Ancestral Electrolytes - 200 grams

Ancestral Electrolytes is a sugar-free drink powder providing per scoop (4.4 g) 500 mg of sodium from Celtic sea salt, 1,000 mg of chloride, 300 mg of potassium, 60 mg of magnesium from a sea mineral complex, 70 mg of calcium from red sea algae (Lithothamnion) and 75 mg of choline. No sugar, no maltodextrin, no artificial colourings or anti-caking agents; sweetened with stevia leaf extract (Reb M). Most sports drinks contain 20 to 30 g of sugar and little sodium; many electrolyte powders use synthetic mineral salts and maltodextrin as a filler. Ancestral Supplements uses no fillers, flow agents, stearates or anti-caking agents; every batch is tested by an independent laboratory and the company operates under GMP certification.

For anyone who loses a lot of fluid and salts: athletes, in hot weather, in the sauna, after an evening of alcohol, on a carnivore, keto or low-carb diet (where the body excretes more sodium), when fasting, and with fatigue, headache or muscle cramps due to an electrolyte shortage. Also handy with stomach flu or diarrhoea to replenish fluid and salts.

Mix 1 scoop (4.4 g) with 350 to 590 ml of water; more water gives a milder taste. Drink it around training, in the morning when you get up or spread over a hot day. Usually 1 to 2 scoops per day are enough; with heavy exertion or a lot of sweating, up to 3. A 200 g tub contains around 45 scoops. It dissolves completely, even in cold water.

500 mg of sodium is about a quarter of a teaspoon of salt. When sweating you easily lose 500 to 1,000 mg of sodium per hour, and on a low-carb diet the kidneys excrete extra sodium; in that case this is a top-up, not an overdose. If you eat a lot of processed food or have high blood pressure, heart failure or kidney problems, or take diuretics, consult your doctor and limit yourself to 1 scoop.

Choline is a vitamin-like nutrient that contributes to normal lipid metabolism and normal homocysteine metabolism and that the body uses up during exertion; 75 mg is a modest top-up. It makes the formula slightly more complete than a standard electrolyte powder.

Ancestral Minerals is the capsule version with more magnesium (125 mg per daily dose), bee pollen and kelp (iodine), as a daily mineral foundation. Electrolytes is the drink powder for rapid rehydration around exercise and heat, without pollen or iodine. The two combine well.

Children can use half a scoop in a large bottle of water during sport or hot weather. During pregnancy and breastfeeding there is no objection; if in doubt, consult your midwife. If you take blood pressure medication, diuretics, lithium or potassium-sparing medication, consult your doctor because of the sodium and potassium.

Free from gluten, dairy, soy, nuts, egg, fish, shellfish, sugar and gelatine; vegan. Contains red sea algae (Lithothamnion, not fish or shellfish), natural lemon-lime flavouring, citric acid and stevia leaf extract; the Wild Berry flavour also contains beetroot juice as a colouring. Store the tub tightly closed, cool and dry, with a dry scoop; the powder attracts moisture.