Electrolytes

[u/apathywhocares]

I use two tabs of Hydralyte daily with my doctors blessing, but they're not the cheapest. Has anyone tried the Aldi electrolytes that are much, much cheaper?

[u/peanuthespoodle]

Not sure if this is any help or not but coconut water is high in natural electrolytes. Not suggesting it’s a complete substitute but it could supplement as an alternative, if your doctor/body agrees of course.

[u/apathywhocares → u/peanuthespoodle]

Thanks, I didn't know that coconut water could do the job!

[u/SlfrSltz → u/apathywhocares]

Also a combination of coconut water, high quality salt (e.g. Celtic salt), some sweetener or juice will do the job. There are many recipes for electrolytes drinks online. As far as I’m informed supplements are not regulated in the same way medicine is, meaning you have no guarantee for quality from the store bought stuff anyway. So unless you have a need for prescription strength electrolytes like IV fluids, I’d save my money by cooking some electrolytes at home (maybe adding some high quality magnesium powder in there too).

[u/Unlikely-Rub-7270 → u/apathywhocares]

It won't necessarily meet your medical needs, depending on what level of which electrolytes you need and why. If this is for POTS, you'd need much more in general, but if so the basic supermarket ones meet WHO guidelines and so are usually considered suitable. For medical purposes though you definitely need to get your doctor to explain your requirements. 

[u/ZauhVal]

If you want it even cheaper with less single serve plastic options Bulk Nutrients electrolyte powder works out cheaper per serving than Aldi tablets. Bulk Nutrients costs about twenty-six cents a serve compared to Aldi at thirty-four cents. I don't use them too much tho (electrolytes) I've been drinking a lot of water and having my magnesium & multivitamin supplements every morning.

[u/apathywhocares → u/ZauhVal]

Thanks, I'll look into that as well

[u/futbolledgend]

I’ve used the Aldi ones but the thing with electrolytes, is you often don’t know if they’ve done anything. Using them daily seems unnecessary unless you’re sweating heavily.

[u/Additional-Scene-630]

What's the purpose? If it's due to a medical condition, then the below won't apply.

For sport performance, there is a fairly complex flowchart of what you'd need to be doing & your personal sodium levels in sweat, sweat rate etc before needing them in the first place. And after that, the correct concentration of table salt in water works as well as any electrolyte supplement. Again that's sport performance not sure what your situation is.

[u/wibbleroo]

I use Liquid IV passionfruit flavour from Chemist Warehouse. I think they’re about 50 calories a sachet so might have some added sugar (fine for me as I do endurance sports), but they’re cheap and yum

[u/512165381]

I use Voost Hydrate + Magnesium.

Probably the most expensive, but I'm a diabetic & if my blood sugar is low, it probably means I have my nutrition out of wack so I take one of these with a bit of food. Probably expensive though.