Welcome to the hydration Olympics, where Prime Hydration and Liquid IV are vying for the gold in quenching your thirst. One promises a hydration experience akin to a spa day for your cells, while the other claims to be the VIP pass to your body’s hydration festival.
This isn’t just a face-off between liquid vs. packets of powder; it’s a lifestyle choice that could redefine your relationship with H2O. So, whether you’re a hydration skeptic or a devotee of the drink, sit tight. We’re about to unravel the key differences that could make or break your daily hydration game.
Key Takeaways:
Prime Hydration and Liquid IV’s main differences are the ingredients, the form it comes in, and the nutritional content. Prime Hydration is a beverage that is more suitable for athletes and fitness fanatics; however, Liquid IV is ready to mix powder and is more for rapidly replenishing lost electrolytes in higher amounts.
Read on to learn more about these beverages and how they compare against each in different aspects.
Prime Hydration Overview
Prime Hydration is a sports drink that has recently received much attention. It is a new hydration beverage that debuted on Drink Prime, the beverage’s official website, on January 4, 2022.
KSI and Logan Paul, well-known on YouTube, worked together to create and promote Prime Hydration. This hydration beverage is aimed at a wide audience, similar to KSI and Paul’s respective fan bases.
On the one hand, energy drinks may not be suited for younger followers of Logan Paul and KSI; juice would be inappropriate for older admirers, on the other hand.
A hydration drink is a good idea since it’s a tasty and practical product. In addition to satisfying your thirst, this beverage is packed with beneficial nutrients to help your body run more smoothly.
Liquid IV Overview
American health company Liquid IV is also all the rage these days, and for a good reason. It makes a variety of tasty hydrating drinks that have additional advantages for everyone.
This powder blend, known as the Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier, has three times as many electrolytes as regular sports drinks and may mitigate dehydration far more quickly than plain water can.
Water and other vital nutrients are absorbed into the circulation more quickly thanks to a revolutionary mechanism it uses called Cellular Transport Technology (CTT).
When you drink water, it must go through your digestive system first, where much of it is wasted.
Only after that does your body absorb the water you’ve consumed. With CTT, water is absorbed into the circulation sooner in digestion, thanks to an osmotic force created by a specific ratio of glucose, sodium, and potassium.
The liquid IV is available in convenient sachets and takes little time to make. Mixing one packet with 16 ounces of water yields a nutritious hydration drink.
Comparison Of Prime Hydration With Liquid IV
Taste: Prime Hydration Vs. Liquid IV
| Prime Hydration Flavors | Liquid IV Flavors |
| Tropical Punch | Acai Berry |
| Ice Pop | Passion Fruit |
| Blue Raspberry | Watermelon |
| Lemon Lime | Golden Cherry |
| Grape | Guava |
| Meta Moon | Pina Colada |
| Orange | Concord Grape |
| Lemon Line | |
| Strawberry |
Liquid IV has more flavor variety available than Prime Hydration. For example, liquid IV offers around nine flavor varieties, whereas Prime Hydration only has seven.
Prime Hydration vs. Liquid IV: Table of Ingredient, Function & Effects
Prime Hydration Ingredient Table
| Ingredient | Function in Beverage | Effects on Body |
|---|---|---|
| Filtered Water | Base Liquid | Hydration |
| Trimagnesium Citrate | Mineral Supplement | Electrolyte balance |
| Natural Flavor | Flavoring | No significant effect |
| Zinc Aspartate | Mineral Supplement | Immune support |
| Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6) | Vitamin Supplement | Energy metabolism |
| Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B-12) | Vitamin Supplement | Nervous system support |
| Sucralose | Sweetener | No calories, but some controversy |
| L-Isoleucine | Amino Acid | Muscle repair |
| L-Leucine | Amino Acid | Muscle growth |
| L-Valine | Amino Acid | Muscle endurance |
| D-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) | Vitamin Supplement | Antioxidant |
| Gum Acacia | Thickener/Stabilizer | No significant effect |
| Acesulfame Potassium | Sweetener | No calories, but some controversy |
| Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A) | Vitamin Supplement | Vision and immune support |
| Citric Acid | Preservative/Flavor | No significant effect |
| Coconut Water from Concentrate | Flavor/Minerals | Mild hydration |
| Dipotassium Phosphate | Mineral Supplement | Electrolyte balance |
Liquid IV Ingredient Table
| Ingredient | Function in Beverage | Effects on Body |
|---|---|---|
| Pure Cane Sugar | Sweetener | Provides energy, but high sugar intake can lead to health issues |
| Salt | Electrolyte | Electrolyte balance, but excessive intake can lead to hypertension |
| Potassium Citrate | Mineral Supplement | Electrolyte balance |
| Dextrose | Sweetener/Carbohydrate | Quick energy source |
| Citric Acid | Preservative/Flavor | No significant effect |
| Sodium Citrate | Flavor/Preservative | Electrolyte balance |
| Natural Flavors | Flavoring | No significant effect |
| Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) | Vitamin Supplement | Immune support, antioxidant |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) | Vitamin Supplement | Energy metabolism |
| Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride) | Vitamin Supplement | Energy metabolism, brain development |
| Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) | Vitamin Supplement | Nervous system support, energy metabolism |
| Vitamin B5 (D-Calcium Pantothenate) | Vitamin Supplement | Energy metabolism |
| Dipotassium Phosphate | Mineral Supplement | Electrolyte balance |
| Silicon Dioxide | Anti-caking Agent | No significant effect |
| Rebaudioside-a (Stevia Leaf Extract) | Natural Sweetener | No calories, some prefer for low glycemic index |
When comparing the ingredients of both beverages, the most noticeable things that stand out are the BCAAs and Coconut Water content in Prime Hydration which Liquid IV lacks.
Performance: Prime Hydration vs. Liquid IV
Liquid IV is primarily meant for hydration purposes. Although Prime Hydration is also a hydration drink, it’s more than that.
Electrolytes such as salt, potassium, magnesium, and zinc are included in Prime Hydration to replenish depleted electrolyte reserves after strenuous exercise.
Because it contains many beneficial elements, it’s a better choice than many commercially available hydration beverages.
It’s mostly made with all-natural ingredients, including coconut water, which is a good source of electrolytes but doesn’t have any added sugars.
Coconut water isn’t the only thing you’ll find in Prime Hydration; it also has branched-chain amino acids (BCAA). BCAAs not only stop the muscle from breaking down, but they also help muscles make more protein.
The molecular structure of amino acids is referred to as the branching chain. BCAAs are a grouping that includes valine, leucine, and isoleucine.
Highly Recommended Read:
Lately, BCAAs seem to be on every label as a selling point, but are they essential for the body? You’re in luck because we wrote an excellent resource demystifying BCAAs. When you’re done reading this article, check out our article on What Are BCAAs, & Are They Worth the Hype? (8-minute read).
Branched-chain amino acids are an efficient fuel source and help keep proteins from breaking down while you work out.
Nutrition: Prime Hydration vs. Liquid IV
| Prime Hydration | Amount | Serving Size | Liquid IV | Amount | Serving Size |
| Calories | 20 | 473 ml | Calories | 45 | 1 Packet |
| Carbohydrate | 4 g | Carbohydrate | 12 g | ||
| Sodium | 10 mg | Sodium | 510 mg | ||
| Sugar | 2 g | Sugar | 11 g |
From the nutrition chart, we can conclude that Liquid IV is a high-calorie drink with more electrolyte content per serving. Also, it has more sugar and carbohydrate per serving than Prime Hydration.
So is it a good thing?
Well, from a health standpoint, the ideal daily limit of sodium intake in a day is around 1500 mg.
And given that each serving of Liquid IV includes around 500 mg of sodium, it can be a concern for you to surpass the threshold. Excessive thirst, (temporary) high blood pressure, and water retention are some short-term consequences of excess sodium intake.
On the other hand, Prime Hydration doesn’t include excessive electrolytes like Liquid IV. In addition, it contains artificial sweeteners like Acesulfame Potassium which is also a negative aspect.
But overall, the higher dose of sodium you get from Liquid IV is more concerning. So although both beverages have some shortcomings, Liquid IV has a more significant issue with this. So prime hydration is healthier than Liquid IV.
Final Verdict – Which Is Better: Prime Hydration Or Liquid IV
Liquid IV is the best option for quick rehydration of the body since it has so much electrolyte content. But if you are looking for a hydration drink after a long-duration exercise session or sports event – Prime Hydration is the right pick, especially because of its BCAA content.
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