Walk down any supplement aisle and every tub says it’s the best. The label tells a different story, if you know how to read it.
Before I was a Nutritionist, I was an investigator. So reading labels like evidence comes naturally to me. Here’s my checklist for choosing an electrolyte that actually suits everyday women.
1. Ingredients are listed from most to least
In Australia, the ingredient list on a food goes in order of weight, from most to least. Whatever is listed first, there’s the most of. If the sweetener, dextrose or maltodextrin sits near the top, it’s a big part of what you’re drinking.
2. Watch out for the split list
Some products show a neat list of “active ingredients” with amounts, then a separate list of “other ingredients” underneath. That second list isn’t ranked against the first. The “other” ingredients can make up most of the scoop.
Investigator tip: add up the active amounts and compare them to the serve size. If the actives come to 2g in a 10g serve, what’s the other 8g?
3. Check the sugar
Flip to the nutrition panel and look at “sugars” per serve. Then scan the ingredients for sugar’s other names: dextrose, glucose, sucrose, cane sugar and fruit juice concentrate. Long, sweaty training sessions can call for carbs. For everyday hydration, most of us don’t need the extra sugar.
4. Compare potassium and sodium
Many electrolytes are built for athletes and endurance sessions, so they lean heavily on sodium. But most Australians already eat more sodium than recommended, through everyday foods. Check the nutrition panel and compare the potassium and sodium per serve. For everyday hydration, look for a balance that leans towards potassium.
5. Look at the form of magnesium
Not all magnesium is the same. Magnesium oxide is cheap and common. Forms like magnesium bisglycinate are gentler. The form is listed in the ingredients, so look for it by name.
6. Make sure the doses are disclosed
“Proprietary blend” means you only see the total weight of the blend, not how much of each ingredient is in it. That makes it impossible to know if you’re getting a meaningful amount or just a sprinkle for the label. Look for amounts listed ingredient by ingredient.
7. Count the real serves
Some products need two scoops or two sachets to reach the dose on the front of the pack. Work out the price per real serve, not the number printed on the box.
Where Blumii fits
I made Blumii because I couldn’t find an everyday electrolyte for women that ticked every box.
- Higher potassium, lower sodium
- 150mg magnesium bisglycinate per sachet
- No added sugar, lightly sweetened with thaumatin
- Amounts on the label, no proprietary blends
- One sachet a day for the full dose
Whatever you choose, turn the pack around first. The back tells the truth.
Candice x
Nutritionist & Founder, Blumii
