The science
The science of sodium
Sodium gets a bad reputation, but it is essential to how your body holds fluid and functions. Here is the science, and how to get the right amount.
How it works
The right amount, measured
Most of the sodium in a typical diet comes from processed food you cannot measure. A serving of Saltivate is a known, consistent dose of sodium, potassium, and magnesium instead, with zero sugar, so you can dial in exactly what you put back.
Finding the right balance
Too much sodium, the kind in processed and fast food, can raise blood pressure and the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney issues.
Too little sodium is also a problem. It regulates nerve and muscle function, fluid balance, and blood pressure. Run low and you get muscle cramps, dizziness, and fatigue, and at the extreme hyponatremia, dangerously low blood sodium.
So what is the ideal sodium intake? A study published in JAMA found a J-shaped curve: cardiovascular risk rises at both very high and very low sodium levels. The healthy range sits in the middle.
Our story
What the data shows
This chart from the JAMA study plots 24-hour urinary sodium against cardiovascular events: death, stroke, heart attack, and hospitalization for heart failure.
Both ends of the curve carry risk. The goal is the middle: enough to function, without the excess from processed food.
Why it matters
What sodium does in your body
Nerve and muscle function
Sodium helps nerves fire and muscles contract; running low shows up as cramps and weakness.
Fluid balance
Sodium regulates how much water your body holds, which is why plain water alone can leave you flat.
Blood pressure regulation
Both too much and too little sodium disrupt healthy blood pressure regulation.
Signs you are low
Muscle cramps, dizziness, and fatigue are the common signals of inadequate sodium.
Sodium for people who sweat
Sweat hard, especially in heat or humidity, and you lose meaningful sodium. Water alone does not put it back, and a low-sodium diet widens the gap.
That gap is what Saltivate is built for: 800mg of sodium per serving to replace what you lose through sweat, plus 240mg of potassium and 60mg of magnesium.
Curious what you actually lose? Try the sweat calculator, see how brands stack up on our electrolyte powder comparison, or read the story behind the formula on our about page.
Put it to work
Hydration backed by the science
The sodium, potassium, and magnesium your body loses through sweat, in one measured serving. Mix any four flavors plus unflavored and the fourth is free.
