Why We Sell LMNT
TLDR: Water does not hydrate if you do not have enough sodium and levels of other electrolytes in your system so being sure to get your electrolytes in early and often will keep you going in the heat and humidity. There is more, but you could leave now and have understood most of it.
What is LMNT?
LMNT is a 0 sugar electrolyte supplement that helps you replenish what you use during your workouts as well as effectively use the water you rehydrate with.
The original LMNT product is the packet of drink mix that comes in a number of flavors. And they recently added premade 16oz cans in a few of the favorite flavors. And both products are available at Black Wolf (cans are in the refrigerator).
A Short, Non Expert Account of Electrolyte Drinks
Working out in the weather of Houston, Texas means, more often than not, you are sweating just a little bit. Most people know that if they are sweating, they are losing water and will need to rehydrate. That makes sense.
But we may not realize that water is only one piece of the hydration puzzle.
Gatorade is a common entry point to understanding. If you played sports in high school or college then your program likely provided you with Gatorade or Powerade during practice instead of just water. The reason for this was to replenish your electrolytes as well as the water you had lost.
Then an odd thing happened. A few years ago Gatorade created a new product focused on hydration…. But, I thought that was what Gatorade was for in the first place….
As with most good things sold for profit, over time, the recipe for these products shifted toward being sugar heavy to add to the flavor. And as it moved that way, the actual important ingredients started to decline in each serving.
Unfortunately, most “hydration” beverages found in the convenience store (Prime, Electrolit, any level of Gatorade product) are junior league versions of the real thing.
Perhaps the best example of a rehydration beverage is Pedialyte. Originally developed to rehydrate babies who could fairly easily die if they contracted anything that caused diarrhea due to the amount of water they would lose. Pedialyte for kids is a sodium free product that delivers high amounts of the electrolytes we need. (So if you like salting your food, this might be a good product for you).
And Then There Was LMNT
LMNT arrived on a scene a few years back to try and fill the gap between infant care and what active adults (all adults actually) need. LMNT creates a sugar free way to easily consume 1,000mg of sodium, 200mg of potassium, and 60mg of magnesium.
If you consume a packet of LMNT after a hot workout, you will absolutely feel your brain and body bounce back more quickly than normal. And this is extremely useful when we need to get back to life after our workouts.
LMNT does not deliver a full daily amount of any nutrient, but it does create an quick digesting supplement that not only helps post workout, but also will make it easier to achieve our daily value when made a part of a Whole Foods focused diet.
We sell LMNT in packets and in 16oz cans. Both offer the 1,000mg sodium, 200mg potassium, 60mg magnesium. And then once you find your favorite flavor, we do sell the 30 count boxes of packets.
LMNT Packet $2.50
16oz LMNT $3.50
30 Count $45
Grab a packet the next time you are in and see if you notice a difference!
FAQ
Can I get these benefits without buying this?
Yes IF…
If your diet is whole food based and guarantees eating foods that provide potassium, magnesium, and sodium then you can stay ahead of this without supplementing. Especially if you do not sweat often.
As you increase activity, or have a less reliable diet, then it does become more difficult to say you can be certain you are getting enough to replenish the electrolytes you are burning through.
Salt your food (Kosher, Himalayan, Celtic tend to be the least stripped of nutrients), again, especially if you sweat a lot.
Magnesium (400+ mg per day) - Avocado (60mg in a medium avocado), Almonds (76mg in 23 almonds), green leafy vegetables (158mg in 1 cup cooked spinach)
Potassium (4700 mg per day) - Sweet Potato or White Potato (940mg in 1 cup), Bananas (330mg in a medium banana), Avocado (330mg in a medium avocado),Tomatoes (423mg in 1 cup of tomatoes), leafy green veggies (167mg in 1 cup raw spinach), coconut water (400mg in 1 cup of coconut water).
But isnt too much salt unhealthy?
This one definitely got me at first. In fact, before LMNT, I had started adding sea salt to my water each day thanks to hearing Kelly Starrett talk about it every chance he could. And just doing that I had already noticed my brain felt better and I definitely recovered from workouts and runs more quickly.
Doctors advice for your unique health condition is the priority. But, generally speaking, we misunderstand salt just a bit. Similar to my favorite sensational study that was very popular in the early 2010s, The China Study, which convinced the gullible that red meat caused cancer, there’s evidence our salt recommendations are based on a study that also tested on rats in a way that did not at all consider realistic human consumption patterns.
Basically, yes, if you eat more than a pound of salt each day (gross) you would definitely see bad things start to happen to your health. Absolutely nobody is arguing that.
The LMNT website states that research is telling us we need 4 to 6 grams of salt a day compared to the 2.3 grams according to government recommendations.
The LMNT website links to a number posts discussing the research for anybody interested in diving deeper.
Again, listen to your doctor.