Keeping hydrated is one of the most important things you can do for your body. Water helps regulate body temperature, delivers oxygen throughout the body, cushions the brain, lubricates joints, flushes body waste, and so much more! To regulate the flow of water in and out of cells, the body also needs electrolytes. Electrolytes are electrically charged minerals and compounds which include calcium, potassium, magnesium, bicarbonate, and sodium chloride. If the electrolyte balance isn’t right, you could drink a ton of water and still become dehydrated! This is where
When you follow a very low carb diet and the liver starts making ketones, the kidneys drop water, along with sodium and potassium. This can lead to low blood pressure, and is the main reason people experience the “keto flu” when starting a low carb diet. Electrolytes can help replenish these minerals, and reduce or eliminate these symptoms!
Want to know more about electrolytes? Check out Mark Sisson’s Electrolytes 101: What Do Electrolytes Do?
What is Ultima Replenisher?
From their website: “Ultima Replenisher is an advanced, balanced electrolyte drink that provides highly effective hydration with six electrolytes and no junk, sugar, calories or carbs.”
Ultima is sweetened with organic stevia leaf and made with real fruit flavor extracts. It is:
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- Caffeine-free
- Non-GMO
- Paleo-friendly
- Keto-friendly
- Peanut-free
- Soy-free
Ultima Replenisher contains 6 electrolytes and trace minerals, and contains zero calories, zero sugar and zero carbs. It also has 110% of the recommended daily value of Vitamin C per serving!
Ultima Replenisher Flavors
Oh, the variety! Their flavors include:
- Raspberry
- Blue Raspberry
- Lemonade
- Pink Lemonade
- Orange
- Grape
- Cherry Pomegranate
- Watermelon
Their newest product is a Mocktini Variety Pack which includes Coconut Pina Colada, Appletini and Peach Bellini. I’m not a fan of coconut, but the Appletini tastes just like apple Gatorade and the Peach Bellini reminds me of the old peach ring candies!
The flavors are sweeter than the typical electrolyte beverage but not overpowering. You can control how intense the flavor is by adjusting the amount of powder used. I found the flavors to be refreshing and tart without tasting artificial. My personal favorites are Grape and Cherry Pomegranate.
How to Use
Ultima comes in powdered form, in single-serving stickpacks and 30- or 90-serving canisters. Simply add one packet or scoop of powder to 16 oz of water and you’re good to go. You can adjust the amount of powder to get the intensity of flavor that works for you.
The stickpacks are perfect when on the go and travelling, I always keep a couple of packs in my car and purse. The canisters are much more economical for home and work, and for mixing with water in larger or smaller water bottles (such as for running/cycling).
Tip: for bottles with a thin neck, use a metal mini funnel* to assist in transferring the powder. Otherwise, you could lose quite a bit of powder!
On a typical day, I drink about 85 ounces of water, and add Ultima Replenisher to one 16 ounce bottle. If I have a tough workout or it’s hot out, I’ll mix in Ultima to another bottle (or two). I’ll also add a bottle if I’m feeling light-headed or “off,” and usually feel better almost immediately.
I routinely use Ultima Replenisher while fasting (and have observed no change in tested glucose levels after drinking). It’s a great way to add a little flavor, especially when doing longer or multi-day fasts.
I’ve even used Ultima (the lemonade flavor) for a colonoscopy prep instead of Gatorade!
I haven’t tried this myself, but I understand Ultima Replenisher is also great for keeping hangovers at bay 😉
Where to Buy
You can buy Ultima Replenisher directly from their website (where they often have great sales and free shipping over $10), at Amazon, CVS, Wegmans, Whole Foods and Walmart.
When trying Ultima Replenisher for the first time, I highly recommend their 6-flavor trial pack* so you can get an idea of which flavors you like best before investing in large quantities.
Do I Recommend Ultima Replenisher?
A resounding YES!!
The only negative I’ve found with Ultima Replenisher is that it doesn’t stay completely mixed, no matter how hard I shake my bottle. My workaround is to shake my bottle before I take a sip. Better dissolvability is the one improvement I’d love to see them make!
That said, I’ve been using their powders for years, and have come to swear by them. I notice a difference when I don’t use them, especially when keeping my carb counts super low. If you’re just getting started with a low carb or keto diet, you’ll definitely want to use electrolytes to help keep “keto flu” symptoms away.
If you’re a low carb/keto athlete (or weekend warrior), Ultima Replenisher can replace the high carb sports drinks you normally use (I used to drink Gatorade). It has been a savior for me at endurance events! Consuming them before and during races has improved my performance, and kept me from feeling light-headed and craving carbs afterwards.
And if you’re like me, and don’t like the taste of plain water, Ultima Replenisher provides a great way to add flavor without anything artificial. With their abundant selection of flavors, you’re sure to find one that works for you.
