800 mg of Sodium—the Perfect Salt Ratio

All electrolyte drink mixes are not created equal. A standard 12-oz Gatorade has 155 mg of sodium in it, whereas Liquid I.V has 500 mg, and LMNT has 1000 mg. Oasis, on the other hand, has 800mg. Before we dive into why, Why, you ask? Well, let’s talk some science first.

Most people drink electrolyte drink mixes because they want enhanced hydration, whether that is after a hard workout in the sun or a fun night on the town. The main hydrating property of an electrolyte drink mix is sodium, but some brands skimp on that key ingredient because they rely on the customer being uninformed. The average American sees “electrolytes” and assumes the product has enough to work. And they are right… sometimes. A 155 mg sodium beverage is fine for daily hydration, but for targeted hydration (e.g., hydration after a heavy workout) you need way more. For reference, the average human loses 800 mg of salt for each hour of exertion in the sun. So if you run five miles, you’ll want way more salt than one Gatorade worth.

Similarly, alcohol sabotages your kidneys to release way more salt in urine than is optimal. 

Since cells need salt to hydrate (salt is the chemical that helps cells absorb water), alcohol causes dehydration, which manifests as “hangovers” the next morning. Just like athletics, replenishing your body with (lots of) salt after a night of drinking hydrates the body and staves off dehydration-caused hangovers.

But let's get back to the big question: Why does Oasis use 800 mg? Well, because it’s the perfect ratio! Between taste testing and hydration research, we determined that hydration mixes with less than 800 mg are not as effective at rehydrating, and sodium counts more than 800 mg taste… well… too salty. And what’s the point of being effective if no one drinks it!

Oasis hydrating electrolyte mix is designed first and foremost to be effective, with tastiness as a close second. We sincerely believe we are the only electrolyte drink brand in the market today with enough salt to hydrate but not enough to taste like seawater. There it is, that’s the marketing pitch:

800 mg of Salt: Enough Salt to Hydrate—Not Enough to Taste like Seawater.