#Sportsdrinks

A new report is casting doubt on the necessity of electrolyte powders, drinks, and tablets for the average person—a market that has ballooned to an estimated $38 billion in 2024 alone. As colorful bottles and attractive marketing campaigns promise better hydration, improved health, and even performance boosts, many Thais are left wondering: do these drinks really deliver on their promises, or are they just another health fad?

Electrolyte products are marketed to athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and even ordinary people who want to enhance their daily hydration. Popular in gyms and convenience stores across Bangkok, these drinks contain key minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium—elements vital for maintaining fluid balance in the body, regulating heart rhythm, and ensuring muscle and nerve function. While sports drinks have become commonplace, public health experts say many Thais may be overestimating their benefits and underestimating the power of a regular balanced diet.

Social media has exploded with claims that adding a pinch of salt or electrolyte powder to your water boosts hydration, but are these new habits really necessary—or even safe—for most people? Recent research and expert consensus suggest that while electrolytes play a vital role in our bodies, most healthy individuals in Thailand and globally can get what they need through the foods they eat, without resorting to expensive supplements or trendy drinks.