Dear Kayla,

I never hear you speak on this, but do you use electrolytes as many other fasters do? What is your opinion on these?

Signed,

Linda

Dear Linda,

The reason you never hear me speak on electrolytes is that I don’t use them. I drink to thirst, and I use regular, run of the mill, Great Value iodized table salt in my cooking. I’m pretty confident I get plenty of electrolytes that way, and I’m willing to be most others do too, fasters or not.

So why do you hear so many other fasters encouraging people to buy electrolytes like LMNT? I can’t speak for them. But I do know (as someone who puts out content about fasting) that electrolyte companies approach me from time to time, asking me to hawk their products in exchange for free product and commissions. I don’t respond to these requests, because of the phenomenon of reciprocity. Once someone gives you something, you feel inclined to reciprocate. So even though I might try to be unbiased about a review of a theoretical free sample they’d send me, chances are, I’d feel ingratiated to the electrolyte company. In turn, I’d speak more favorably of their products than I would if I had bought the electrolyte powder with my own money. And at 45 bucks a pop, that’s not going to be happening any time soon. 😂

If I ever felt like I needed electrolytes, I’d make my own for a minuscule fraction of the price. For example, if I wanted to basically replicate a packet of LMNT, I’d need

• 1000 mg sodium = 1/2 tsp salt
• 200 mg potassium = 1/12 tsp NoSalt (sodium free salt alternative)
• 60 mg magnesium = 1/8 tsp Espsom salt

Thanks for the question, Linda!

Sincerely,

Kayla Cox