Electrolyte powders vary wildly in total electrolyte counts, so this guide is here to help you pick the best keto electrolyte powder for a keto diet and intermittent fasting.
These electrolyte drinks can be really important tools to make your intermittent fasting, endurance exercise, using a sauna, or keto diet regimens successful as well as safe.
Surprisingly, there are no standards requiring adequate electrolytes in these drinks, so a product can call itself an “electrolyte drink” without having any appreciable levels of electrolytes in it at all.
Keep in mind that these are meant for healthy people and are not appropriate if you have kidney disease.
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Table of Contents
What qualifies as the best keto electrolyte powder?
The basic criteria for the best electrolyte powder is that it actually contains the electrolytes needed to stay hydrated.
Electrically charged minerals include sodium, chloride, potassium, and magnesium.
You may be surprised to find out that most electrolyte drinks don’t actually contain significant enough electrolyte amounts to help you — this is true even of the most common ones on the shelf today, like Gatorade and Powerade.
Here are the criteria I use for the best electrolyte powders for fasting, athletic performance, and taste:
- Contains plenty of electrolytes: sodium, potassium, and magnesium
- Free of artificial sweeteners
- Contains bicarbonate for acid-base balance as a bonus
- Uses natural sweeteners, preferably monk fruit, for taste
- Free of artificial colors
- Trace minerals are a nice bonus
- Vitamin C and natural B vitamins are helpful but not required
- Sugar-free and low-carb
Best keto electrolyte powder brands overview
| Brand | Sodium | Potassium | Magnesium | Features | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key Nutrients Best overall | 140 mg | 250 mg | 100 mg | Best tasting, highly rated, best value, lowest calorie, also has zinc and calcium, 12 flavors | Stevia flavor is too sweet for some |
| Seeking Health Optimal Electrolyte Best overall | 150 mg | 500 mg | 125 mg | Adds creatine, taurine & PEAK ATP® for cellular energy | Contains corn and tapioca |
| Trace Minerals Research Keto (Lemon Lime) Best overall | 10 mg | 1,000 mg | 120 mg | 0 g carbs, full-spectrum trace minerals, highest potassium of the “best overall” group | Very low sodium — plan to add salt |
| Thorne Daily Electrolytes Best packets | 480 mg | 99 mg | 40 mg | NSF Certified for Sport®, low-cal, no sugar, travel-friendly stick packs | Citric acid is corn-derived |
| Trace Minerals Hydropack Creatine + Electrolytes | 250 mg | 100 mg | 50 mg | 5 g creatine monohydrate added for muscle & cognitive support | Lower potassium than other picks |
| Dr. Berg’s Electrolyte Powder | 10 mg | 1000 mg | 120 mg | Highest potassium, contains trace minerals | Stevia-sweetened, not enough sodium |
| BodyHealth PerfectAmino Electrolytes Honorable mention | 300 mg | 250 mg | 50 mg | Adds complete EAAs, corn-free citric acid (from cassava) | Pricier than a simple electrolyte mix |
Criteria for the best keto electrolyte powder brands
Electrolytes on keto diets often make or break the experience. If you don’t have enough, you’ll feel fatigued and experience keto flu symptoms.
When looking for the best electrolyte supplement for keto diets or fasting, the following electrolyte criteria are a must.
A good keto hydration powder will have plenty of sodium, magnesium, chloride, and potassium — a good rule of thumb for any best electrolyte supplement for athletes too.
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Must contain at least 100 mg of sodium
The electrolyte you stand to lose in the highest amounts during exercise or a fast is sodium. Yet manufacturers shy away from adding sodium to their electrolyte solutions — this simply isn’t acceptable.
When shopping for an electrolyte drink, make sure it contains at least 100 mg of sodium per serving. This is harder to find than you’d think.
Still, if you’re doing intense sweating, you may need to add a salt tablet or extra sodium no matter how much sodium your drink already contains.
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Contains a good amount of magnesium
I recommend finding electrolytes with at least 100 mg of magnesium, since most people are low in magnesium at baseline and fasting plus exercise depletes it further.
Because it can be difficult to find in perfect combination with other electrolytes, I included products with greater than 50 mg of magnesium per serving.
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Contains a good amount of potassium
The best electrolyte powders will have at least 300 mg of potassium.
Other key nutrients and helpful ingredients to look for:
Best overall and best keto electrolyte powder for fasting
Three products stand out as the best overall electrolytes because they clearly have better mineral ratios and better overall ingredients than everything else on the market today: Key Nutrients, Seeking Health, and Trace Minerals Research. All three check the boxes for the best electrolyte powder for keto diets as well as fasting.
Key Nutrients Electrolytes
Key Nutrients Electrolytes is the best electrolyte powder because it contains a perfect blend of electrolytes, tastes great, is sugar-free, and has zero calories. Simply mix this tasty powder in water to help with hydration and replace electrolytes.
That means you can easily have this drink while fasting or on a ketogenic diet. Plus, it tastes delicious and doesn’t have a stevia aftertaste like many low-carb drinks.
Key Nutrients is also very highly rated and a good value at $35 for 90 servings. Customer service is great, and you can return it if you aren’t fully satisfied.
Seeking Health Optimal Electrolyte
Seeking Health Optimal Electrolyte is formulated with real Himalayan pink salt for sodium and potassium, PEAK ATP®, Creavitalis® creatine, niacin, and magnesium — a broader formula than a straight electrolyte powder, built to support hydration, cellular energy production, and heart and muscle health.
Each scoop delivers 500 mg of potassium and 125 mg of magnesium, two of the electrolytes people fall short on most, along with 150 mg of sodium from Himalayan pink salt and a 1.6 g hydration blend of creatine monohydrate, taurine, and PEAK ATP for added cellular energy support.
Suggested use: Add 1 scoop to 8 oz of filtered water as needed, away from food. Sip, hold, then swallow rather than chugging, and avoid taking it within 3 hours of bedtime.
| Niacin (as inositol hexanicotinate) | 25 mg |
| Magnesium (as Di-Magnesium Malate, Albion®) | 125 mg |
| Chloride (from Himalayan pink salt) | 233 mg |
| Sodium (from Himalayan pink salt) | 150 mg |
| Potassium (as potassium bicarbonate) | 500 mg |
| Hydration blend (creatine monohydrate/Creavitalis®, taurine, PEAK ATP®) | 1.6 g |
Other ingredients: malic acid. Free of dairy, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, sesame, gluten, and GMOs.
Note for readers with corn or tapioca sensitivities: this product also contains corn- and tapioca-derived ingredients, so if you’re avoiding those, this may not be your best fit.
Trace Minerals Research Keto Electrolyte Powder – Lemon Lime
Trace Minerals Research KETO Electrolyte Powder is a keto-friendly, 0 g carb formula built around a full-spectrum trace mineral and electrolyte complex, with the highest potassium content of the “best overall” group at 1,000 mg per scoop.
- Replenishes lost electrolytes
- Rapid rehydration
- Sustained energy & endurance
- Helps prevent muscle cramps
- Efficient muscle recovery
- Full-spectrum trace mineral & electrolyte complex
Suggested use: Mix 1 scoop (6.7 g) with 16 oz of water. Follow with plenty of fluids for efficient hydration.
| Calcium (as calcium lactate) | 75 mg |
| Magnesium (from magnesium citrate) | 120 mg |
| Chloride (from sea salt) | 15 mg |
| Sodium (from sea salt) | 10 mg |
| Potassium (as potassium citrate) | 1,000 mg |
| ConcenTrace® Trace Minerals | 100 mg |
Other ingredients: citric acid, steviol glycosides, malic acid, natural flavors, silicon dioxide, Reb A, Reb M (OnoSweet™).
Note: like Dr. Berg’s below, sodium here is very low (10 mg), so if you’re fasting or sweating heavily, plan to add extra salt to this one.
Best for endurance or heavy sweating
Trace Minerals Research Hydropack Creatine + Electrolytes pairs a full dose of creatine with electrolytes formulated to power performance and support optimal hydration and brain function. The electrolytes help transport creatine into muscle cells to support muscle growth, endurance, and recovery, while the creatine itself supports ATP resynthesis, muscle stamina, and cognitive function.
Suggested use: Mix 1 rounded scoop (8 g) with 8–12 oz of water. Additional servings can be taken depending on activity level.
| Magnesium (from magnesium citrate) | 50 mg |
| Sodium (from ancient sea salt) | 250 mg |
| Chloride (from ancient sea salt) | 375 mg |
| Potassium (from potassium citrate) | 100 mg |
| Creatine monohydrate | 5 g |
| ConcenTrace® Trace Minerals (from concentrated seawater) | 100 mg |
Other ingredients: citric acid, ancient sea salt, natural flavors, Reb A, silicon dioxide, calcium silicate, Reb M, fruit and vegetable juice (for color). Contains <1 g total sugars, including <1 g added sugar. Some caking may occur; this doesn’t affect quality.
Highest potassium content
Dr. Berg’s Original Electrolyte Powder is among the best electrolytes for keto because it has the highest potassium content, at 1,000 mg per serving.
Unfortunately, it only contains 10 mg of sodium, which isn’t enough for people with salty sweat or for people who are fasting. It does, however, contain trace minerals as a bonus, and it’s all-natural and stevia-sweetened.
Best keto electrolyte powder packets
Thorne’s Daily Electrolytes promote healthy cellular hydration and support recovery, benefiting cellular energy production, cell signaling, and muscle performance. Because the body loses sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and chloride through sweat, replenishing them is an essential step in thinking, performing, and feeling your best. Daily Electrolytes come in convenient stick packs for the gym, the outdoors, or travel.
Benefits:
- Replenishes electrolytes lost through sweat
- Restores optimal fluid balance and cellular hydration
- Enhances recovery after exercise
- Supports endurance and athletic performance
- Supports cellular energy production
- Magnesium and calcium support optimal muscle function
- Sodium, chloride, and potassium regulate fluid balance
Features:
- Low-calorie, no-sugar formula
- Convenient single-serve stick packs for travel or the gym bag
- Three flavors: watermelon, blood orange, and mango limeade, plus a variety pack
Who it’s for: athletes and non-athletes looking to rehydrate, active individuals replacing sweat losses, people in hot/humid climates, frequent flyers wanting extra in-flight hydration, and anyone wanting a tastier way to drink more water.
Every batch is NSF Certified for Sport®, meaning it’s tested for label-claim accuracy and the absence of more than 200 substances banned by major athletic organizations — a meaningful reassurance for competitive athletes.
Suggested use: Mix 1 stick pack with at least 12 oz of water daily, or as recommended by your healthcare practitioner.
| Calories | 5 |
| Total carbohydrate | 1 g |
| Calcium (as dicalcium malate and calcium silicate) | 70 mg |
| Magnesium (as dimagnesium malate) | 40 mg |
| Chloride (from Himalayan pink salt) | 750 mg |
| Sodium (from Himalayan pink salt) | 480 mg |
| Potassium (as potassium citrate) | 99 mg |
Other ingredients (Mango Limeade): citric acid, flavors, Rebaudioside M (from stevia), silicon dioxide, calcium silicate, turmeric (color).
Note for readers with corn sensitivities: the citric acid in this product is corn-derived, so it’s worth avoiding if you’re sensitive to corn.
Honorable Mention
BodyHealth’s PerfectAmino Electrolytes (Watermelon) goes a step beyond a standard electrolyte mix by combining hydration minerals with PERFECT AMINO™, a complete essential amino acid blend, so you get both fluid balance support and the protein-building blocks needed to stay in the workout, race, or competition longer and recover faster.
Suggested use: Mix one scoop in 16 fl oz of ice-cold water.
| Magnesium (as magnesium citrate) | 50 mg |
| Zinc (as amino acid chelate) | 2 mg |
| Sodium (as pink Himalayan salt) | 300 mg |
| Potassium (as potassium citrate) | 250 mg |
| Trace minerals (ConcenTrace® AC) | 80 mg |
| PERFECT AMINO™ EAA & NA proprietary blend | 2 g |
Other ingredients: natural flavors, L-malic acid, citric acid (from cassava), stevia (Rebaudioside M) extract, monk fruit (Luo Han Guo), Katemfe fruit (Thaumatococcus danielli) extract.
Note: the citric acid here is cassava-derived, not corn-derived, so this is a helpful pick for readers avoiding corn specifically.
Better than common sports drinks, but didn’t make the cut
It’s easy to add sodium to your electrolyte drinks, but not as easy to fix a low-magnesium electrolyte supplement. For this reason, these popular electrolyte powders didn’t make the cut:
- Nuun Electrolyte Drink Tablets
- Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier
- Keto K1000 Electrolyte Powder
- Jigsaw Health Electrolyte Supreme Powder Packets
- Pedialyte Hydration Station — didn’t make the cut because it has sucralose, and artificial sweeteners don’t belong on this list
Of course, you could always buy your own magnesium powder to correct this issue fairly easily.
Why magnesium?
Fasting can make your body lose more magnesium, especially for prolonged fasts and if the body becomes acidic.
Your body’s magnesium blood content can drop by 10 percent after exercise.
Not to mention, the average American is low in magnesium anyway. For this reason, I held fast to the magnesium rule for my electrolyte recommendations.
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Why sodium?
When you fast or follow a ketogenic diet, you’ll also lose more sodium in your urine than you would if you weren’t fasting. The weight loss from these meal plans can increase your loss of electrolytes.
Combine this with exercise, and sodium becomes a critical ingredient in your electrolyte supplements.
From experience, I can tell you I’m able to complete an intermittent fast much more effectively if I drink some sodium. Many other experts in fasting recommend adding salt to their water or electrolyte drinks for this reason.
Why potassium?
Most electrolyte drinks don’t skimp on potassium, and for good reason — potassium is an electrolyte many people fall short of in their diets.
Exercise causes poor replenishment of potassium in the muscle without supplementation.
Luckily, fasting doesn’t cause large losses of potassium, so it’s probably of lesser importance during a fast than sodium and magnesium.
Still, most Americans don’t eat enough potassium-rich foods, so it never hurts to get a little extra in your supplements — as long as you have healthy kidneys.
Fasting considerations
Research shows that intermittent fasting can be beneficial for many health conditions, such as reducing cancer risk and heart disease risk, and is even helpful for reducing body fat and body weight.
However, most people living in the West grew up grazing on food all day and all night, so adapting to a fast often requires some tools like electrolytes.
Maintaining hydration with adequate water and herbal tea can be really helpful during a fast, but to be successful with fasting, many people need to replenish their electrolytes during the fasting period.
There are many perfectly good electrolyte hydration drinks on the market, but they have sugar — so they don’t work if you’re fasting. Most people can maintain a fast if they have an electrolyte drink with around 20 calories in it.
What about coconut water?
Coconut water doesn’t contain enough sodium and contains carbs and natural sugar, which means it doesn’t meet the criteria as an electrolyte drink for keto or fasting.
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Hi, I am looking into doing a water fast, and I am just not sure if everything I drink should have electrolyte replacement or just a couple servings a day. So, do I use the electrolyte replacement just once, twice or with all water?
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