Hydration has evolved. Should you add electrolytes, too?

You’ve seen them on nightstands, in gym bags and probably even in your group chat: electrolyte powders are gaining momentum in the wellness world. But beyond the pretty packaging and promises of hangover cures, do you actually need them?

If you ask Patrick Russell, co-founder of Decatur, Georgia-based hydration brand Oasis , the answer is a salty yes.

“Sodium is as essential to hydration as water,” he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an interview. “You can drink three gallons of water, but if you have no salt, that water will just joyride your bloodstream until you pee it out.”

Electrolytes are tiny charged minerals your body uses to absorb and regulate water, the American Heart Association reports. The five key components are sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and chlori