Because it contains 3 important electrolytes that are lost in sweat with heavy exercise: Magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) and potassium (K).

Currently, there are very few sports drinks that are rich in magnesium. MAGNAK is rich in electrolytes, low in sugar and calories, has natural flavors and no preservatives, harmful additives or sweeteners. The optimized ratios and proportions of electrolytes in the formula help prevent muscle cramps and soreness. All of these make it unique.

Magnesium is an electrolyte or an ion that plays a critical role in many cellular processes. Particularly, magnesium is required to make energy, as ATP that is utilized by our cells. Loss of magnesium, as happens with exercise and other conditions can lead to significantly sore muscles and a fatigued body.

Athletes can expect to feel better hydrated and energized (with natural electrolytes as opposed to having a caffeine “rush” which often leads to a later “crash”). Magnesium in our formula, relieves muscle cramps in people especially with its nutritional deficiency.

Yes, magnesium is good for everyone, including kids. In individuals with kidney disease, the excretion of magnesium can drop and it is recommended that these individuals check with their medical providers prior to consumption.

Speed Sauce is easier to absorb from the gut due to its low osmolarity (or loosely termed as “thickness”); the low sugar content drives the intake of other electrolytes rapidly within the blood stream preventing the solution from sitting in the gut for too long. Hence, athletes do not have bubble gut with Speed Sauce.

Nothing replaces water for hydration. However, athletes engaged in regular heavy workouts lose salt in the sweat and utilize other electrolytes (sodium, magnesium, etc.) and can eventually have sub-clinical deficiency. This impairs their performance. Hence, for those with endurance feats and marathon runs, water is not enough for hydration especially if they need to perform better, every day.

Hyponatremia is LOW SODIUM. Almost 20% of endurance athletes or marathoners develop this condition, largely due to a habit of drinking too much water (or hypotonic drinks) prior to starting the run. As the race progresses, body releases vasopressin or anti-diuretic hormone from the brain that helps conserve water from being excreted in the urine. This along with salt wasting in the sweat leads to a dilution of sodium in the blood and can lead to a dangerous condition. Hence, having some sodium (salt) in the mix is very critical.

We know for a long time now, that sodium is absorbed from the gut using ion transport with amino acids and sugar. In other words, the presence of small amount of sugar facilitates absorption of sodium via sodium-dependent glucose co-transporter (which are specialized channels in the intestine). In sugar-free drinks, this additive benefit on sodium absorption is lost. Small amount of sugar also serves as an immediate source of energy during those long runs.

Magnesium deficiency is surprisingly common, possibly due to processing of food. Magnesium is not that easy to find in dietary sources (unlike sodium). Long term deficiency can manifest as muscle cramps, soreness, fatigue, insomnia (lack of sleep) and restless legs.

Magnesium is very important in keeping the potassium from leaking out of the body. In magnesium deficiency, potassium levels usually run low but replacing potassium alone cannot work because lack of magnesium leads to a loss of potassium in the urine.

Currently, most commercially available electrolyte powders use the principle of oral rehydration solution, commonly called ORS. This formula includes sodium and sugar mixed with water with a small sprinkle of potassium. And most electrolyte powder mixes do not have more than 40 mg/serving of magnesium in their formulation which is less than 10% of recommended daily intake (RDI). These solutions do not correct magnesium deficiency which can be “silent” in athletes until it manifests as muscle cramps when the body is pushed to its limits. MAGNAK® utilizes a novel proportion of electrolytes (300:150:100 mg/serving) that can improve performance and prevent muscle cramps as well as soreness in athletes. Check out our Science page at https://drinkmagnak.com/science to see how MAGNAK® compares to other sports drinks.

Electrolyte loss and dehydration is common in endurance athletes. Magnesium deficiency is not uncommon even in healthy adults and at times, can be sub-clinical (i.e. normal blood levels despite having low total body stores of the mineral). Magnesium supplementation has been utilized in preventing muscle cramps in adults who suffer from electrolyte losses and dehydration. By utilizing a higher content of magnesium and a balanced ratio of sodium: potassium, MAGNAK® supports intense workouts and can help ease cramping in athletes if used regularly.

No. And this is a topic of much debate since more research is needed, at least on cramps in endurance athletes. In those athletes who push their limits, cramps can be related to dehydration and electrolyte losses particularly when the muscles are fatigued due to excessive and repetitive activity. Correcting the electrolyte deficiency and actively rehydrating with a balanced electrolyte drink has shown to reduce the frequency and duration of muscle cramps in athletes. See the Science section at https://drinkmagnak.com/science for specific studies and scientific literature addressing this issue.

Currently, magnesium deficiency is primarily diagnosed with a blood test. Magnesium is a mineral that circulates as a free ion in the blood, but majority of it is stored in the bones and tissues. The free ion is the active electrolyte and is involved in all the important cellular activities. Maintaining the free electrolyte levels in the blood hence is vital to allow the cellular “factories” to run correctly. The body achieves this using specific feedback mechanisms. Thus, if a person starts to develop a deficiency of magnesium, the blood levels are the last to reflect it. This is why an individual can still be deficient in total body magnesium despite having a normal blood magnesium level. This is called a subclinical magnesium deficiency and goes undetected due to a lack of easily available diagnostic studies. The term sub-clinical is a misnomer since these individuals do have “clinical” symptoms, but normal magnesium tests.