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

If you’re looking for a detailed breakdown of Liquid IV vs NUUN, you’ve come to the right place. Roughly 85% of Americans get their sodium from less than ideal sources, like refined salts in food and the “mined table salt” used in most hydration supplements (1).

So the question is, are NUUN and Liquid IV up to snuff? In this article, we show you how they stack up, mono-y-mono, and call out some areas where they both missed the mark… Let the hydration games begin!

Essential Takeaways

• Hydration supplements make staying properly hydrated easy. Is there a best option for you?
• HINT: One easy, squeezy option is our favorite!

Liquid IV In-Depth Review

Liquid IV claims to use a breakthrough “Cellular Transport Technology (CTT).” Is that just a fancy marketing slogan? Maybe.

Apparently, their formula is based on the World Health Organization’s Oral Rehydration Solution guidelines (2). In other words, Liquid IV is supposed to be a drinkable version of the same stuff that’s in your IV bag at the hospital. How does it work? In the body, sodium, potassium, and glucose need to be present in the right ratios in order to allow water to enter the cells, otherwise, the water you drink will just pass right through you.

Liquid IV’s formula for better hydration is: SODIUM + POTASSIUM + GLUCOSE = HYDRATION

The cane sugar (glucose) in Liquid IV triggers a special mechanism in the intestinal lining called a “glucose transporter.” This mechanism allows water and electrolytes to enter the cell more quickly. However, sugar isn’t all rainbows and puppy dogs…it also acts as fuel for bad gut bacteria, weakens the gut lining, promotes inflammation, and increases the risk of diabetes, cancer, and a host of other illnesses (3). In other words, the added hydration boost comes at a cost.

All Liquid IV products contain essential vitamins for energy and immune support, including Vitamin C, B3, B5, B6, and B12. Now let’s take a closer look at their full line of products and see how they stack up:

Hydration Multiplier

Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier is their original formula. Like all of their products, it contains 3x the electrolytes as traditional sports drinks, including potassium citrate, the mineral that’s responsible for maintaining fluid balance in the body. Each serving contains 11 g of sugar.

• Non-caffeinated
• 16-count individual serving sticks per package
• Flavors: Lemon Lime, Passionfruit, Acai Berry

Energy Multiplier

Liquid IV Energy Multiplier contains 100 mg of caffeine per serving — made from organic green tea extract and guayusa, a type of caffeinated holly tree from the Amazon. Green tea and guayusa are packed with antioxidants to protect the cells against oxidation. Liquid IV Energy Multiplier also contains ginger to reduce inflammation and support digestion (4). Each serving contains 8 g of sugar.

• Caffeinated
• 14-count individual serving sticks per package
• Flavors: Lemon Ginger

Sleep Multiplier

Liquid IV Sleep Multiplier contains relaxing ingredients like melatonin, valerian root, and L-theanine. Surprisingly, though, it does not contain magnesium, one of the most important electrolytes for relaxation and anxiety reduction (5). Each serving contains 3.5 g of sugar.

• Non-caffeinated
• 10-count individual serving sticks per package
• Flavors: Blueberry Lavender

Other Hydration Alternatives?

• Add your electrolytes to something other than water?
• Avoid processed ingredients and artificial flavorings?
• Put only the highest-quality minerals into your body?

The problem is, both NUUN and Liquid IV fall short here. So are you stuck up dehydration-creek without a paddle? Nope, not today…

Buoy Hydration uses the cleanest ingredients you can source, all in a flavorless liquid supplement that you can add to any drink. They vet their suppliers to make sure they aren’t sneaking unhealthy fillers into their products. Believe it or not, vitamin and mineral suppliers don’t have to disclose it if they’re using maltodextrin, an artificial food additive that ends up in a lot of “healthy” and “clean” ingredients.

Buoy uses all-natural sea salt that contains 87 micronutrients and trace minerals. It also contains a colossal 40 servings per bottle, all with zero sugar and zero calories.

Buoy is also carbon neutral and uses 100% Post Consumer Recycled (PCR) materials in their packaging. Plus, they hook-up the community by donating more per serving than any other electrolyte brand.

Buoy is also proven to make you look sexier, run faster, grow wings and fly…okay, maybe that last part wasn’t true, but the rest is keeping it 100. Learn more about easy-squeezy, flavorless hydration that you can add to any drink.

References:

1. https://justaddbuoy.com
2. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-FCH-CAH-06.1
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1379072/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7019938/
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6024559/
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5102849/
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5622706/
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5622706/
9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4772032/