By Merilee Kern, ‘The Luxe List’ Executive Editor

With all of the legitimate concern around the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), consumers are scrambling for viable solutions to keep themselves and their families healthy. There are certainly a number of marketplace innovations that can help foster your well-being.

One such science-driven advancement is SOS Hydration—a pleasant-tasting, hydration-accelerating drink mix uniquely engineered to combat mild to moderate dehydration. This powder-based, immune system booster can help people fight an infection and recover faster since if proffers hydration equivalent to an I.V. drip—helping the body rehydrate fully three-times faster than by drinking water alone.

Given the extent to which COVID-19 and influenza-induced dehydration is a significant concern for those who are sick, often undermining treatment and recovery, the importance of managing the issue should not be underestimated. In fact, if not properly attended to, illness-driven dehydration can lead to further debilitation of one’s health and well-being—sometimes in very medically significant ways.

According to board-certified internist Dr. Blanca Lizaola-Mayo, co-founder of SOS Hydration, “One of the main effects of viral infections is dehydration, which the body combats by increasing its temperature, often causing a fever; this means that you lose more water through skin evaporation and even breathing. Viruses can also make you lose your appetite (another hydration source) and some may even cause diarrhea, vomiting or both. One of the best natural ways to combat viral illness and expedite recovery is through proper hydration, by drinking plenty of fluids. Hydration acceleration solutions like SOS Hydration—often tapped for exercise, travel, imbibing and other lifestyle-induced dehydration—can be a powerful recovery assist for viral infections and infectious respiratory illnesses like influenza (‘the flu’) and COVID-19. And, it can be used without causing gastrointestinal distress. Plus, because SOS has less sugar, the packs are considerably smaller and more compact than the normal ORS solution or competition on the market, so consumers, health organizations and others can more readily stockpile...also since they’re more cost effective.”

“While others are profiteering on this terrible situation, our already economical prices have remained—and will continue to remain—exactly the same,” added SOS Hydration co-founder James Mayo. “And, with dehydration paramount among the more ubiquitous health concerns as detailed in a multitude of reports, SOS Hydration is leading the dehydration-focused donation charge to aid healthcare workers and affected families in particularly hard hit states. Through our valued partnership with the Global Empowerment Mission/#BStrong non-profit disaster relief organization, we’ve already commenced donations and have supplied 20,000 drink mix packs targeted to aid healthcare workers and test-positive patients.”

Sue Cushman, US National Aid Director of Global Empowerment Mission noted, “We’re thrilled to partner with SOS and gift those in need this viable and readily available dehydration avoidance and treatment beverage solution based on science and testing that far exceeds ‘other’ electrolyte drinks and mixes on the market. We know that this coronavirus-specific donation is an extension of SOS Hydration’s overarching philanthropic work addressing large-scale tragedies.”

While there are a number of brands that have entered the fray on the hydration acceleration front, SOS Hydration stands at the forefront of the field due to the depth of science driving—and overwhelmingly validating—its formulation.

Setting a Scientific Standard

No matter the situation or reason, even if to generally maintain one’s well-being when illness isn’t a concern, the ability to rehydrate quickly and effectively is advantageous on many levels. That’s where SOS Hydration comes in. Based on top-tier medical and sports science, SOS Hydration was not only engineered by a leading doctor, but also two former elite athletes and a retired military medical officer with the sole purpose of combating dehydration to improve overall human performance, no matter the lifestyle circumstance. In fact, company co-founder James Mayo was an officer in the Army for six years, where he achieved the rank of Captain. Concurrently, James ran track and field for his country where he earned the distinction of national mile champion.

His brother, Tom Mayo, was also a top-tier international middle-distance athlete—a sub four-minute miler—and Olympic Games contender ... until dehydration derailed his dream. This unfortunate and entirely avoidable situation spurred the brothers, and James’ medical doctor spouse Blanca, to combine their respective areas of expertise and develop a suitable alternative to the mass market sugary sports drinks and create a best-in-class hydration product consistent with clinical-grade formulas combating extreme dehydration in disaster zones and E.R. Departments. And, so, SOS Hydration was born.

The product’s heightened hydration process leverages the body’s digestive “Sodium/Glucose co-transport system”—an Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. In fact, SOS is based on, and falls within, the ranges set out by WHO’s Oral Rehydration Solution Guidelines that are supported by over 50 years of dehydration research. The medical mind behind the brand—a distinct point of differentiation for the company—cannot be overstated, as Blanca Mayo is a board certified internist and Mayo Clinic physician. Her expertise has propelled the applicability and efficacy of SOS far beyond other rehydration solutions on the market, since her proprietary formula not only employs proven science from WHO, but also the American College of Sports Science. This is a feat no other rehydration brand outside of SOS has achieved—one proffering a perfectly-balanced protocol that optimizes hydration in well people rather than those who are ill or suffering gastrointestinal issues as other available formulas are most appropriate for, engineering-wise—marketing spin aside. Also impressive is the copious amounts of world-class independent, third-party research also supporting the SOS Hydration approach.

“Not many companies have been willing to independently test their product for fear of failure,” James said. “Since day one, SOS has not only followed proven rehydration guidelines set by leading organizations, but has also put our product formulas up for independent research so that we can base our claims on fact rather than self-promotional rhetoric. One need only review the ‘How does SOS Compare’ page of our web site to appreciate the comprehensive suite of reasons putting our formula in a scientific league of its own. We want consumers to fully vet us against our competitors as well as published scientific standards so they can truly understand appreciate what sets up apart and makes our product worthy of their hard-earned dollars.”

Relative to its formulation, SOS Hydration notably contains a painstakingly calculated “perfect mix” of elements the body requires for rapid hydration and in specific amounts to support active lifestyles: six key electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium, citrate, chloride and zinc); sugars (only what is needed to transport electrolytes into the bloodstream); and malic acid. SOS has also uniquely lowered the osmolarity (the balance between water and sodium in the body) and stabilized the taste—said to be a complex challenge that other rehydration drinks seem to struggle with. The lower the osmolarity, the faster the body can absorb water, and with SOS this absorption process is three-times quicker. High glucose concentrations can increase the osmolarity of drinks. SOS’ osmolarity is 20 percent lower than the average hydration drink, 25 percent lower than the average coconut water, 50 percent lower than the average sports drink and over 80 percent lower than the average soda. SOS is a hypotonic drink, which means it has a lower osmolarity than blood.

SOS also boasts three times more electrolytes, six times less sugar and six times less calories than competing brands (a mere 10 calories per sachet/scoop) but without compromising taste—all while using premium, non-GMO and keto-certified ingredients and without any fillers, preservatives or artificial additives.

Even with all of the science-based backing and wellness justifications, if a lifestyle beverage does not taste good it just will not fly. That concern is a non-issue, as SOS Hydration does come in five fab flavors: berry, citrus, mango, coconut and watermelon. All are availed from its web site at www.SOSHydration.com in handy and highly portable powder form with a dissolve time of under 10 seconds.

So, if you’re fishing for a way to boost your immune system and stay health, help your energy and stamina surge, keep fatigue at bay and ensure physical performance flows at a high level, consider integrating SOS Hydration into your daily routine. At the very least, it will certainly make it easier to get in those recommended days eight-cups of water.

~~~

As the Executive Editor and Producer of “The Luxe List,” Merilee Kern, MBA is an internationally-regarded brand analyst, strategist and futurist. As prolific consumer trends, lifestyle and leisure industry voice of authority and tastemaker, Merilee keeps her finger on the pulse of the marketplace in search of new and innovative must-haves and exemplary experiences at all price points, from the affordable to the extreme. The best-of-the-best across all product, service and travel categories—as well as noteworthy marketplace change makers, movers and shakers—are spotlighted in her prolific cross-media platform work that reaches multi-millions each month via broadcast TV (her own major market/network TV show “Savvy Living” and copious other shows on which she appears) as well as print and online publications. Connect with her at www.TheLuxeList.com / Instagram www.Instagram.com/LuxeListReports / Twitter www.Twitter.com/LuxeListReports / Facebook www.Facebook.com/LuxeListReports / LinkedIN www.LinkedIn.com/in/MerileeKern

Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided or arranged at no cost to accommodate this review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way.