By Amber, Supplements Buyer + Hydration Enthusiast
Superieur Electrolytes came about due to something of a perfect storm of factors. Its founder, Seth Bovio, comes from a family of elite runners and yoga practitioners, and he's spent much of his career formulating electrolyte blends for athletes including the US Track and Field team. But the more he worked with these formulations, the more he began to brainstorm. Why did so many electrolyte blends rely on laboratory-manufactured minerals and chemical additives? What if he could create an electrolyte recipe powered entirely by plants?
Drawing on both his past career experience as well as family herbal knowledge, Seth founded Superieur Electrolytes in 2017. The company's focus is simple: Not just plant-based, but actual plants. Thus in Superieur's formulas, which come in flavors like watermelon, citrus, and newest offering (and Cambridge Naturals staff favorite!) blueberry lime, you'll find only natural ingredients like pink Himalayan salt, acerola berry, and bamboo extract. Each has been chosen carefully for the health benefits it contributes: pink Himalayan salt contains over 80 minerals, acerola provides Vitamin C, and bamboo is a rich source of silica (a mineral important for healthy skin, nails, and hair). The only thing added is potassium, which is crucial for electrolyte balance and helps with leg cramps, dizziness, and dehydration.
A point of pride for Superieur is their use of stevia--which is very different from the more commonly seen stevia leaf extract, I learned. Whereas stevia extract is a patented formula that requires heavy processing, stevia leaf is as natural as they come. During Seth's recent in-store demo at the Porter Square Cambridge Naturals, he explained to me about his experiences growing stevia. "You can literally dry a leaf and crumble it into your tea," he said--a trick I've wholly resolved to try. I admit to being something of a lifelong stevia skeptic, but my recent re-education about this plant has rather changed my mind.
A final perk of the brand is its user diversity. While it was formulated with the needs of elite athletes in mind, it's also beneficial for anyone who might need more electrolyte support than others: elderly people, pregnant folks, chronically ill people. And it's a reliable beverage option for kids, as well. Seth made note of its importance for those who labor in dehydrating conditions, such as road crews, landscapers, and the military. The wide variety of clientele is probably my favorite thing about Superieur. I love the idea of a product having such a wide range of users--it reminds us that, in some ways at least, we're not all that different from each other.
You can check out Superieur's selection of electrolyte powders at both Cambridge Naturals locations, as well as here on our webstore.