficiently, especially when your body is under stress - from heat, intense workouts, travel, or illness.

Essential Takeaways:

Liquid IV and NUUN can improve hydration better than water alone, but Liquid IV relies on added sugar (up to 11g per serving), which may not be ideal for daily use or for people watching blood sugar and inflammation.

If you want a clean, everyday electrolyte option without sugar, calories, or flavor fatigue, Buoy stands out as a flavorless, easy-to-use alternative that blends into any drink while still supporting hydration with trace minerals.

Their use of Cellular Transport Technology (CTT) aims to improve water uptake by pairing sodium, potassium, and glucose. The science isn’t wrong - glucose does help the body absorb sodium and fluids more quickly. But here’s the catch: for daily hydration, most of us don’t need extra sugar to stay hydrated. In fact, the sugar in Liquid IV (up to 11g per serving) may not be ideal if you’re trying to stay on top of blood sugar or inflammation.

Water alone might work fine for casual hydration, but if you’re looking for a more complete, low-sugar solution, Buoy gives you a zero-calorie, zero-sugar option with bioavailable electrolytes and trace minerals that support daily hydration without the glucose spike.

How Does Liquid IV Work? And Is It the Best Option?
NUUN vs Liquid IV for Hangovers: Which Actually Helps?
Flavorless Liquid IV: Is It a Thing?
Liquid IV vs Other Brands: What Sets Buoy Apart

How Does Liquid IV Work? And Is It the Best Option?

Liquid IV works by mimicking the WHO’s Oral Rehydration Solution, which was originally designed for people facing extreme dehydration from illness. It relies on glucose to transport sodium and fluids more quickly into your bloodstream. This formula is helpful - if you’re severely dehydrated. But does it make sense for everyday use?

Each Liquid IV packet contains 11 grams of sugar, which is roughly the same as a small juice box. If you’re already eating a modern diet (which most of us are), your sodium and glucose intake is probably not low. And yes, it’s technically okay to drink two Liquid IVs in one day - but now you’re talking about 22 grams of sugar, which is nearly the full recommended daily allowance for women.

In comparison, Buoy skips the sugar altogether and relies on a full-spectrum blend of trace minerals from sea salt. So you still get hydration support. Without the sugar load.

NUUN vs Liquid IV for Hangovers: Which Actually Helps?

Hangovers are more than just dehydration - you’re also dealing with inflammation, vitamin depletion, and electrolyte imbalances. Both NUUN and Liquid IV market themselves as hangover helpers. But what do they actually offer?

Liquid IV includes sugar, salt, and B vitamins - a decent mix to help with energy and fluid replacement. NUUN is a bit lighter, with fewer calories and a range of electrolytes depending on the variety. But neither one includes a broad spectrum of trace minerals or the kind of antioxidant support that could actually help the root cause of that post-wine headache.

Enter Buoy: it’s flavourless, easy to squeeze into any drink (even your post-party coffee), and includes a clean blend of electrolytes and antioxidants without the junk. Plus, no sugar to spike and crash your blood sugar even more.

Flavorless Liquid IV: Is It a Thing?

A growing number of people are looking for electrolyte options that don’t taste like sweetened candy water. Unfortunately, Liquid IV doesn’t currently offer a flavourless option. All of their varieties come with flavours (Lemon Lime, Passionfruit, Acai, and more) - which can get tiring if you’re drinking them daily or just prefer a more neutral approach.

If you're searching for flavourless Liquid IV alternatives, Buoy is exactly that: a clean, sugar-free, calorie-free drop that disappears into any drink. Water, coffee, tea, sparkling water - it blends right in without altering the taste. And unlike the powder sticks from other brands, you don’t have to measure or stir anything.

Liquid IV vs Other Brands: What Sets Buoy Apart

When it comes to hydration products, there’s no shortage of brands on the shelf - Liquid IV, NUUN, LMNT, Waterboy, Voost, Banana Bag, and more. Many use similar core ingredients (sodium, potassium, magnesium), but vary wildly in sugar content, delivery format, and quality of minerals.

Liquid IV stands out for its convenience and flavour, but stumbles when it comes to sugar levels and lack of customisation. NUUN’s tablet format is handy but often criticised for its chalky texture and artificial ingredients. Other brands like LMNT are high in sodium and target athletes specifically.

What makes Buoy different is how seamlessly it fits into daily life. No sugar, no fake flavours, and no need to chug another flavoured drink. Just a quick squeeze into whatever you’re already drinking and you’re getting full-spectrum hydration with trace minerals sourced from real sea salt.

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