Hydration Packets for Water – Are They A Scam? 

On your various expeditions out into the world of health and fitness supplements, you may have come across something called hydration packets. These small hydration powder packets have significantly grown in popularity, both in the fitness world and the ever profitable area of hangover cure or remedies. 

We were interested in this new area of supplementation and wanted to find out more. Like, how come a little hydration powder packet offer up more benefits than just a glass of water when it comes to making sure you’re hydrated?!

So, if you’re unsure of exactly what a hydration packet for water is, or whether you even need them, look no further. We’ve answered all your questions on this supplement, so you can decide whether you really need them. 

What are hydration packets? 

Hydration packets are sachets filled with powder. This powder is a mix of key electrolytes like magnesium, sodium, calcium and potassium, to name a few.

These electrolytes are key micronutrients called minerals that help your body uses in it’s day-to-day functions to support a happy and healthy body.

In the context of water hydration packets, these nutrients can help to process water most efficiently, so you get all the important nutrients and help to flush out all the waste products your body doesn’t need.

To use a hydration powder packet, simply add the powder to a measured amount of water (it’s different for each packet) mix, and drink. From there, the idea is that your body should be primed to utilize the water in your body most efficiently. 

Many people opt for a hydration powder packet rather than a full tub, as you don’t have to measure them out, and you can easily throw a sachet in your bag to take to the gym for a boost of minerals during your workout. 

Do hydration packets work?

The question that so many want the answer to, from fitness fiends to anyone trying to get through a hangover – do hydration packets work? 

In terms of research around the effectiveness of hydration packets specifically, there’s not much out there to say that yes, they definitely do.

However, a top up of electrolytes when you need it most isn’t going to hurt at all. In fact, when you look at what your body loses through sweat when you exercise, and then it makes sense to supplement with minerals and electrolytes to top up your levels when they might be most depleted. 

What’s more, so many elite athletes and day-to-day fitness fanatics use them to help them stay on form.

This definitely makes sense for an elite athlete particularly, because they’re working out a lot, and are much more likely to experience lower micronutrient levels if they’ve been expended through fatigue and sweat.

So, although there’s no actual research out there at this point, there really is no reason why they won’t work. And there’s plenty of evidence out there to support the use of the minerals found in hydration packets, so it makes sense that they would work to support your mineral intake. 

But don’t forget, you can also get these minerals from a healthy and varied diet, so a hydration packet is probably best for when you need a quick and convenient top up. In our minds, this is basically either during a workout, or during a hangover!

Are hydration powders good for you?

Any good hydration powder can be great for you – after all, you’re topping up the essential minerals your body needs to function at its best. What’s more, they could help improve your recovery rates after a workout as they’re replacing key nutrients that your body has used up through exercise.

As with anything, when taken in moderation, hydration powders are good for you.  

It’s always best to remember that this is a supplement. And the very meaning of the word supplement means it’s designed to top up your healthy, balanced diet. 

Therefore, you shouldn’t rely on hydration powders for all your electrolytes and minerals every day or with every drink. If you get too much of them you may even experience negative side effects.

So, with that in mind, hydration powder packets can be great for you, when paired with a healthy and varied diet, and as long as you stick to takign them only when you need them. Never rely on them as your complete source of minerals and micronutrients.  

Should you drink Electrolytes everyday? 

You can safely drink a high quality hydration or electrolyte powder every day without worrying about any side effects. They can help to supplement your diet and ensure you have all the vital minerals you need. 

However, as we mentioned above, you shouldn’t overdo it and add your hydration powder to every drink. It would be best to have just one water hydration packet sachet a day. That will be more than enough to give you a good boost after a workout or supplement your diet. 

Too much of anything could make you feel unwell or give you side effects. So make sure you stick to the recommended daily amount on your hydration powder packets. 

Should I use Hydration packets? 

Hydration packets are great if you’re a stamina athlete, if you feel like you’ve had a particularly sweaty workout, or you simply want to ensure you’re achieving the proper mineral levels your body needs. Or even if you’re slightly hungover!

If your chosen sport is a particularly sweat one including a lot of high intensity training sessions, or requires hours of your time, then you’re probably more in need of an electrolyte boost that anyone else, as sweating and excessive exercise can strongly impact your internal levels. 

You might consider using water hydration packets if you take part in the following sports or training:

• Long distance running
• CrossFit
• Sprinting
• Football
• Soccer
• Cycling

What’s more, many people use hydration packets when they’ve had a drink or two the night before. Let’s take a look at whether water hydration packets actually work for a hangover! 

Do Hydration Packets Cure Hangovers?

Obviously, the best way to definitely ensure you don’t get a hangover is to avoid drinking. But, one of the side effects of drinking is dehydration and the drop in electrolytes that comes with that. A good serving of water and a hydration packet could help to alleviate that side effect. 

However, when it comes to the nausea, headaches and tiredness, there’s not much we think a water hydration packet can do! It’ll take far more than a few micronutrients to sort that out if it’s a particularly bad hangover! Although it definitely won’t hurt.

Overall, we don’t think it’s there’s much in the way of evidence to support hydration powder packets as a realistic cure for hangovers, but taking one when you’re not really feeling great after a few drinks isn’t going to hurt at all! And who knows, it might work wonders for you!

We’d also recommend a workout and a good shower and! It’s tough, but surprisingly effective! 

How can I stay Hydrated? 

It’s super important to stay hydrated no matter what. Sure enough a hydration packet could help to top up your minerals, allowing your body to go through its hydration processes more efficiently, but the best place to start is definitely with drinking enough water.

Health experts recommend you drink around 2 liters of water a day, which equates to about eight large (8-ounce) glasses [1].

Aim for this and your body will be at a great level of hydration, which is extremely important for general health and wellbeing. Your body will work optimally when you’re consuming this amount of water. You should also consider adding an extra glass or two when you exercise.

Hydration packets – The final word

Hydration packets can be a great way to give your body the boost of minerals and micronutrients it needs. Whether that’s supplementing your diet, or to support you through a particularly tough workout, we can definitely seen the benefits.

This is especially true if you’re into those really intense sports where you’re sprinting around constantly, or you’re out training for hours at a time. They can help keep your body topped up with everything it needs, and help you flush out any waste too.

So if you’re still asking: are hydration packets good for you, the answer is yes. We can’t see any reason why they wouldn’t be good for you!

But, if you’re looking for a quick fix to a hangover, then it’s pretty unlikely they’ll make any drastic changes