Does Electrolyte Gum Work?

Key Takeaways

If you’ve scrolled through your FYP on TikTok, it’s hard not to miss advertisements or videoshyping electrolyte products. From electrolyte powders to sports drinks, these essential minerals have been packaged in various creative forms.

“More recently, electrolyte powder in water and electrolyte drinks have been marketed as efficient and time-saving sources of electrolytes in fast-paced lives,” Areeba Jawed, MD, FASN, an assistant professor of nephrology at the University of Michigan Medical School, told Verywell.

Now, electrolytes come in chewing gum form. A quick Google search reveals that electrolyte gum brands claim to keep people hydrated, but experts say that’s far from the case.

Why Are Electrolytes Important for Hydration?

What Is Electrolyte Gum?

However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet studied the effectiveness of electrolyte gum.

“Manufacturers claim that it has a sour taste that makes your mouth water and quenches thirst while at the same time repleting some electrolytes,” said Jawed, but they caution this mechanism just gets rid offeelingsof thirst. That can actually be dangerous because it gives you a false sense of hydration. When your thirst mechanism is impaired, you might not drink enough fluids, leading to dehydration.

Signs You’re Not Getting Enough ElectrolytesElectrolyte deficiency can happen from not drinking enough fluids or excessive sweating.Signs you might not be getting enough electrolytes can vary because your body needs each one for different reasons.“The symptoms are often specific to each electrolyte,” said Jawed. “They can range from neurological symptoms such as headaches and seizures in the case of low sodium to muscle cramps and weakness in the setting of low potassium.”However, you can still have electrolyte imbalances even if you don’t have symptoms. That’s why proper hydration and intake of electrolytes through food matters, according to Rastogi.

Signs You’re Not Getting Enough Electrolytes

Electrolyte deficiency can happen from not drinking enough fluids or excessive sweating.Signs you might not be getting enough electrolytes can vary because your body needs each one for different reasons.“The symptoms are often specific to each electrolyte,” said Jawed. “They can range from neurological symptoms such as headaches and seizures in the case of low sodium to muscle cramps and weakness in the setting of low potassium.”However, you can still have electrolyte imbalances even if you don’t have symptoms. That’s why proper hydration and intake of electrolytes through food matters, according to Rastogi.

Electrolyte deficiency can happen from not drinking enough fluids or excessive sweating.Signs you might not be getting enough electrolytes can vary because your body needs each one for different reasons.

“The symptoms are often specific to each electrolyte,” said Jawed. “They can range from neurological symptoms such as headaches and seizures in the case of low sodium to muscle cramps and weakness in the setting of low potassium.”

However, you can still have electrolyte imbalances even if you don’t have symptoms. That’s why proper hydration and intake of electrolytes through food matters, according to Rastogi.

Do Electrolyte Gums Actually Contain Electrolytes?

The short answer is yes, technically, they do.

“The ingredients listed on electrolyte gum include: sugar, gum base, corn syrup, citric acid, glycerin, natural flavors, soy lecithin, artificial sweeteners, and artificial color with electrolytes in the form of sodium citrate and potassium citrate,” said Jawed.

However, gum brands fail to label the percentages or the amounts of those ingredients in their products, making it hard to determine the actual electrolyte content of the gums,David S. Goldfarb, MD, clinical chief of nephrology at NYU Langone Health, told Verywell. “The amount would determine their effectiveness,” he added.

Given their size, Jawed estimates that electrolyte gum would have very little electrolyte content—maybe something like 10 milligrams of sodium in a single piece. That’s not enough to give your body what it needs.

Everything to Know About Getting Electrolytes from Food

How to Get Enough Electrolytes

Food and fluids are reliable sources of electrolytes that your body can absorb. Bananas and oranges are full of potassium and great sources of electrolytes, according to Rastogi.

Goldfarb added that other sources of electrolytes include:

Electrolyte supplements are generally unnecessary if you’re eating a balanced diet, according to Goldfarb. However, these products could come in handy during exercise—especially for theirsodiumcontent.

While popping a piece of gum might seem like an easy way to get balanced electrolytes, it won’t be enough to replenish your body. If you’re someone who may need more electrolytes, talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to get what your body needs. They may recommenddrinksor powders that are specially formulated to give you an electrolyte boost.

What This Means For YouFood naturally provides electrolytes that are essential for hydration and bodily functions. If you’re an athlete or are experiencing extreme heat, you may need to talk to your healthcare provider about electrolyte drinks and powders to help you stay balanced.

What This Means For You

Food naturally provides electrolytes that are essential for hydration and bodily functions. If you’re an athlete or are experiencing extreme heat, you may need to talk to your healthcare provider about electrolyte drinks and powders to help you stay balanced.

Comparing Electrolyte Drinks: Which Ones Are the Best?

3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Fluid and electrolyte balance.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Low blood sodium.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Low blood potassium.

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Fluid and electrolyte balance.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Low blood sodium.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Low blood potassium.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Fluid and electrolyte balance.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Low blood sodium.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Low blood potassium.

National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Fluid and electrolyte balance.

National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Low blood sodium.

National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Low blood potassium.

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