REVIEW – If you’re a regular visitor to The Gadgeteer, you’ll know that I’ve adopted a low-carb Keto lifestyle as a way to control my pre-diabetes. When people are eating Keto, they often don’t get enough salt, magnesium, and potassium in their diet which can cause fatigue, flu-like symptoms, and even muscle cramps. One way to remedy that problem is to hydrate with electrolytes like IQMIX Hydration Sticks from IQBAR, the same company that makes great keto snack/meal replacement plant-based IQBARS.
What is it?
IQMIX are electrolyte packets that you add to water that are keto, vegan, and free of GMOs, gluten, dairy, and soy. They contain salt, magnesium, and potassium along with some other ingredients that help support brain function.
Taste and nutrition
IQMIX Hydration Sticks/Packets are available in 4 flavors that include Lemon Lime, Blood Orange, Blueberry Pomegranate, and Peach Mango.
The packets are blended for hydration and brain function with 10-15 calories, 0g sugar, and only 1g total carbs to keep them Keto friendly.
From the IQMIX product page:
Lemon Lime Ingredients: Hydration Blend (Trisodium Citrate, Tripotassium Citrate, Sea Salt), Brain Nutrient Blend (Magtein® Magnesium L-Threonate, 8X-Concentrated Lion’s Mane Extract), Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Silica, Non-GMO Steviol Glycosides, Beta Carotene
Blood Orange Ingredients: Hydration Blend (Trisodium Citrate, Tripotassium Citrate, Sea Salt), Brain Nutrient Blend (Magtein® Magnesium L-Threonate, 8X-Concentrated Lion’s Mane Extract), Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Silica, Vegetable Juice (For Color), Non-GMO Steviol Glycosides, Beta Carotene
Peach Mango Ingredients: Hydration Blend (Trisodium Citrate, Tripotassium Citrate, Sea Salt), Brain Nutrient Blend (Magtein® Magnesium L-Threonate, 8X-Concentrated Lion’s Mane Extract), Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Silica, Non-GMO Steviol Glycosides, Beta Carotene, Vegetable Juice (For Color)
Blueberry Pomegranate Ingredients: Hydration Blend (Trisodium Citrate, Tripotassium Citrate, Sea Salt), Brain Nutrient Blend (Magtein® Magnesium L-Threonate, 8X-Concentrated Lion’s Mane Extract), Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Fruit and Vegetable Juice (For Color), Silica, Non-GMO Steviol Glycosides
750mg Magtein® (Mg L-Threonate) – A clinically studied form of magnesium for cognition + mood.
250mg Lion’s Mane (8X-Concentr.) – A super-concentrated form of Lion’s Mane for the brain.
500mg Sodium (Electrolyte) – The most important electrolyte – critical for optimizing fluid levels.
380mg Potassium (Electrolyte) – A key electrolyte that supports muscle function and blood pressure.
The contents of each packet look similar to sand in both color and feel. All you have to do is pour the entire packet into a glass of water or your water bottle, shake, and drink. The flavor each packet adds to the water depends on the amount of water you use. I found that about 8 ounces gave me the best flavor. I’m not a real fan of drinking plain old water, so I liked that the IQMIX flavors turned my boring water into a flavored drink. However, don’t expect IQMIX to be as strong as Kool-Aid or other powdered drink mixes, it’s more subtle than that. I also have to say that I’ve tried another Keto friendly brand of electrolytes and found their flavors to be stronger than IQMIX flavors. But, the other brand (LMNT) is 2g of carbs per packet and they cost more than IQMIX.
What I like
- Keto friendly low carb
- Tastes good
- Mixes well with water
What I’d change
- More flavors please!
Final thoughts
The ingredients that are supposed to improve clarity, focus, and mood. I honestly didn’t notice any difference/improvement. But, I’m almost always in a great mood and I rarely have focus issues, so I can’t say whether IQMIX helps with that or not…
As mentioned in the first paragraph, when you’re low on sodium and other electrolytes, it can make your muscles cramp. I’ve been on the Keto diet for over a year now and know this is true from experience as I’ve suffered from cramps in the arches of my feet and in my calves. After a week of adding an IQMIX Hydration Stick to a bottle of water once a day, I’ve had zero feet and leg cramps which is obviously a good thing. Trust me, if you’ve never woken up in the middle of a night with a charlie horse in your calf, you’re lucky.
Price: $9.99 for 8 pack sampler / $24.99 for 20 stick packs of one flavor or a variety pack
Where to buy: IQBAR and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by IQBAR.
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Can we sniff it? ;p
Ummmm…. why?
“The ingredients that are supposed to improve clarity, focus, and mood. I honestly didn’t notice any difference/improvement.”
Maybe, you must be muddled, unfocused and depressed to notice a difference?
Have you tried the fabled B12 shot that’s rumoured to give you a coffee like boost for a couple of days? Would love to hear some feedback on that.