5% Nutrition - Hydrate Stick

5% Nutrition Hydrate Stick (Hydrate STK) is the brand's comprehensive electrolyte hydration formula — a single stick pack delivering a full spectrum of electrolyte minerals, vitamins, and performance nutrients that go well beyond what most hydration products include. Per stick: 500mg Potassium (2.5x the Sodium content), 200mg Sodium, Magnesium and Calcium from premium bioavailable forms, a full B-vitamin complex, 1,500mg L-Taurine, 1,250mg Coconut Water Concentrate, 250mg Tart Cherry Extract 10:1, and 100mg SAM-e (S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine). The potassium-forward electrolyte profile reflects the documented reality that most athletes are more deficient in potassium than sodium — Hydrate STK has double the potassium versus sodium because that's what the research actually supports for athletic electrolyte balance. Vegan friendly. Non-GMO. Dairy free. Mix 1 stick in 14-16oz of water. Multiple sticks can be consumed per day. 10 sticks per box. California Prop 65 Warning applies.†

Supplement Facts — 5% Nutrition Hydrate Stick (Per 1 Stick / 10 Sticks Per Box)

Vitamins

• Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid)

• Vitamin B2 (as Riboflavin) — 1.2mg

• Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride) — 5mg

• Folate (as Folic Acid)

• Vitamin B12 (as Methylcobalamin)

• Biotin

• Pantothenic Acid (as D-Calcium Pantothenate)

Electrolyte Minerals

• Calcium (as Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Citrate, Dicalcium Malate/DimaCal®) — premium triple-source calcium

• Magnesium (as Magnesium Bisglycinate Chelate, Magnesium Citrate) — premium dual-source magnesium

• Chloride (as Sodium Chloride, Potassium Chloride)

• Sodium — 200mg (as Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate)

• Potassium — 500mg (as Potassium Citrate, Potassium Chloride, Coconut Water) — 2.5x the sodium content

Performance and Recovery Blend

• L-Taurine — 1,500mg

• Coconut Water Concentrate (Cocos nucifera) — 1,250mg

• Tart Cherry Extract 10:1 (Prunus cerasus)(fruit) — 250mg

• SAM-e (S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine Tosylate Disulfate) — 100mg

• Vegan friendly. Non-GMO. Dairy free.

• 10 sticks per box

• Mix 1 stick in 14-16oz of water. Shake well.

• Multiple sticks can be consumed per day as needed

• Flavors: Lemon Lime, Blueberry Lemonade, and others — ask staff for current available flavors

• Safe for men and women. Recommended by doctors and safe for kids.

• California Prop 65 Warning applies.

5% Nutrition — The Rich Piana Legacy

5% Nutrition was founded by the late Rich Piana — professional bodybuilder, social media pioneer, and one of the most recognizable figures in the supplement industry's modern era. The brand name reflects Rich's core philosophy: only 5% of people have the dedication to pursue their goals with everything they have. Hydrate Stick is part of the 5% Nutrition Legendary Series — products designed to the same no-compromise standards Rich applied to everything the brand built. Hydrate STK stands as a prime example of Rich Piana's approach to supplement formulation: more ingredients, higher doses, and a formula that actually covers every dimension of what it claims to address.†

The Potassium-First Philosophy — Why Hydrate STK Does It Differently

Most hydration products front-load sodium — either because sodium drives fluid retention and retention sounds like hydration, or because sodium is cheaper and easier to formulate with. Hydrate STK specifically inverts this: 500mg of potassium versus 200mg of sodium. The reasoning is grounded in the research on electrolyte shortfalls and athletic performance. Potassium is a documented shortfall nutrient — the average American diet provides substantially less potassium than sodium relative to what the body requires for optimal function. The potassium-to-sodium ratio in cells governs fluid balance, membrane potential, nerve signaling, and muscle contraction with far greater nuance than either mineral in isolation. Research specifically shows that low potassium-to-sodium ratios are a greater concern for cardiovascular health and athletic performance than high sodium intake alone — and that adequate potassium is critically important for vasodilation, the same mechanism that drives blood flow and training pump.†

The sodium content (200mg) is meaningful without being excessive — appropriate for replacing sweat losses without the aggressive sodium loading that turns hydration products into salt supplements. The 500mg of potassium from three sources (Potassium Citrate, Potassium Chloride, and the natural potassium in Coconut Water Concentrate) provides the electrolyte that most athletes are actually deficient in.†

Premium Mineral Forms — Why Source Matters

Hydrate STK uses premium bioavailable mineral forms rather than the cheapest available sources. Magnesium is provided as Magnesium Bisglycinate Chelate (the amino acid chelate form with the highest documented absorption and best GI tolerance) and Magnesium Citrate (well-absorbed organic acid salt) — rather than cheap Magnesium Oxide that has approximately 4% absorption. Calcium is provided as a triple-source combination: Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Citrate, and Dicalcium Malate (DimaCal®) — the combination of forms with different solubility profiles produces more complete absorption across the full pH range of the digestive tract than any single calcium form alone. This level of mineral formulation reflects genuine quality investment rather than label presence.†

The Performance and Recovery Ingredients — Beyond Electrolytes

L-Taurine — 1,500mg — The Full Dose

Taurine at 1,500mg is one of the most notable dosing decisions in Hydrate STK — most products that include taurine use the standard 1,000mg. Taurine's benefits in a hydration context are multiple: it is itself an osmolyte that supports cellular hydration independently of the electrolyte minerals, it supports cardiovascular function and cardiac efficiency relevant to exercise performance, it has antioxidant properties, and it has well-documented CNS anti-fatigue effects. Taurine's benefits are dose-dependent in published research — meaning the extra 500mg over the standard 1,000mg dose is not irrelevant filler but a genuine step toward the higher end of the effective dose range.†

Coconut Water Concentrate — 1,250mg — Natural Electrolyte Source

Coconut water concentrate provides naturally occurring potassium, magnesium, and other electrolyte minerals alongside naturally occurring cytokinins (plant hormones with documented antioxidant and anti-aging properties) and the full spectrum of minor minerals found in coconut water. At 1,250mg of concentrate, Hydrate STK provides a meaningful coconut water electrolyte contribution — not the token 100-200mg amounts used in many products primarily for label marketing.†

Tart Cherry Extract 10:1 — 250mg — Recovery and Anti-Inflammatory

Tart Cherry Extract is one of the most extensively researched recovery ingredients in sports nutrition. Montmorency Tart Cherry is rich in anthocyanins — the flavonoid pigments that give tart cherries their dark red color and their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Published research specifically on Montmorency Tart Cherry in athletes has documented reductions in post-exercise muscle soreness, reduced inflammatory markers, faster recovery of muscle strength and function following eccentric exercise, and improvements in sleep quality (through the cherry's natural melatonin content). The 10:1 concentration means 250mg of this extract represents 2,500mg of raw tart cherry material concentrated. Adding a recovery-specific ingredient to a hydration formula reflects 5% Nutrition's understanding that the post-workout hydration window is also a recovery window.†

SAM-e — 100mg — The Unique Differentiator

SAM-e (S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine) is the most unexpected ingredient in Hydrate STK and the one that most clearly reflects Rich Piana's commitment to formulating beyond the obvious. SAM-e is a naturally occurring compound in every cell — it is the primary methyl donor in the body, participating in over 200 methylation reactions including the synthesis of neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine), the production of glutathione, creatine synthesis, and the maintenance of joint cartilage (through proteoglycan synthesis). SAM-e's documented clinical applications include joint health support (multiple RCTs document efficacy comparable to NSAIDs for osteoarthritis) and cognitive health and mood support. At 100mg in a hydration stick, SAM-e adds a joint health and cognitive performance dimension that no other hydration product includes — a genuinely unique inclusion that reflects comprehensive formulation thinking rather than category conventions.†

When to Use Hydrate Stick

Hydrate STK's design makes it appropriate across multiple use windows, each benefiting from a different dimension of the formula. Pre-workout: the electrolyte loading ensures adequate mineral availability for nerve signaling and muscle contraction before the sweat losses of training begin, and the taurine and B-vitamins support energy metabolism going into the session. Intra-workout: replacing sweat electrolytes during extended sessions prevents the dehydration-related performance decline that typically begins at 2% of body weight water loss. Post-workout: the taurine's anti-fatigue and osmolyte properties, the Tart Cherry Extract's recovery support, and the potassium replenishment address the post-session recovery window. Throughout the day: the B-vitamin energy metabolism support and the electrolyte mineral balance are beneficial for general daily wellness, particularly for individuals in hot climates or physically demanding jobs.†

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why does Hydrate STK have more potassium than sodium?
   The research on electrolyte balance consistently identifies potassium as the shortfall electrolyte — most people consume too little potassium relative to sodium, not the reverse. The potassium-to-sodium ratio in cells is more important for fluid balance, nerve signaling, and cardiovascular health than either mineral in isolation. More potassium also specifically supports vasodilation — the blood vessel dilation that drives training pump and cardiovascular performance. Hydrate STK's 500mg potassium versus 200mg sodium reflects what the science actually recommends, not just what tastes good or is cheapest to formulate.†

2. What does SAM-e do in a hydration product?
   SAM-e (S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine) is the body's primary methyl donor — participating in glutathione synthesis, neurotransmitter production, creatine synthesis, and joint cartilage maintenance through proteoglycan synthesis. It has documented clinical evidence for joint health support and cognitive and mood benefits. Its inclusion in Hydrate STK reflects Rich Piana's formulation philosophy of going beyond the obvious — adding joint and cognitive support to a hydration formula because the post-workout window is also a recovery window, and because most athletes can benefit from these additional effects.†

3. Can Hydrate Stick be used by kids?
   5% Nutrition's packaging notes that the product is recommended by doctors and safe for kids. The formula contains no stimulants, no hormonal compounds, and no WADA-prohibited substances — just electrolytes, vitamins, taurine, coconut water, tart cherry, and SAM-e. Parents should review the full label and consult their pediatrician before giving to young children, but the formula is specifically noted as kid-safe.†

4. Is Hydrate Stick appropriate for tested athletes?
   Based on the disclosed formula — electrolyte minerals, B-vitamins, L-Taurine, Coconut Water Concentrate, Tart Cherry Extract, and SAM-e — Hydrate STK does not contain any compounds prohibited by WADA or NCAA. No stimulants, no hormonal compounds, no banned substances of any kind. Tested athletes can use this product without any regulatory concern.†

How to Use 5% Nutrition Hydrate Stick

Mix 1 stick pack into 14-16oz of cold water. Shake or stir well until fully dissolved. Consume during your workout or anytime throughout the day to support hydration. Multiple sticks can be consumed per day as needed — there is no stated maximum servings per day on the label. Store in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Note: when exposed to moisture or heat, product may crystallize but remains effective and safe for consumption. Intended for healthy adults 18 years of age or older. Do not use if pregnant or nursing without consulting a healthcare professional. Consult a healthcare professional prior to use if you have any medical condition or are taking medication. Safe for kids per 5% Nutrition's labeling. California Prop 65 Warning applies.†

Why Buy at Get Yok'd

• Real-time inventory across all five Southern California stores

• Available in Burbank, Glendale, Glendale Galleria, Pasadena, and North Hollywood

• Authorized 5% Nutrition retailer — carrying Hydrate Stick alongside the full 5% Nutrition lineup including All Day You May, Kill It Reloaded, and Full as F***

• Staff who can help you build the right hydration and performance stack incorporating Hydrate Stick

• One of the best loyalty programs in the supplement industry — earn rewards on every purchase

Who Should Exercise Caution with Hydrate Stick

• Not for pregnant or nursing women without consulting a healthcare professional

• Individuals with kidney disease should consult a physician — significant potassium content (500mg per stick) requires renal clearance; impaired kidneys may not excrete excess potassium normally

• Individuals taking potassium-sparing diuretics or ACE inhibitors should consult a physician — these medications already elevate potassium levels and additional supplementation may cause hyperkalemia

• Individuals taking MAO inhibitors should consult a physician — SAM-e affects monoamine neurotransmitter synthesis and may interact with MAOIs

• Individuals taking antidepressants should consult a physician — SAM-e affects serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine metabolism

• Consult a healthcare professional before use if you have any medical condition or are taking medication

• California Prop 65 Warning applies.

• Keep out of reach of children (unless under adult supervision and with healthcare provider guidance).

†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.