Nuun
Back in the day, as a novice, I relied on Gatorade and other sports drinks which are full or sugar, hurt my teeth and are a little pricey. In my continuing effort to figure out hydration and electrolyte replacement, I decided to try NUUN.
So, what is NUUN? It is an electrolyte replacement drink - just electrolytes - no carbs. It comes in the form of a large tablet, about the diameter of a quarter, and is packaged in a tube - very convenient for traveling or carrying in your gear bag. You simply add one tablet to 16 oz of water. It's kinda fizzy and dissolves somewhat quickly, leaving no residue in your water bottle. It has a mild taste and comes in a few different flavors. We tried a few and it comes down to personal preference. Personally I only found one flavor I did not care for.
The best part of Nuun is its refreshing properties... designed for the active palate. Nuun has a light flavor that’s not overwhelming when you’re on the go. If you’ve ever watered down sports drinks because they’re too strong, then you’ve made them less easy to absorb; this ultimately defeats the purpose of using them. I found the taste to be a tad tart but not making you want to find something to wash it down with.
Here's what's in 16 oz of NUUN when mixed with water by the numbers:
Calories = 6
Na = 360 mg
K = 100 mg
Ca = 12.5 mg
Mg = 25 mg
Vitamin C = 37.5 mg
Riboflavin = 500 ug
The good:
- Having the tablets in a tube is a very convenient way to carry them without having to measure dry powder or make a mess.Plunking a tablet into a bottle is a breeze.
- The tablet also serves as a pre-measured serving, so if you add it to 16 oz of water, you get the correct concentration that will be absorbed into your body rapidly.
- It dissolves quickly (2 to 3 minutes) and doesn't leave a residue in your bottle. You must shake it a few times.
- Keeping electrolytes and carbs separate allows you to have more control over your dose of each.
I have read where some people train with NUUN while others use it as post or pre-workout drink to make sure their tank is topped off. That is how were were using it here at the office. Drop in a tablet, dissolve, mix and drink up. It makes water taste better and it's healthier than some of the sugar loaded sports drinks.
