When I started running years ago, there weren’t a ton of different electrolyte replacement options that I knew about. I remember when I first heard about Nuun (and learned how to pronounce it, “noon,” in case you were wondering) I was grateful for an alternative to the super sweet sugary drinks on the market. Over the years, Nuun has continually upped their game, which is so necessary in the running community today, when there are new products coming out seemingly every day.
There are now several different varieties of Nuun you can find at your local running store, depending on what your goal is. Run Oregon was fortunate to get a chance recently to try out a few items from their catalog – Sport, Energy, Rest, as well as their recently released Immunity3.
The thing that has appealed to me about Nuun is that most of their options come in tablet form, which makes the “grab and go” option so easy. You can drop it in any 16 oz. bottle and you get to decide how much you want. You can split a tablet in half easily if you only want half the concentration, or you can use the whole thing. I personally don’t like my electrolyte drinks very sweet, especially when I’m already eating sugars in other forms for long runs, so I really appreciate the mild taste of Nuun.
Nuun Sport is a great option to replace all those minerals and electrolytes that you sweat out during a good run, and there is a version with caffeine and one without. There are also 13 main flavors available, so there’s no chance of getting bored. I must say that I really appreciate that Nuun makes an option with caffeine and one without since I sometimes I run in the morning and sometimes I run at night. I don’t like a strong, overpowering taste and I was glad that all of the ones I tried were light and refreshing. They got me through my runs great too!
Nuun Energy takes that caffeine and ramps it up a notch with 80 mg of caffeine per serving. It comes in 4 flavors and really delivers a punch. As a morning coffee drinker, I realize that this isn’t always the best option available. I consistently wake up early to work out before the day gets started and the kids wake up, and I really don’t want coffee as my pre-workout fueling. These have added a little kick to those workouts and honestly have seemed to get me a little more energized for my weightlifting sessions than usual.
When you are looking for a comforting sleep following an active day, Nuun Rest has a blend of magnesium, potassium, and tart-cherry to aid your drift into Dreamland. There are 2 flavors available to choose from. I was super intrigued when I heard about the Nuun Rest option. I often have a hard time going to bed at a decent hour after the kids go to bed and I’ve been running all over the place. I got to try the Blackberry Vanilla flavor, and I liked it a lot. It was not at all intense and it went down easily. I did find I had a good sleep after drinking it, plus it encouraged more hydration, which I struggle with often. Having three young kids PLUS Nuun is the way to go!
Immunity is sort of THE word in the world the last few years, and the recent release of Immunity3 packets from Nuun takes that head on. These are one of the few items from Nuun that don’t come in tablet form – instead available in powder packets so as to encourage its quick dissolution in water to hit the body quick. They envision these as a supplement for when your body is stressed – such as after hard workouts, but also such activities like travel and when your sleep is less than ideal (hello 3 kid-life). And with COVID still roaming the world, it’s probably a good idea for when you feel you may end up in a less than ideal situation as well.
“When we looked at existing products with Vitamin C, we noticed a gap in the market. We wanted to introduce a product that didn’t just stop at that one ingredient, rather why not offer something that has multiple health benefits in one,” said Nuun CEO Kevin Rutherford. “Nuun Immunity3, made with clean ingredients, is the ideal way to get multiple purposeful, and powerful immune system supporting ingredients into your body — fast.”
The “3” in Immunity3 is derived from the three main compositions of the powder:
- Electrolytes: Balanced with efficient carbohydrates for rapid hydration.
- Vitamins: A purposeful blend of five different vitamins, not just Vitamin C. These carefully chosen vitamins help protect cells against damage, regulate immune cell function, provide immune system balance and deliver energy boosts and additional antioxidant support.
- Prebiotics: Promote the production of healthy gut bacteria by serving as food for probiotics, helping to increase absorption of vitamins and minerals, and supporting overall digestive health.
My family has also been utilizing Elderberry and Zinc over the past 18 months as sort of an immune boosting cocktail and, wouldn’t you know, these are both included in Immunity3. There are two flavor options, Mandarin Orange and Super Berry, and true to Nuun form they are solidly good tasting and not overpowering.
In addition to on Nuun’s website, you can also find these locally in Whole Foods and REI for starters.
Products & Price:
- Nuun Sport ($7.00 for 10 tablets)
- A tasty & hydrating blend of electrolytes for exercise and on-the-go.
- Nuun Energy ($8.00 for 10 tablets)
- Jumpstart your day with Nuun Energy, a crafted blend designed to deliver a lift that lasts. Contains 80 mg of caffeine per serving.
- Nuun Rest ($7.00 for 10 tablets)
- A soothing blend of magnesium, potassium and tart-cherry for some extra R&R.
- Nuun Immunity3, ($19.99 for 8 packets)
- Combining Vitamins, Electrolytes, and Prebiotics, Nuun Immunity3 harnesses the power of hydration to provide a triple pathway of support for the immune system.
More about Nuun:
Nuun began as the first company to separate electrolyte replacement from carbohydrates. The result? A healthy, hydrating beverage without all of the extra sugar and additives. #heckyea! Over a decade later, Nuun Hydration is hydrating the planet one runner, surfer, cyclist, mother, yogi, hula hooper at a time (the list goes on…)!
As the good word about hydration and wellness becomes more widespread, Nuun has become a “must-have” product for more and more people. Nuun has expanded its product offerings from its sports hydration roots to include more clean-ingredient lifestyle products for everyday hydration! Nuun HQ is based in Seattle, WA. You can find our products sold in over 5,000 outlets in the U.S. and available in over 30 countries.
Thank you to Nuun for providing us with samples. Please read our transparency page for info on how we do our reviews.
