The opinion of a health journalist subject to dehydration and headache.
Difficult to miss it. A rising mark in the world of health and nutrition, Hydratis offers effervescent pastilles to dissolve in water, enriched with electrolytes, minerals (sodium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, zinc) and vitamins. The concept is based on the fact that water alone is not always sufficient for optimal rehydration, especially after intense physical effort, strong heat, a party night, or in the event of digestive disorders. The electrolytes help the body better absorb and hold water. No more arguments were needed to make me want to test. Especially since I am the perfect target since I tend not to drink enough water (about 1L per day), wrongly favoring cafes and teas, and to have headaches at the end of the day.
The pastilles are available in a dozen flavors. Personally, I set my sights on the fishing flavor, which pleasantly recalls the taste of icy tea. I was also able to taste “Wood Fruits”, “Lemon Elder”, “Mint” and “Kiwi”. Gustively, nothing to say, it’s pretty good, absolutely not “chemical” (the aromas are natural, there is neither coloring nor conservative), not very sweet (guaranteed without sorbitol), but slightly salty (it may surprise). When you have a desire to taste sweet in the mouth, it makes the job. And point positive, their packaging in “tube” makes them very easily transportable. The brand recommends consuming between 2 and 5 pastilles per day, diluted in a large glass of drinking water in small sips. I made the choice to take one in the morning, one in the afternoon and one after my sports session.
After three weeks of testing, I see less headache and better concentration. I think more about drinking. As a regular runner, I got into the habit of dissolving a lozenge after each session and the benefits are notable: my overall speed is a little bit higher, my recovery seems to me much more fluid, with a clear decrease in post-effect cramps and an energy that lasts, avoiding this famous fatigue that could previously plumb to me at the end of the day after a run. Ditto for my bike outings. So yes, Hydratis is generally effective, but it must remain in my opinion a punctual solution and not year -round. And this, for several reasons: 1/ Even if it is very low in sugars and calories (10 times less than a glass of orange juice), that necessarily contains more than pure water. 2/ This remains a processed product, with an ecological impact to consider, especially in terms of packaging and production 3/ At the rate of 2 or 3 tablets per day, the budget can quickly increase, each lozeng cost about 50 cents of euros.
Hydratis (sold in pharmacies and on their site at 9.90 euros per tube of 20) can prove relevant for specific profiles: athletes who sweat a lot, the elderly whose feeling of thirst is reduced, or anyone prone to punctual dehydration (during an episode of gastro, in case of high heat – I did not have the opportunity to test them during a heat wave). Recall that the best hydration strategy is to drink between 1.5 and 2 liters of pure water throughout the day. The pastilles should not replace this fundamental habit, but rather supplement it when the need arises.