How Do Hydration Supplements Work?

By Brittany Risher

You know the most basic rule for staying hydrated: Drink more water. Our bodies need water to perform just about every essential function, including regulating body temperature, lubricating joints, digesting food, and much more.

But when it comes to workout performance, water is only half of the equation. Another key factor in helping our muscles function properly is electrolytes, minerals that help regulate muscle function.

So if your workouts are usually long and intense, you might need a bit more than plain water can provide. Enter hydration supplements like LADDER Hydration, which contains electrolytes and carbs to help support rehydration and promote endurance.*

Help your body stay nourished and fight fatigue with LADDER Hydration! Shop all LADDER supplements.

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How Does LADDER Hydration Work?

Here are the three main functions of LADDER Hydration.

1. Replaces fluids more effectively*

During exercise, you lose water in the form of sweat. While you can rehydrate with water alone, having solutes in your water (like electrolytes and carbs) helps your body absorb it more effectively.

"Decades of research suggest that the inclusion of carbohydrates, combined with electrolytes, is an efficacious way to rehydrate around exercise," explains Dr. Abbie E. Smith-Ryan, PhD, CSCS*D, FNSCA, FACSM, FISSN, who helped formulate the product.

Why is this important? Losing 2 percent of your body weight in water, which can happen especially during intense exercise in hot, humid environments, can impair aerobic performance, anaerobic performance, and cognition.

2. Promote the optimal balance of electrolytes

The mere presence of electrolytes in your water isn't enough; your body needs a variety of them to perform essential functions. To perform optimally, many of these electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, need to be balanced properly.

The Refuel Ratio in LADDER Hydration has been carefully formulated to promote this balance, helping support fluid replacement and peak performance, says Smith-Ryan.

3. May help improve endurance

LADDER Hydration also contains dextrose, which is a fast-absorbing carbohydrate that can help fuel exercise and benefit performance. While it's smart to avoid too many added sugars in your diet, your body needs carbs to power through long, intense workouts.*

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When Should I Use LADDER Hydration?

Don't wait until you're dripping with sweat during an intense workout or while exercising in the heat to replenish those fluids and electrolytes. Mix a serving of LADDER Hydration into a 16-ounce water bottle and sip every few minutes. This will help maintain your hydration and performance so you can give your all.

If your workout lasts an hour or longer, you may want to have an additional packet or scoop for every additional 60 to 90 minutes of exercise.

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How Does LADDER Hydration Compare to Other Hydration Supplements?

Many hydration supplements don't supply enough electrolytes or any carbohydrates, but LADDER Hydration is designed to provide just what you need to help you keep performing at your peak.

"Typically, an effective hydration product is higher in sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium than our typical daily beverages," Smith-Ryan says.

Another benefit: LADDER Hydration is super portable. It comes in single-serving packets that you can throw in your gym bag or purse and add to water in a shaker cup anytime.

When choosing hydration supplements, it's important to know the product you use will deliver the results you expect. All LADDER products are NSF Certified for Sport. NSF's Certified for Sport program verifies that these products do not contain unsafe levels of contaminants, prohibited substances or masking agents, and that what is on the label matches what is in the product.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.