Liquid I.V. vs Cure Hydration: which has more sodium and less sugar?

Liquid I.V. vs Cure Hydration: which has more sodium and less sugar?

Liquid I.V. has about double the sodium of Cure. A Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Lemon Lime stick has 500mg sodium, 370mg potassium, 11g sugar (all added) and 50 calories. A Cure Hydrating Electrolyte Mix Lemonade packet has 240mg sodium, 310mg potassium, 4g sugar with 0g added, and 25 calories. Cure's sugar comes from coconut water powder, and it's sweetened with stevia and monk fruit, per its ingredient list. Liquid I.V. Sugar-Free Lemon Lime splits the difference: 500mg sodium, 0g sugar, 20 calories. Neither brand lists magnesium on its current panel. Short version: pick Liquid I.V. for more sodium per stick, pick Cure for lighter sodium and no added sugar, and pick Liquid I.V. Sugar-Free if you want both high sodium and zero sugar. All numbers come from each brand's own product page.

Liquid I.V. and Cure ranked by sodium

Source: official brand product pages and nutrition panels: Liquid I.V. Sugar-Free Lemon Lime, Liquid I.V. Lemon Lime, Cure Lemonade, Cure Watermelon, Cure Berry Pomegranate. Retrieved 2026-11-04.

Which is better for workouts in the heat?

Liquid I.V., because 500mg sodium per stick replaces more of what you lose in sweat than Cure's 240mg. For a deeper look at sodium during long efforts, see salt for athletes.

Which is better for everyday use?

Cure, if you want a lighter daily drink. 240mg sodium and 25 calories is easy to fit into a normal day, and the label shows 0g added sugar. Liquid I.V. Sugar-Free is the other low-calorie option with more sodium.

If you follow a sodium-restricted diet or have blood pressure or kidney conditions, check with your doctor before using high-sodium mixes.

Ingredients and sweeteners

Liquid I.V. original lists 11g of added sugar per stick on its label, and the brand says it pairs that sugar with sodium on purpose. Liquid I.V. Sugar-Free replaces it with what the brand's FAQ calls an amino acid allulose blend. Cure Lemonade's ingredients are coconut water powder, citric acid, pink Himalayan salt, natural lemon flavor, sodium citrate, lemon juice powder, organic stevia extract and monk fruit extract. Both brands also differ in extras: Liquid I.V. lists vitamin C, niacin, B6, B12 and pantothenic acid, while Cure's panel lists small amounts of calcium and iron.

Price check

On each brand's site in Nov 2026, a 16-stick Liquid I.V. pouch was $24.99 one-time and a 14-pack of Cure was $23.99.

Quick answers

Does Cure have sugar? Cure lists 4g total sugar per packet with 0g added sugar, from coconut water powder.

Is Cure lower in sodium than Liquid I.V.? Yes. 240mg per Cure packet vs 500mg per Liquid I.V. stick.

Which has more potassium? Liquid I.V. at 370mg, though Cure Watermelon is close at 345mg.

Which has fewer calories? Liquid I.V. Sugar-Free Lemon Lime (20) edges out Cure Lemonade (25). Liquid I.V. original has 50.

Logging it without the homework

In TrakMac you just say what you had out loud, like "a Cure Lemonade packet in a bottle of water," and it logs the calories, protein, carbs and fat for you. No searching a database, no guessing at portions. You can also ask the TrakMac Coach whether it fits the rest of your day, and it answers using your own logs.

These are close-enough numbers for everyday tracking, not medical or dietary advice. Brands can change recipes, so check the label you're holding.