Review: True Electrolyte

The timing of this review probably couldn’t have been better. The package arrived on my doorstep just as the first of the Spring heatwaves did so too, and then a fortnight later I would find myself on holiday in tropical north Queensland – a place where the humidity is so high that a walk to the resort bar leaves you looking like you’ve been swimming. But before delving into my thoughts on True Electrolyte, let’s take a quick look at the what and why of these types of supplements.

The main reason we as runners need something like this is that electrolyte drinks help rehydrate the body by replenishing essential minerals like sodium, potassium, and magnesium that are lost through sweat. There’s plenty of research that has proven how they can prevent dehydration, muscle cramps, and support nerve and heart function. For your average person that doesn’t do strenuous exercise, a balanced diet is generally fine. However, if you’re regularly out there pounding the pavement or in the gym, then chances are you need a little bit extra in your diet to maintain healthy function. For me, using a supplement like this immediately post-training provides a little bit of reassurance that I’m not underdone on the electrolyte front. Plus, it means that as soon as I finish a run, I’m into recovery mode.

Here’s the thing: most runners put so much time and energy into training, but not enough into their recovery. The “one percenters” like stretching, strength work and good nutrition get overlooked. But it’s these seemingly small things that make a big difference to not only your performance, but your day to day enjoyment of the sport. I always tells my athletes that racking up the miles is important, but the only training you benefit from, is the training you recover from. So sleep, stretch, eat and….drink properly. Water is the foundation, but adding some electrolytes into your post workout beverage is the icing on the cake.

Now to this specific product – True Electrolyte. Here’s the spiel direct from their website “True Electrolyte is formulated to deliver fast, effective hydration, replacing what sweat takes out, so you can push harder, recover quicker and stay sharp during hot days. No sugar highs. No gut issues. Just a clean, science-backed formula that keeps you feeling your best.” Sounds great hey? But is it True? See what I did there 😉

When it comes to electrolyte supplements I look at what’s inside, how it tastes and how my body handles it. In terms of the formulation, the table here gives you the technical details. In simple terms, there’s ample of the good stuff and none of the unnecessary like fat, lactose or gluten. A couple tea spoons in a big glass of water or 500mL soft flask provides you with all you need either before, during or after exercise.

In terms of taste, I couldn’t fault it. The tropical and lemon burst were the favourites, but all of them are easy to consume and you don’t get the sickly sweetness or flavour fatigue some other products give you. Similarly, my body handled it really well. At no time did I get any gut issues, and I used it on my long runs and also immediately after every workout. One other thing worth noting is that it dissolves quickly, mixing into the water without leaving annoying chunks or settling on the bottom.

In summary, I can highly recommend True Electrolyte. The 40 serves you get from the 240g bag lasts me around a month, and you can even get handy travel packs with single-serve sachets for when you’re on-the-go.