Liquid IV Review: Why Is It Worth Reading Before Buying?

Do you suffer from the effects of mild dehydration?

It’s more common than you might think. Drinking water is essential to daily life, but most of us aren’t getting enough of it.

To ensure an adequate water intake, many people turn to hydrating solutions to maximize the health benefits that proper hydration brings.

Liquid IV is one of many electrolyte drinks created to hydrate the system and transport essential nutrients through the body quickly and effectively. Such drinks claim to boost energy levels, improve performance (both mentally and physically), and replenish lost electrolytes.

Unfortunately, some of the remedies on the market come with potential adverse side effects. To help you decide in the purchasing process, keep reading for our Liquid IV review as we discuss what it is, what it contains, and if it works.

Summary

Liquid IV is a US-made, non-GMO electrolyte drink mix.

It contains a specific ratio of essential electrolytes with just the right amount to rapidly deliver water and essential nutrients to the bloodstream, doing so faster and more effectively than water alone using the science of cellular transport technology (CTT).

The makers claim it has triple the electrolytes found in sports drinks and contains essential vitamins B3, B5, B6, B12, and vitamin C.

The Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier aligns with standards set by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO).

⭐ Rating	4.2 ★★★★
✅ Benefits	Big variety of flavors, full of essential electrolytes
❌ Downsides	High sugar and sodium content
🍎Flavors	Lemon lime, guava, watermelon, passion fruit, strawberry, pina colada, acai berry
🧪️Dosage	One serving per day
💰 Price	$24.99 for 16 packages

What Is Liquid IV?

Liquid IV is a brand producing a line of electrolyte mix drinks that you add to water for a super-hydration blast.

With a particular combination of 3 primary electrolytes (sodium, glucose, and potassium), the brand claims the formula hydrates the human body far quicker than consuming water alone.

The science behind Liquid IV is cellular transport technology, a breakthrough delivery system that enhances rapid absorption of water and nutrients into the bloodstream faster to provide immediate results.

Liquid IV follows the World Health Organization’s guidelines for Oral Rehydration Solution, a combination of water, sodium, and glucose primarily used in developing countries to fight severe dehydration.

The company offers four products that facilitate staying hydrated and target specific health priorities, including energy, sleep quality, and immune support. They include the Hydration Multiplier, Energy Multiplier, Sleep Multiplier, and the Hydration Multiplier+Immune Support.

The Liquid IV taste depends on the flavor you purchase. You can choose between several flavors such as acai berry, passion fruit, and the popular lemon-lime flavor.

Does Liquid IV Work?

Liquid IV uses cellular transport technology based on the guidelines set out by the WHO for Oral Rehydration Therapy.

Research shows that hydration therapy has helped combat deaths caused by diarrhea and dehydration in children in developing countries.

Conventional ORT drinks contain sodium chloride, glucose, and potassium to increase the body’s ability to absorb the fluid faster. It ultimately boosts hydration and replenishes electrolytes, vital minerals that provide crucial functions within the human body.

As Liquid IV’s design is based on science, it likely works to hydrate.

However, Liquid IV and other electrolyte beverages are generally unnecessary for healthy adults.

Most of us can get sufficient hydration from drinking plain water without adding an electrolyte mix. Hydration formulas may be a good option for those who don’t drink enough water or require extra hydration due to increased activity levels.

So, you may stay hydrated with hydration multipliers, but it may not be necessary.

What Are the Side Effects of Liquid IV?

There is always a risk when you use hydration formulas or any dietary supplement.

A prime safety concern is the sodium content of such products. The Liquid IV original product (the Hydration Multiplier) contains high levels of sodium, approximately 500mg. That’s about a quarter of the daily recommendation per the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Too much sodium in your diet increases the risk of high blood pressure, leading to cardiovascular diseases. Excessive sodium in the blood may cause hypernatremia, a potentially life-threatening electrolyte imbalance.

The product may not be suitable for individuals who already have high blood pressure or diabetes. It also contains pure cane sugar, although sugar content is less than your usual sports drinks. You may opt for a sugar-free alternative if you’re watching your calories to lose weight.

Several ingredients found in Liquid IV products may have adverse effects when taken in high doses.

For instance, valerian root may cause heart palpitations, headaches, brain fog, and stomach upset.

The Energy Multiplier contains caffeine, with 100mg in each serving. Liquid IV recommends sticking to one stick per day, as excessive caffeine consumption can have adverse effects, including headaches, restlessness, dizziness, and heart palpitations.

As everybody is different, experiences with Liquid IV may differ. Always check with your doctor before taking dietary supplements to avoid potential adverse effects.

What Ingredients Does Liquid IV Contain?

All Liquid IV ingredients are non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free.

There are three products that we’ll look at individually: Hydration Multiplier, Energy Multiplier, and Sleep Multiplier. Each has a different recipe, but you can find some key ingredients.

Vitamins B3, B5, B6, and B12

B vitamins have a vital role in maintaining good health. They are the building blocks of good health, ensuring good cellular function and maintaining cells and body tissues from the skin to the brain.

These vitamins directly impact your energy levels as they help the body convert food into energy, boosting metabolism.

Dextrose

Dextrose is a sugar substitute made from corn or wheat. It’s highly similar to glucose and is often added to foods as an artificial sweetener or preservative. It can also help people with dehydration and low blood sugar.

Dextrose can be potentially dangerous as it may increase blood sugar too much. It can also cause adverse side effects in some people if an allergic reaction occurs.

It’s important to talk to your doctor before using dextrose products, particularly if you have diabetes.

Citric acid

Citric acid is found naturally in citrus fruits and other vegetables. It supports the body’s absorption of minerals and has antioxidant effects.

According to Liquid IV’s website, the citric acid contained in the products is derived from all-natural sources, including cassava root, potatoes, and corn. It helps stabilize the flavor of the products.

Potassium citrate

Potassium is an essential electrolyte and a key component in the CTT system. It regulates the balance of fluids in the body and is commonly used in medications to treat the discomfort of mild cystitis, as it makes the urine less acidic and prevents kidney stones.

Sodium citrate

Sodium citrate is the salt found within citric acid. It is another ingredient that makes the urine more alkaline and prevents kidney stones. However, a potential side effect is water retention.

It also helps balance out the sweetness of the products with its sour taste.

Liquid IV Multipliers

Let’s take a closer look at the Liquid IV line.

#1 Hydration Multiplier

This is the most popular Liquid IV product, available in various flavors. It includes the ingredients of the CTT system (glucose, sodium, and potassium) and water-soluble B vitamins.

Although sodium and sugar (glucose) are the components of CTT that fuel rapid water and nutrient absorption, the content is high. Just one serving has 11 grams of sugar and 500mg of sodium.

It may not be suitable for people who have diabetes, kidney, or cardiovascular health disorders.

#2 Energy Multiplier

Available in lemon ginger flavor, the energy variation includes the same technology with a unique blend that focuses on increasing and maintaining energy throughout the day.

It contains 100mg of caffeine per serving from matcha, a powder made from green tea plants.

It’s a powerful antioxidant with various health benefits, from boosting energy to strengthening the immune system.

Although matcha has healthful properties, it’s best not to use this product more than once per day to avoid the unpleasant effects of too much caffeine.

#3 Sleep Multiplier

The third blend is a nighttime drink designed to aid sleep and improve sleep quality. It uses the exact science as the other products, enhancing the fast absorption of ingredients into the bloodstream. Its fundamental purpose is to encourage sleep and wake up feeling revitalized.

It comes in only one flavor, blueberry lavender, and the active ingredients include valerian root and amino acid L-theanine.

Valerian root is a herb that is often used in dietary supplements as a sleep aid for those with insomnia. As mentioned earlier, it can be associated with some side effects.

L-theanine is said to induce relaxation and ease anxiety, contributing to greater sleep quality.

Sleep Multiplier doesn’t include magnesium, an essential electrolyte for relaxing the mind and body.

Liquid IV vs. Cure Hydration

The health and fitness world is filled with dietary supplements and hydrating solutions. To give you an idea of what else is out there, the table below shows a comparison between Liquid IV and Cure Hydration.

How We Choose

There are many Liquid IV reviews out there. Here’s how we gathered our thoughts.

• The science: When assessing any supplement with various health claims, we look at the science behind the formula. In this case, we researched the Oral Rehydration Solution to understand the technology that drives Liquid IV.

• Ingredients list: Ingredients can make or break a product. We evaluated the elements in Liquid IV to determine if their properties match the brand’s claims, questioning whether they deliver better or the same hydration as water alone.

• Side effects: We also considered whether the formula is suitable for everyone and the potential side effects that may occur when using this product.

FAQs

Liquid IV Review: Our Final Thoughts

Liquid IV appears to provide hydration based on oral hydration therapy to those who need it. However, most healthy adults can stay hydrated by drinking enough water every day.

The high sugar and salt content is enough to put many off from trying this electrolyte mix. It’s crucial to seek professional medical advice before using Liquid IV, as it could do more harm than good.