Liquid I.V. Review: 11 g of Sugar Per Stick
Fast, portable, famous. Each Lemon Lime stick adds 11 g of sugar for 500 mg sodium.
Our verdict
Liquid I.V.
Liquid I.V. Original is a credible ORS-style hydration product with 500 mg sodium and 370 mg potassium. Its biggest trade-off is the 11 g of added sugar. Earth Energy gives you 750 mg sodium, five electrolytes and zero sugar.
Same parent company as this siteEarth Energy is owned by LJ Global Inc., which also owns Healthy Expert Reviews. Details
IMPORTANT: Liquid I.V. is not a weak hydration product. Its sodium-glucose approach is deliberate. But if you do not specifically want sugar as part of the mechanism, Earth Energy gives you 50% more sodium with zero sugar.
11 grams of sugar for 500 mg sodium? There is another way.
Liquid I.V.'s sugar is there for a reason. It is part of the sodium-glucose hydration system.
But that does not mean every shopper wants 11 grams of added sugar every time they hydrate.
Earth Energy gives you:
750 mg sodium. Zero sugar. Five electrolytes. 500 mg coconut water powder.
If you specifically want ORS-style sugar-assisted hydration, Liquid I.V. makes sense.
If you want stronger sodium without the sugar load, Earth Energy is the cleaner daily choice.
What you actually get
| Sodium | 500 mg |
|---|---|
| Potassium | 370 mg |
| Added sugar | 11 g per stick |
| Magnesium | Not in standard formula |
| Format | 16 single-serve sticks |
| Price | $24.99 for 16 sticks ($1.56 each) |
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier pros and cons
Pros
- Strong brand recognition
- ORS-style hydration mechanism
- 500 mg sodium
- 370 mg potassium
- Portable stick format
Cons
- 11 g added sugar
- Lower sodium than Earth Energy
- No magnesium in standard formula
- No calcium in standard formula
If any of these cons is a deal-breaker, here's the option we rate higher.
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier vs Earth Energy Clean Hydration
Earth Energy gives you 50% more sodium than standard Liquid I.V. while removing the 11 g added sugar. It also adds magnesium, calcium, chloride and 500 mg coconut water powder.
| Comparison | Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier | Earth Energy Clean Hydration |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 500 mg | 750 mg |
| Potassium | 370 mg | 300 mg |
| Magnesium | None in standard formula | 50 mg |
| Calcium | None in standard formula | 50 mg |
| Added sugar | 11 g | 0 g |
| Format | 16 sticks | 30-serving jar |
| One-time price | $24.99 (16 servings) | $22.95 (30 servings) |
Earth Energy Clean Hydration
Recommended for daily hydration without sugar or packets
What's inside:750 mg sodium, 1,150 mg chloride, 300 mg potassium, 50 mg magnesium, 50 mg calcium and 500 mg coconut water powder per scoop.
Format:30-serving jar; lemon-lime; zero sugar
- Transparency
- 9.8/10
- Formula
- 9.6/10
- Value
- 9.5/10
Price:$22.95 for 1 jar (30 servings); $39.95 for 2 jars (60 servings)
No code needed: savings show on the next page
5.0/5 from 8 customer reviews; third-party tested; 30-day money-back guarantee
Pros
- 750 mg sodium per serving
- Five electrolytes fully disclosed
- 500 mg coconut water powder
- Zero sugar, no artificial sweeteners
Cons
- Jar is less portable than sticks
- Contains coconut
Final thoughts
Liquid I.V. is built around convenience. If you want hydration sticks in a gym bag, carry-on or desk drawer, it is hard to beat. The trade-off is that the standard Lemon Lime formula contains 11 g added sugar and costs $1.56 per stick at the current one-time price. Earth Energy ranks higher for everyday use because it delivers more sodium, zero sugar and a bulk jar format without the single-serve packaging premium.
See Today's Reader Price →From $19.98/jar · 30-day guaranteeQuestions people ask
Is there an alternative to Liquid I.V.?
Earth Energy Clean Hydration is our top-rated electrolyte: 750 mg sodium, 300 mg potassium, 50 mg magnesium, 50 mg calcium and 500 mg coconut water powder per scoop, with zero sugar.
Why do you recommend Earth Energy if you own it?
We disclose that ownership on every page. Products are compared on the same published criteria, and we show the label details and prices we compared so you can check our work.
How we reviewed it
We reviewed Liquid I.V.'s current product page, label details, serving directions, pricing, published testing information, customer rating and return policy, and compared it with Earth Energy Clean Hydration on the same criteria we use for every product. We did not laboratory-test the product.
Ownership disclosure
Healthy Expert Reviews is owned and operated by LJ Global Inc. LJ Global Inc. also owns Earth Energy Supplements, the alternative we recommend on this page. Healthy Expert Reviews is not affiliated with or endorsed by Liquid I.V.. Liquid I.V. is a trademark of its owner, used here only to identify the product reviewed. We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page.
Sources
- drugwholesale.liquid-iv.com. https://drugwholesale.liquid-iv.com/products/liquid-i-v-hydration-multiplier-lemon-lime
- liquid-iv.com. https://www.liquid-iv.com/articles/sodium-and-hydration-why-its-the-key-electrolyte
- earthenergysupplementstore.com. https://www.earthenergysupplementstore.com/products/electrolytes
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your doctor before starting a supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or take medication.