THE MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LYTES AND LMNT COME DOWN TO THE INGREDIENTS, FORMS, AND ELECTROLYTE AMOUNTS
Both LYTES and LMNT are zero-sugar, high-sodium electrolyte powders designed for better hydration during workouts, daily use, low carb diets, and fasting.
Take a look at the formulas, ingredients used, and dosage breakdowns below:
LYTES
- Magnesium 105mg
- Chloride 1,860mg
- Sodium 1,000mg
- Potassium 310mg
Ingredients: magnesium glycinate, pink Himalayan salt, potassium chloride, flavor, citric acid, organic monk fruit, and malic acid.
LMNT
- Magnesium 60mg
- Sodium 1,000mg
- Potassium 200mg
Ingredients: salt (sodium chloride), citric acid, magnesium malate, potassium chloride, natural flavors, and stevia leaf extract.
Takeaway:
At first glance, you can see that ATH starts to pull away with more Potassium and Magnesium per serving when compared to LMNT.
HERE'S WHY WE PREFER LYTES OVER LMNT:
1. TYPE OF SALT
LYTES uses pink Himalayan salt, a type of mineral salt.
Qualities and nutrient profiles of pink Himalayan salt include:
- Mined in Pakistan from ancient dried up ocean
- Crystallized/chunky texture
- Unrefined
- 84 trace minerals
- No additives
- Mild, earthy, semi-sweet flavor
LMNT uses sodium chloride, commonly known as table salt.
Qualities and nutrient profiles of typical sodium chloride include:
- Mined worldwide and chemically cleaned
- Fine white crystals
- Highly refined, ultra-processed, and often bleached to remove impurities
- 2 minerals - sodium and chloride
- Contains anti-caking agents to prevent clumping.
Mineral salts, like Pink Himalayan Salt or sea salts, are often considered the superior choice because they are minimally processed and naturally contain small amounts of trace minerals that support broader electrolyte balance, hydration, and bodily functions when compared to table salt.
Main Takeaway:
Pink Himalayan Salt = Unrefined with trace minerals
Sodium Chloride = Table salt that is highly refined and processed to remove impurities, and often includes anti-caking agents to prevent moisture build up and clumping.
2. MAGNESIUM FORM
LYTES uses magnesium glyicinate.
- Magnesium Glycinate = magnesium bound to the amino acid glycine
- Highly bioavailable with increased absorption rates.
- Has the least amount of side effects when compared to other forms of magnesium that may cause laxative issues.
- Added benefits of glycine which include better sleep and direct roles in the production of glutathione and creatine.
LMNT uses magnesium malate.
- Magnesium Malate = a combination of magnesium and malic acid
- Often prescribed for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia
- Boosts ATP
- Highly bioavailable
We've chosen Magnesium Glycinate because it offers a fully chelated Magnesium with the added benefits of the amino acid Glycine. Glycine benefits go a lot further than only benefiting sleep (you won't feel drowsy, just get better sleep). Glycine is an important amino acid that places a role in the production of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant, and the production of creatine. And we all know the benefits of creatine. Plus we already have malic acid within our formulation so any benefit of using Magnesium Malate is already covered there.
3. FLAVOR AND FLAVOR CARRIERS
- LYTES flavors are derived from fruit oils. Flavors start as pure fruit oil and are spray dried onto a carrier, in our case acacia gum, to transform them into a stable powder.
- LMNT uses natural flavors (according to their Nutrition Facts) and primarily uses maltodextrin as a carrier in their flavored formulas.
In reality - all flavors need a carrier to turn them from liquid extracts to dry powder, some are better than others.
Acacia gum is the cleanest, most natural, and minimally processed carrier. Maltodextrin is commonly used for it's low cost.
4. SWEETENER
- LYTES uses 100% organic monk fruit - zero erythritol, zero stevia.
- LMNT uses stevia leaf extract (according to their Nutrition Facts)
Monk fruit provides a clean, natural sweetness without the bitter or sometimes metallic aftertaste that is commonly associated with stevia. Additionally, monk fruit is less likely to cause digestive discomfort in sensitive individuals - making it a more appealing option for daily use.
5. NUTRITION FACTS
- LYTES is a zero calorie, zero carb formula
- LMNT's calorie and carb count differ by flavor.
6. DOSAGES
- LYTES has 3,275g of electrolytes per serving
- LMNT has 1,260g of electrolytes per serving (according to their Nutrition Facts)
Learn more about LYTES and electrolytes at the links below:
Blog: The Science Behind Our Electrolytes
Blog: Sodium 101: The Best Forms, Benefits, and Sodium in Supplements
Blog: Magnesium 101: The Best Types of Magnesium
If you need further assistance - reach out to us at support@athsport.co