Zero-Sugar Electrolyte Drink Mix

LMNT is the salty, sugar-free stick pack that built a following among endurance athletes and low-carb dieters. Each 6 g Citrus Salt stick provides 1,000 mg sodium (43% of the Daily Value), 200 mg potassium and 60 mg magnesium with 0 g sugar and 5 calories, sweetened with stevia and meant to be mixed into 16 to 32 oz of water.

That sodium dose is the point. The American College of Sports Medicine notes that sweat rates and sweat sodium vary widely, and people who lose a lot of salt, such as long-distance runners, outdoor workers or anyone training hard in the heat, can genuinely need more than a typical sports drink provides. Low-carb and keto eaters are another core audience. For everyone else, context matters: the FDA says Americans already average about 3,400 mg of sodium a day against a 2,300 mg limit, while LMNT's own FAQ argues for 4 to 6 g a day, a position well outside mainstream guidance.

Quality practices look solid. LMNT says an independent third party tests raw materials, blends and finished product, and it audits manufacturers against FDA food GMP rules. Transparency took a hit in 2024, when the company acknowledged that most flavored sticks contain 300-450 mg of maltodextrin as a flavor carrier, legally folded into 'natural flavors'; Lemonade Salt uses tapioca fiber and the Raw Unflavored version has no carrier.

buyers rate it highly for taste, easy mixing and feeling better hydrated, and many say it is gentle on the stomach; the recurring complaints are price and saltiness. At $45 for 30 sticks, or about $1.13 each in the brand's largest bundle, you are paying premium prices for mostly salt.