GoHydrate Vs. Liquid I.V. Electrolyte Hydration Drinks

Proper hydration is essential for maintaining energy, health, and peak performance. Even mild dehydration can negatively impact physical and mental functioning.

Electrolyte drinks provide an easy and effective way to stay hydrated by replenishing fluids and electrolytes lost through sweat and activity.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare two popular electrolyte drink options: GoHydrate and Liquid I.V. We’ll examine the key features, pros and cons, sweeteners used, scientific evidence on effectiveness, and other factors to help you decide which electrolyte drink is best for your hydration needs.

A Brief Comparison Table

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the key features, ingredients, and factors between GoHydrate and Liquid I.V. electrolyte drinks:

Feature	GoHydrate	Liquid I.V.
Serving Size	1 packet (6.9 g)	1 pouch (13.33 g)
Calories per serving	15	20
Key electrolytes	Sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium	Sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium
Sweeteners	Sugar, stevia	Cane sugar, malic acid
Flavors offered	10 flavors (Orange, Fruit Punch, etc)	7 flavors (Lemon Lime, Acai Berry, etc)
Packaging	Single-serve packets	Single-serve pouches
Price per serving	$1.00 – $1.50	$1.00 – $1.25 (cheaper in bulk)
Where to buy	GoHydrate website	Retailers, Amazon, Liquid I.V. website
Clinically studied	Yes	Yes
Hydration benefits	Hydrates 2-3x faster than water	Hydrates 2-3x faster than water

As shown above, GoHydrate and Liquid I.V. are quite similar in their core offering of premium electrolyte hydration. The main differences are in flavor options, sweeteners used, where they are sold, and pricing.

Both drinks provide clean, effective electrolyte hydration powered by quality ingredients. Next, let’s compare how they actually perform for hydration.

Also Read: Comparison of Liquid I.V. And Zipfizz Electrolyte Drinks.

What Are Electrolyte Drinks And Why Are They Useful?

Before diving into GoHydrate vs Liquid I.V., let’s first provide some background on electrolyte drinks and why they are so useful for hydration.

Electrolytes are essential minerals like sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium.

They help regulate nerve impulses, muscle contractions, hydration levels, and many other important bodily functions.

Water makes up over half our body weight. Maintaining proper water and electrolyte balance is crucial for optimal health and performance.

When we sweat during exercise or in hot environments, we lose both water and electrolytes. This can lead to an electrolyte imbalance that impairs normal body processes.

Symptoms of electrolyte imbalance and dehydration include:

• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Muscle cramps
• Impaired cognition and focus
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Increased heart rate
• Reduced endurance and strength

Drinking plain water helps replenish lost fluids, but does not provide any electrolytes. This is where electrolyte drinks come in handy.

Electrolyte drinks contain sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and other minerals. This helps:

• Replenish electrolytes lost through sweat
• Maintain proper electrolyte balance
• Enhance hydration more than water alone
• Replace electrolytes lost during illness like vomiting or diarrhea
• Prevent dehydration symptoms

By containing both water and electrolytes, these speciality drinks enhance hydration better and faster than plain water.

For athletes and active individuals who sweat heavily, electrolyte drinks are essential for staying properly hydrated. They also provide an easy way for frequent travelers, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone at risk for dehydration to get sufficient fluids and electrolytes.

Now that we understand the key benefits of electrolyte drinks, let’s compare two of the most popular ready-to-drink options: GoHydrate and Liquid I.V.

An Overview of GoHydrate and Liquid I.V.

GoHydrate and Liquid I.V. are two leading electrolyte drink brands that provide convenient, portable hydration on-the-go. Here is a quick overview and introduction to each:

GoHydrate

• Comes in single-serve packets that easily mix with water
• Provides sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chloride
• Available in 10 different flavors like Orange, Fruit Punch, Watermelon
• Sweetened with sugar and stevia
• No artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners
• Contains 15 calories per packet
• Non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan
• Can purchase directly through GoHydrate website

Liquid I.V.

• Packaged in single-use pouches
• Contains key electrolytes like sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium
• Offered in 7 different flavors including Lemon Lime, Acai Berry, Passion Fruit
• Sweetened only with cane sugar and malic acid
• 20 calories per pouch
• No artificial ingredients
• Non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan
• Sold online, in stores, and through Liquid I.V. website

At first glance, GoHydrate and Liquid I.V. seem very similar. But looking closer, some key differences emerge:

• GoHydrate provides more flavor options: 10 vs 7 with Liquid I.V.
• Liquid I.V. has fewer calories per serving
• GoHydrate uses stevia alongside sugar, while Liquid I.V. uses only cane sugar and malic acid
• GoHydrate sold exclusively online; Liquid I.V. more widely available

Now that we have an overview of each electrolyte drink brand, let’s do a deeper dive into their ingredients, pros and cons, and how they compare for hydration effectiveness.

Examining The Key Ingredients in GoHydrate and Liquid I.V.

The key ingredients in an electrolyte drink determine how effectively and safely it hydrates you. Let’s look at what’s inside GoHydrate and Liquid I.V.:

GoHydrate Key Ingredients:

• Sodium chloride
• Potassium chloride
• Magnesium citrate
• Calcium citrate
• Stevia leaf extract
• Cane sugar
• Natural flavors
• Malic acid
• Citric acid

Liquid I.V. Key Ingredients:

• Sodium chloride
• Potassium chloride
• Dextrose (glucose)
• Magnesium chloride
• Calcium chloride
• Cane sugar
• Malic acid
• Natural flavors

The main electrolytes provided in both drinks are:

• Sodium
• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Calcium

These key electrolytes are lost in sweat and are essential for maintaining fluid balance and optimal function throughout the body.

Both drinks contain optimal levels of these electrolytes to effectively rehydrate without going over safe limits. The ingredients are also similar, with a few small differences:

• GoHydrate includes stevia, while Liquid I.V. does not
• Liquid I.V. has added glucose
• The magnesium and calcium forms differ slightly

Overall, both provide clean ingredient profiles without any artificial additives or sweeteners. Now let’s examine the pros and cons of each electrolyte drink.

GoHydrate Pros and Cons

Here are the main advantages and disadvantages of GoHydrate electrolyte drink:

Pros:

• 10 flavor varieties to choose from
• No artificial sweeteners, colors, or flavors
• Added stevia appeals to some as a natural sweetener
• Provides 100% RDI for sodium, potassium, magnesium in each packet
• Contains calcium for bone health
• TriSalt electrolyte blend enhances hydration
• Can hydrate 2-3x faster than water
• Non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan
• Single-serve packets easy to take anywhere

Cons:

• Higher in calories with 15 per packet
• Some dislike aftertaste of stevia sweetener
• Only available online direct through company
• Higher cost per serving compared to other electrolyte drinks
• Packets create plastic waste

Liquid I.V. Pros and Cons

Here are the key pros and cons for Liquid I.V. hydration drink:

Pros:

• Provides sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chloride
• Only sweetened with cane sugar and malic acid – no stevia aftertaste
• Just 20 calories per pouch
• Sold in many retail stores for easy access
• Offered in multi-packs that lower cost per serving
• Clinically shown to hydrate 2-3x faster than water alone
• Non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan
• Portable pouches make it easy to take anywhere

Cons:

• Limited to only 7 flavor options
• Some don’t like the tart taste from malic acid
• Mostly sold online or in bulk multi-packs
• Higher price if not buying in bulk packages
• Pouches create plastic waste

As you can see, both drinks have their advantages and disadvantages. Liquid I.V. is more accessible and affordable, especially when purchased in bulk. But GoHydrate offers more flavor choice and appeals to those who prefer stevia sweetener.

Now let’s directly compare key features of GoHydrate and Liquid I.V.

Comparison of Hydration Effectiveness Between GoHydrate And Liquid I.V.

The most important consideration when choosing an electrolyte drink is how well it actually hydrates you. On this crucial factor, both GoHydrate and Liquid I.V perform exceptionally.

Let’s examine the scientific evidence and hydration technology behind each:

GoHydrate:

• Key electrolytes rapidly replenish sodium, potassium, magnesium lost in sweat
• Optimal sodium levels boost thirst and retain fluids
• Osmolality of 300 mOsm/kg allows fast intestinal absorption
• TriSalt electrolyte blend clinically shown to enhance hydration
• Can hydrate 2-3x faster than water and sports drinks

Liquid I.V.:

• Advanced ionic profile rapidly replaces lost electrolytes
• Sodium glucose transport activates quick fluid intake
• Osmolarity of 333 mOsm/L allows easy body absorption
• Multiple published studies confirm superior hydration over water
• Hydrates 2-3x faster than water alone

Both brands use scientific formulations containing optimal electrolyte levels and osmolality for rapid absorption. This results in fast, effective hydration that outpaces plain water.

While Liquid I.V. seems to have more published clinical data, both drinks excel at quickly increasing fluid and electrolyte levels based on available evidence.

For rapid rehydration during or after sports, travel, sickness, or other fluid losses, you can count on both GoHydrate and Liquid I.V. to get the job done.

Which Is Better?

With two great options for rapid electrolyte hydration, how do you choose between GoHydrate and Liquid I.V.? Here are some key factors to help determine the best choice:

GoHydrate may be better if you:

• Want more flavor variety with 10 options
• Prefer stevia sweetener over malic acid
• Like the portability and ease of powder packets
• Don’t mind paying more for the convenience

Liquid I.V. may be better if you:

• Want to pay less per serving when buying bulk pouches
• Prefer purchasing in stores over online
• Like the light tart flavor from malic acid
• Want fewer calories per serving

There is no definitive “winner” between GoHydrate and Liquid I.V.

Both deliver high quality electrolyte hydration powered by proven science.

The right option comes down to your personal preferences for taste, cost, accessibility, and other factors. You can even alternate between the two drinks. The most important thing is staying fully hydrated with the help of electrolytes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about electrolyte drinks like GoHydrate and Liquid I.V.:

The Bottom Line: Choose The Electrolyte Drink That Suits Your Needs

When it comes to GoHydrate and Liquid I.V., both deliver high quality electrolyte hydration with proven results. They help replenish lost fluids and electrolytes for faster, more complete rehydration than water alone.

GoHydrate offers more flavor options and appeals to those who like stevia sweetener. Liquid I.V. is widely available, affordable in bulk, but has fewer flavors.

There is no objectively “better” option between them. The right electrolyte drink depends on your taste preferences, budget, lifestyle, and individual hydration needs. Try out both GoHydrate and Liquid I.V. to see which you may prefer.

Staying properly hydrated is too important for health and performance to ignore. Tap into the hydrating power of electrolyte drinks like GoHydrate and Liquid I.V. to take the guesswork out of getting enough fluids and electrolytes daily.

Your body will thank you.