Enlyten Electrolyte Strips for Performance Boost

A few sample of mint, mango and orange flavored Enlyten Sport Strips landed in my mailbox a few weeks back. Sports Strips are thin sheets of edible film that help deliver essential electrolytes in a unique way. Remember Listerine PocketPaks? Though Sport Strips won’t freshen your breath, the concept is the same. You place the strips in your mouth to dissolve on your tongue or in the buccal region (between your cheek and gum) for fast delivery of sodium and potassium.

I popped three in my mouth and after a brief panic that I had just induced a mad case of cottonmouth, my saliva balanced things out and I was able to carry on. A few test runs proved that they do in fact deliver the electrolytes (I get headaches if I don’t replace what I sweat out.) The thick foil packaging contains two silica gel desiccant packets. This makes me skeptical of how well Enlyten strips may hold up in your hydration pack or a steamy car if you decide to just take one of the cassettes along. However, if you follow Enlyten’s recommendation of consuming six strips before activity, six strips during, and six strips following activity, a single cassette will only need to last you through one good workout. Just keep that water bottle within reach.

 

I prefer to drink water on the run but know I need electrolytes especially on a long hot run. I really like the portability.

Enlyten Strips are very small,  dissolvable strips you place between your cheek  and gum. Enlyten sponsored research  claims  electrolytes are thought to get into the blood stream faster through the buccal area (5 minutes) than through the gastric and intestinal channel (30 minutes). Great to stop fast on coming cramps. 

 

 3-6 strips before your workout and then 2-4 per hour during exercise, then 3-6 post exercise. They are tasty and dissolve within about a minute or so. Robert Radoff, the National Sales Manager explained that his somewhat slower (than say a Listerine strip) dissolve insures the electrolytes have a chance to be absorbed and not wasted.

 

The strips are in use by several NFL teams as well numerous college and high school teams.

 

Word of caution. A fresh cassette is packed tight so if you plan to use during a race make sure you consume the first 3 or 4 before the race.

 

 

My primary concern is the retail price of the strips.  I could only justify purchasing the strips if the unique delivery method of the electrolytes suited my particular nutritional needs better than the alternatives.  Good feedback from Enlyten distributors encouraged me to compare product value in addition to pricing. 

Simple Price Comparison

 

	Enlyten Electrolytes Plus	SaltStick	Hammer Endurolytes
Serving size	6 strips	1 capsule	1 capsule
Sodium	80mg	215mg	40mg
Potassium	24mg	63mg	25mg
Magnesium	-	11mg	25mg
Retail Price/container	$5.00	$20.00	$20.00
Retail Price/serving	$2.50	$0.20	$0.17

 

Value Comparison
Manufacturers recommended dosage for 175lb man during a 3hr physical endurance event.

	Enlyten Electrolytes Plus	SaltStick	Hammer Endurolytes
	# strips	# capsules	# capsules
Pre-event	2	0	2
1st hour	3	1-1/3	3
2nd hour	4	1-1/3	4
3rd hour	3	1-1/3	3
Post-event	2	1	2
Total Strips/Caps	14	5	14
Total Sodium	1120mg	1075mg	560mg
Total Potassium	336mg	315mg	350mg
Total cost	$5.83	$1.00	$2.38

* SaltStick recommends 1 cap every 30-60 minutes. Since this comp uses averages, I’ve indicated 1 cap every 45 minutes or 1-1/3 per hour. 

* Pricing does not consider coupons, discount codes, or bulk discounts.

 

If you decide to try the strips, use the code USASTRIPS. This is the promotion code of of Clayton and Deeanne Fowlie, the independent distributors who graciously sent me the samples to review.

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