Do Just Ingredients Electrolytes Break a Fast?

November 27, 2025 •

4 min read

During a fast, your body's hormone levels shift, which can cause increased fluid and electrolyte excretion. This raises a key question for many intermittent fasters: do Just Ingredients electrolytes break a fast and disrupt this process?

Quick Summary

Just Ingredients electrolytes are formulated to be low-calorie and sugar-free, using stevia and natural flavors. They are generally considered compatible with most fasting protocols, but checking labels is always recommended.

Key Points

Calorie-Free Formula: Just Ingredients uses stevia and fruit extracts, not sugars or artificial sweeteners, for a negligible caloric impact that does not break most fasts.
No Insulin Spike: The formulation is designed to avoid triggering a significant insulin response, which is the primary metabolic goal of fasting.
Check the Label: While generally safe, very strict fasters aiming for autophagy may prefer pure electrolytes over any flavored options, so reading ingredients is key.
Goal Dependent: Whether a product breaks a fast depends on your personal goals; for weight loss and general health, Just Ingredients is widely accepted.
Replenish Minerals: Using these electrolytes helps replenish lost minerals, preventing common fasting symptoms like fatigue and muscle cramps.
Support Hydration: Proper hydration is crucial while fasting, and these electrolytes aid in maintaining your body's fluid balance.

Understanding Fasting and the Insulin Response

At its core, fasting relies on avoiding a significant insulin response. Insulin is a storage hormone released when you consume calories, particularly from carbohydrates. When insulin levels are low during a fast, your body can access and burn stored fat for energy, a state known as ketosis. The goal is to avoid any food or drink that contains enough calories or specific sweeteners to prompt an insulin spike, which would effectively "break" the fast. Water, black coffee, and unsweetened tea are generally accepted during a fast because they contain zero calories and do not trigger this response.

The Role of Electrolytes During a Fast

Even without consuming food, your body still loses essential minerals through urine and sweat. These minerals, or electrolytes, are crucial for maintaining fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle contractions. A deficiency in electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium can lead to common fasting symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, dizziness, and muscle cramps—often referred to as the "keto flu". Therefore, replenishing electrolytes is an essential part of a successful fasting routine, especially for extended fasts or if you are physically active.

Why Just Ingredients Electrolytes Are Considered Fasting-Friendly

Just Ingredients distinguishes itself by formulating its electrolyte mixes without artificial ingredients, colors, or added sugars. This is the key factor in determining if they will break a fast. Instead of sugar, they use stevia, a natural, non-caloric sweetener, and small amounts of natural fruit extracts for flavor.

Stevia: This plant-derived sweetener is a key component. Stevia does not contain calories and does not raise blood sugar or trigger an insulin response, making it compatible with most fasting protocols.
Natural Flavors: The fruit extracts used for flavor are present in very small amounts (approximately 60mg per sachet, according to one source referring to a similar product), making their metabolic impact negligible. For most people doing intermittent fasting for weight loss or metabolic health, this amount is insignificant and will not disrupt their fast. However, for those practicing a very strict water-only fast focused on maximizing autophagy, even these minimal flavorings may be avoided.

Just Ingredients vs. Other Hydration Products

To better understand why Just Ingredients electrolytes are often a preferred choice for fasters, it helps to compare them to common alternatives.


Product Type	Caloric Content	Sweeteners	Fasting-Friendly?	Notes
Just Ingredients	Minimal/Zero	Stevia, Natural Fruit Extracts	Yes (for most)	Minimal caloric impact, no insulin spike.
Standard Sports Drink (e.g., Gatorade)	High (from sugar)	Sugar, High-Fructose Corn Syrup	No	High sugar content causes a significant insulin response.
Diet Sports Drink (e.g., Propel)	Zero	Artificial Sweeteners (e.g., Sucralose)	Possibly, but debatable	Zero calories, but some fasters avoid artificial ingredients and potential flavor-induced responses.
Plain Sea Salt or Himalayan Salt	Zero	None	Yes	Pure electrolytes with no additives. The strictest and simplest option.

How to Maximize Your Just Ingredients Use While Fasting

For optimal use during your fasting window, consider these practical steps:

Check Your Goals: If your goal is weight loss or metabolic health, Just Ingredients is a great option. For a strict autophagy-focused fast, you may opt for unflavored salt instead.
Start Slowly: If you are new to fasting with electrolytes, start by mixing just a small amount into your water to see how your body responds. This allows you to gradually introduce the minerals and flavor.
Timing is Key: Consider consuming your electrolytes in the morning or during the middle of your fasting window, not immediately before your eating period.
Stay Hydrated: Remember that electrolytes work best when combined with adequate water intake. Don't rely on electrolytes alone to solve dehydration; ensure you are also drinking plenty of plain water.

Conclusion

For the vast majority of people practicing intermittent fasting, Just Ingredients electrolytes will not break a fast. Their deliberate exclusion of sugar and artificial sweeteners, in favor of stevia and natural flavors, means they do not trigger the insulin response that ends a fasted state. The minimal caloric content from natural flavorings is generally considered insignificant for metabolic goals. However, your personal fasting goals are the ultimate determinant. If you are pursuing a highly strict, water-only fast, you might choose to avoid all flavored products. For those seeking a delicious and clean way to replenish vital minerals and support their fast, Just Ingredients is a perfectly suitable option, as long as you always double-check the label for your specific needs.

Sources

Just Ingredients website: https://justingredients.us/products/lemon-lime-electrolytes
REVIVE Daily Electrolytes: https://getrevive.co.za/pages/electrolytes-for-intermittent-fasting
Hello Lido Blog: https://www.hellolido.com/blogs/news/can-you-drink-electrolytes-while-fasting

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Just Ingredients electrolytes are generally suitable for intermittent fasting as they are designed to be low-calorie and sugar-free, relying on stevia and natural flavors.

The small amount of natural fruit extract used for flavoring typically contains a negligible number of calories that will not significantly impact a metabolic fast, though some strict fasters prefer to avoid all flavors.

Stevia is a natural, non-caloric sweetener that does not cause an insulin spike, making it an acceptable ingredient for most fasting protocols.

Not replenishing electrolytes, especially during prolonged fasts, can lead to dehydration, muscle cramps, fatigue, and other symptoms associated with electrolyte imbalance.

Symptoms like headaches, dizziness, muscle cramps, and persistent fatigue can indicate an electrolyte deficiency. Replenishing them can often provide quick relief.

Traditional sports drinks contain sugar and calories that will break a fast. Just Ingredients are formulated specifically to be fasting-friendly by avoiding these ingredients.

For a strict water-only fast focused on autophagy, some people prefer to avoid all flavorings, including those with stevia. In this case, you might choose unflavored electrolytes or consume Just Ingredients outside your fasting window.