IQ MIX vs LMNT: Balanced Minerals with Brain Add-Ons vs Maximum Sodium

IQMIX and LMNT are both zero-sugar stick packs, but their formulas barely overlap. LMNT puts 1,000 mg of sodium in a stick. IQMIX halves the sodium, roughly doubles the potassium, and adds Lion’s Mane and a patented magnesium form.

Where they come from

IQBAR launched IQMIX as a hydration stick pack that pairs electrolytes with compounds marketed for mood and clarity. LMNT was developed by Robb Wolf, a figure in low-carb circles, to help people thrive in ketosis and support athletic performance. One product is a brain-nutrition brand’s hydration extension, and the other began as a keto-electrolyte product. eatiqbar greenlitcontent

What’s in each stick

The Lemon Lime IQMIX stick weighs 5 g and has 10 calories, 500 mg of sodium and 380 mg of potassium. The newer 8 g Raspberry Lemonade stick lists 500 mg of sodium, 450 mg of potassium and 65 mg of magnesium, so check the label for your flavor. LMNT has 1,000 mg of sodium, 200 mg of potassium and 60 mg of magnesium per stick. lemon lime 40 sticks +2

Two different sodium-to-potassium ratios

LMNT’s ratio is about 5:1 sodium to potassium. IQMIX’s is roughly 1.1 to 1.3:1. Sweat typically contains several times more sodium than potassium, so LMNT’s ratio is closer to what a hard workout actually costs you. IQMIX’s extra potassium works more as a dietary top-up, since most people fall short of the 4,700 mg daily reference value.

An analysis of 184 electrolyte labels found a median of 250 mg potassium per serving. That puts IQMIX above the median and LMNT below it. verifiedsupplementdata

The brain ingredients

The IQMIX headline is 750 mg of Magtein, but that is the weight of the magnesium L-threonate compound, not the magnesium itself. The label’s 65 mg of actual magnesium is nearly the same as LMNT’s 60 mg. IQBAR says the clinical studies it cites used 1.5 g per day, the amount in two sticks, so one stick gives half the studied dose. Each stick also holds 250 mg of an 8X-concentrated Lion’s Mane extract. Human evidence for Lion’s Mane at that dose is thin, so I’d treat it as a bonus rather than a reason to buy. iherb eatiqbar

Concentration and taste

IQMIX is meant to be stirred into 16 oz of water. At that volume it comes to about 1,060 mg of sodium per liter. An LMNT stick in 16 oz is about 2,100 mg per liter, so it is twice as salty. One IQMIX reviewer reported little or no salt aftertaste, depending on flavor. An LMNT reviewer warned that the unflavored version has a strong sodium taste. I couldn’t confirm IQMIX’s sweetener from the pages I found. IQBAR, IQMIX®, Hydration + Clarity + Mood Mix, Raspberry Lemonade, 20 Sticks, 0.28 oz (8 g) Each +2

Sugar and carbs

IQMIX has zero sugar and about 1 g of total carbohydrate per stick. One reviewer put LMNT at 2 g of carbs per packet. LMNT has about 10 calories per serving. That gap is too small to matter for keto or fasting. INTRODUCING: IQMIX Hydration Stick Packs +2

Price

IQMIX costs $24.99 for 20 sticks, or $1.25 each. The 40-stick variety pack is $47.02, or about $1.18 each. LMNT costs $1.50 per stick for a 30-count box, and $0.97 per stick on a subscription for the 120-stick bundle. IQMIX Variety Pack (20 Sticks) +2

Per 1,000 mg of sodium, LMNT is cheaper at $1.50 against $2.35 to $2.50 for IQMIX. Per 1,000 mg of potassium, IQMIX is far cheaper at about $2.80 to $3.30 against $7.50 for LMNT.

How much to trust the reviews

IQMIX shows a 4.8 out of 5 rating from several hundred reviews, but they are on IQBAR’s own store. One review that credits IQMIX with ending leg cramps used a sample provided by IQBAR. Self-hosted and sponsored reviews are weaker evidence than independent testing. One LMNT reviewer found the price too high for everyday use and switched to a cheaper brand. IQMIX Original Variety (40 Sticks) +2

Safety notes

An LMNT stick supplies about 43% of the 2,300 mg daily sodium limit. The IQMIX label lists 22% of the daily value for sodium and 10% for potassium. Anyone with kidney disease, or taking ACE inhibitors, ARBs or potassium-sparing diuretics, should ask a doctor before adding potassium daily. iherb

Which to choose

500 mg of sodium is about a quarter teaspoon of table salt, which is light for heavy sweating in the heat. LMNT’s 1,000 mg is nearly half a teaspoon. Choose LMNT if you train hard, sweat a lot, crave salt or are adapting to keto.

Choose IQMIX if you want an everyday zero-sugar drink with more potassium, less salt and extras like Lion’s Mane. Either way, the sodium dose matters more than the brain ingredients.