As an older endurance athlete who really likes to push herself, I'm always looking for ways to help me recover faster and perform better so when the opportunity to review this product came up, I jumped at the chance.
What is Oral I.V.?
Oral I.V. is a hydration support fluid that you can either use on it's own or in conjunction with water. It is based on a "proprietary formula of crystalloid electrolytes and purified water."
ORAL I.V. is intended to assist an individual’s existing hydration strategy. We recommend using ORAL I.V. as a hydration aid with other liquids (such as water) prior to, during and after activities of exertion or as a supplement to daily activities that can contribute to dehydration. Depending on your level of activity and personal fitness, it is recommended to take one vial of ORAL I.V. along with other liquids for every 4 to 6 hours of strenuous activity. Because ORAL I.V. is a hydration aid, you can also include it in your rest and recovery methods.
The Benefits
The main thing that attracted me to this product is that there are no artificial ingredients and no sugar. The no sugar thing is huge. Almost every single sports drink on the market has either some kind of sugar or sucralose in it. This has nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. The other thing I liked about it was it's portability. It comes in a small vial that is easily stashed in your purse or gym bag. No messy powders to carry around and nothing to really mix. You can either pour this into your water bottle or drink it right out of the vial.
According the Oral I.V. website, other users experienced improved focus and concentration and experienced shorter recovery times between workouts. THAT is what intrigued me.
The Tests
I put it to the test on 2 separate hot and humid tempo runs. I mixed the Oral I.V. with water and a bit of coconut water and consumed that during my runs. I didn't feel like I had any more focus than normal, nor did I seem to recover faster. I tried it AFTER a hot and humid tempo run, mixed with water. I didn't feel any better or worse the next day. I was told that everyone's body chemistry is different so this product would affect people differently. It was then suggested that I take it before a workout. This time I didn't mix it with anything. I drank it straight out of the vial and headed out the door for my run. I had one of the best runs I've had in ages. I don't know if it was the product itself or if it just happened to be my lucky day but my legs felt great, my pace was way faster than normal and it felt easy.
Taste
I noticed a slightly minerally taste and the fluid itself had a very soft in the mouth feel.
The Verdict
I like the idea of the product, it's just hard to say if it's really effective or not. Other than the spectacular run I had, I didn't see any noticeable benefits and again, I'm not sure if the run was a result of using the product or if I just happened to be having a good day. Perhaps it requires more continuous use in order to see any benefits. Or perhaps my body chemistry just doesn't respond to the ingredients in Oral I.V.. If it was cheaper ($12 for 4 vials), I'd probably consider keeping it around for days where I'm doing some intense training in hot weather. At it's current price, it seems a little steep for something that I'm not 100% sure of its effectiveness.
If you're curious about trying Oral I.V. I have a discount code you can use to get 10% off the product on their website. The code is fitness.
Have you ever tried a hydration aid?
2 comments:
I tried this, and enjoyed it too! I drink well water, so I am used to mineral water and find it the best tasting, so I thought the taste was perfectly like water!
Sounds interesting! I've heard of it but never tried it.
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