SUMMER HAS FULLY ARRIVED. Whether the season finds you traveling the world in a new bikini, or hustling through important projects at home with an iced latte, we’re certain that warmer temps, time in the sun, and all that sweat can lead to dehydration.

Our Summer Hydration Guide

Most wellness devotees are well aware of this and boost their water intake throughout the summer. But what most of us don’t realize is that staying deeply hydrated — for energy, glowing skin, and overall health — can’t happen with water alone.

Good hydration requires electrolyte balance—and that means consuming plenty of salt.

Salt is the last thing most of us think of when it comes to staying hydrated, right? But we’ve been diving deep into the science behind salt and hydration since meeting the team at LMNT. Now, every team members’ beach bag, hiking hip pack and carry-on is strewn with their electrolyte stick packs and we can’t live without them. The feeling of hydrating with an LMNT stick pack is like finally scratching an itch you just couldn’t reach.

LMNT co-founder and biochemist Robb Wolf has completely changed our perspective on hydration—and we thought we knew it all. We’ve been giving our friends and family an earful on the topic lately, and while we’re sure our hot takes on nutrition are as annoying as ever, we nonetheless have everyone hooked on drinking water with LMNT. Our friends travel with it, our families camp with it, and our husbands use it as the ultimate hangover cure!

You can eat clean and workout like a champ, but if you’re not fundamentally hydrated you could be missing a crucial piece of the puzzle for your overall wellness!

Here is some of the science on salt, electrolytes and hydration…

+ Proper hydration means having proper fluid balance throughout the body. That depends on many factors, including the intake and excretion of electrolytes. Electrolytes are charged minerals that regulate hydration by balancing fluids inside and outside your cells.

+ Many of us tend not to get enough sodium, potassium, and magnesium in their diets. Preventing these shortfalls prevents muscle cramps, fatigue, and a range of other symptoms.

+ Most hydration pack brands contain a lot of sugar, but electrolytes and water don’t require glucose to pass through the gut. The average American already consumes over 60 pounds of sugar per year.

But Isn’t Salt Bad For Us?

The government recommends consuming less than 2.3 grams of sodium per day, ostensibly for heart health. But a 2011 JAMA study found that 5 grams per day was the sweet spot for heart health outcomes. Too often, we restrict sodium at the price of our health. To give credit where due, the FDA dietary guidelines often use the language of limiting “sodium containing foods” which are primarily processed foods—the leading carrier of sodium in today’s western diet. According to the FDA, over 70% of sodium in American diets comes from packaged and processed foods. The literature supports the removal of processed foods but does not support throwing out sodium.

Unlike every other hydration powder we’ve tried, LMNT doesn’t contain any sugar and the brand has turned us into electrolyte-loving freaks.

You can grab a free sample pack with any LMNT purchase. That’s 8 single serving packets free with any LMNT order. This is a great way to try all 8 flavors or split an order with friends and family. LMNT offers no questions asked refunds! Use our exclusive link to shop and the sample pack will be automatically added to your cart.

This story is brought to you in partnership with LMNT. From time to time, TCM editors choose to partner with brands we believe in to bring our readers special offers.  The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programs.