Staying hydrated is essential for overall health. Water helps regulate body temperature, transport oxygen, cushion the brain, lubricate joints, and flush out waste. But hydration isnโt just about drinking waterโyour body also needs electrolytes to balance fluids at a cellular level. Electrolytes, such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, bicarbonate, and sodium chloride, help regulate hydration, nerve function, and muscle contractions. Without the right balance, you could drink plenty of water and still feel dehydrated!
Thatโs where
When following a very low carb diet, your body shifts into ketosis, prompting the kidneys to excrete more water, along with sodium and potassium. This can lead to low blood pressure, fatigue, headaches, and โketo fluโ symptoms. Replenishing electrolytes helps restore balance, reducing or even eliminating these effects.
Curious about electrolytes? Check out Mark Sissonโs Electrolytes 101: What Do Electrolytes Do? for a deeper dive!
What is Ultima Replenisher?
According to their website: โUltima Replenisher is an advanced, balanced electrolyte drink that provides highly effective hydration with six electrolytes and no junk, sugar, calories or carbs.โ
Ultima is sweetened with organic stevia leaf and made with real fruit flavor extracts. It is:
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- Caffeine-free
- Non-GMO
- Paleo-friendly
- Keto-friendly
- Peanut-free
- Soy-free
Ultima Replenisher contains 6 electrolytes and trace minerals, and contains zero calories, zero sugar and zero carbs. It also has 110% of the recommended daily value of Vitamin C per serving!
Ultima Replenisher Flavors
Oh, the variety! Their flavors include:
- Raspberry
- Blue Raspberry
- Lemonade
- Pink Lemonade
- Orange
- Grape
- Cherry Pomegranate
- Watermelon
- Passionfruit
Their newest product is a Mocktini Variety Pack which now includes Strawberry Margarita, Coconut Pina Colada, Cranberry Cosmo and Peach Bellini (tastes like the old peach ring candies!). They also have Appletini, which tastes just like apple Gatorade.
The flavors are sweeter than the typical electrolyte beverage but not overpowering. You can control how intense the flavor is by adjusting the amount of powder used. I found the flavors to be refreshing and tart without tasting artificial. My personal favorites are Grape and Cherry Pomegranate.
How to Use
Ultima comes in powdered form, in single-serving stickpacks and 30- or 90-serving canisters. Simply add one packet or scoop of powder to 16 oz of water and youโre good to go. You can adjust the amount of powder to get the intensity of flavor that works for you.
The stickpacks are perfect when on the go and travelling, I always keep a couple of packs in my car and purse. The canisters are much more economical for home and work, and for mixing with water in larger or smaller water bottles (such as for running/cycling).
Tip: for bottles with a thin neck, use a metal mini funnel* to assist in transferring the powder. Otherwise, you could lose quite a bit of powder!
On a typical day, I drink about 85 ounces of water, and add Ultima Replenisher to one 16 ounce bottle. If I have a tough workout or itโs hot out, Iโll mix in Ultima to another bottle (or two). Iโll also add a bottle if Iโm feeling light-headed or โoff,โ and usually feel better almost immediately.
I routinely use Ultima Replenisher while fasting (and have observed no change in tested glucose levels after drinking). Itโs a great way to add a little flavor, especially when doing longer or multi-day fasts.
I’ve even used Ultima (the lemonade flavor) for a colonoscopy prep instead of Gatorade!
I havenโt tried this myself, but I understand Ultima Replenisher is also great for keeping hangovers at bay ๐
Where to Buy
You can buy Ultima Replenisher directly from their website (where they often have great sales and free shipping over $10), at Amazon, CVS, Wegmans, Whole Foods and Walmart.
When trying Ultima Replenisher for the first time, I highly recommend one of their variety packs so you can get an idea of which flavors you like best before investing in large quantities.
Do I Recommend Ultima Replenisher?
A resounding YES!!
The only negative Iโve found with Ultima Replenisher is that it doesnโt stay completely mixed, no matter how hard I shake my bottle. My workaround is to shake my bottle before I take a sip. Better dissolvability is the one improvement Iโd love to see them make!
That said, Iโve been using their powders for years, and have come to swear by them. I notice a difference when I donโt use them, especially when keeping my carb counts super low. If youโre just getting started with a low carb or keto diet, youโll definitely want to use electrolytes to help keep โketo fluโ symptoms away.
If youโre a low carb/keto athlete (or weekend warrior), Ultima Replenisher can replace the high carb sports drinks you normally use (I used to drink Gatorade). It has been a savior for me at endurance events! Consuming them before and during races has improved my performance, and kept me from feeling light-headed and craving carbs afterwards.
And if youโre like me, and donโt like the taste of plain water, Ultima Replenisher provides a great way to add flavor without anything artificial. With their abundant selection of flavors, youโre sure to find one that works for you.
