Almost all electrolyte drinks have citric acid is what I discovered when looking for one after nearly passing out following a workout. I try to avoid citric acid for many reasons, so I was pretty annoyed by this discovery after reading many ingredient lists of popular electrolyte drinks. Luckily, I have managed to find a few electrolyte drinks without citric acid. Read below for the full breakdown.
Electrolyte Drinks Without Citric Acid
Berri
I discovered this one at Whole Foods, but they’re also available at most grocery stores and drugstores nationwide, as well as online. This drink seems to be the only bottled fitness drink that doesn’t have citric acid. They also sell a Pediatric Electrolyte drink called BerriLyte, though the ingredients don’t seem to differ much from the Berri Fit drink. All the flavors I’ve tried (Dragonfruit and Acai) taste pretty good.
Berri Fit Dragonfruit Organic Fitness Beverage Ingredients: Filtered Water, Organic Agave, Organic Coconut Water, Organic Raspberry Concentrate, Organic Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Lemon Juice Concentrate, Organic Dragon Fruit Flavor, Organic Fruit Punch Flavor, Organic Amla Fruit, Sea Salt, Natural Flavor from Non-GMO Plants, Purple Carrot, Organic Maqui Berries, Organic Manuka Honey, Organic Ginseng, Organic Maca. Contains: Coconut.
Jigsaw Health Pickleball Cocktail
You don’t have to play pickleball to enjoy this orange flavored electrolyte drink. The jar has 60 servings of caffeine and sugar-free electrolyte drink that you mix with water. Unfortunately, the Adrenal Cocktail from this brand has citric acid.
Jigsaw Health Pickleball Cocktail Ingredients: Potassium (as potassium chloride), Magnesium (as dimagnesium malate), Sodium (as Redmond’s Real Salt), Chloride (as potassium chloride and sodium chloride), Malic Acid (for tartness), Natural Flavors (no MSG), Stevia Leaf Extract & Monk Fruit Extract (for sweetness), Bamboo Extract (to prevent clumping), Orange Juice Concentrate (for flavor), Beta Carotene & Beet Root (for color)
LMNT Elemental Labs Recharge Electrolyte Drink Mix (select flavors)
Only the Raw Unflavored, Watermelon Salt, Mango Chili, and Chocolate Salt flavors are without citric acid. This drink comes conveniently in pre-portioned packs that you mix with water.
LMNT Electrolyte Drink Mix Raw Unflavored Ingredients: Salt (Sodium Chloride), Magnesium Malate, Potassium Chloride
Laird Superfood HYDRATE Coconut Water Powder Drink Supplement with Coconut Water and Auqamin
Laird Superfood is famous for his non-dairy coconut creamer with Aquamin, and this is powdered coconut water with Aquamin which makes for a convenient electrolyte-rich beverage. This is a good option if fresh coconut water is not available near you.
Ingredients: Freeze-Dried Coconut Water, Aquamin (Calcium From Marine Algae)
GOODONYA Hydrate Electrolyte & Mineral Powder
This is powdered lemon juice and coconut water blend has sea salt, vitamin c, and other minerals, along with aquamin added to make a tasty low sugar electrolyte beverage.
Ingredients: Organic Lemon Juice Powder, Aquamin, Magnesium Sea Minerals, Organic Coconut Water Powder, Organic Stevia Leaf Extract, Himalayan Pink Salt, Non GMO Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
SOS Hydration: Electrolyte and Mineral Drink Mix (select flavors)
Only the Watermelon, Coconut, Berry, and Mango flavors are without citric acid. SOS claims to hydrate 3x faster than plain water with a blend of electrolytes, potassium, magnesium, citrate, chloride, sugars and zinc. The brand also claims it contains 75% less sugar than the competition.
Ingredients: Cane Sugar, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Chloride, Dextrose, Natural Flavors, Natural Color, Malic Acid, Magnesium Citrate, Stevia, Zinc Sulphate
Mitigate Stress Master Mineral Drink
This one is not exactly a sports or fitness electrolyte drink, but it is a high-quality, mineral supplement that you add to juice or water. It has a special form of Magnesium which is only found in liquid form, and isn’t in many other electrolyte supplements.
Mitigate Stress Master Mineral Drink Ingredients: Chilled 12-Stage Reverse Osmosis Filtered Water, Co2, Magnesium Hydroxide, Potassium Bicarbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate
What is Citric Acid?
Citric acid is a food additive that alters the pH, and can also add tart or sour flavoring to a food product. It is found naturally in citrus fruits, but now is commonly made from the mold Aspergillus niger. It’s in many processed food and drink, and is tolerated well by most, but some may choose to avoid it for a variety of reasons.
Why is citric acid added to electrolyte drinks?
Citric acid can have a sour or tart taste. This is the most likely reason this acid is used in electrolyte drinks— as citrus flavoring. But citric acid also extends the shelf-life of a product and prevents the growth of bacteria.
Do Gatorade and Powerade have citric acid?
Yes, both drinks have citric acid.
Does Liquid IV have citric acid?
Yes, Liquid IV does have citric acid.
Sadly, SOS does contain citric acid now.