Why are you switching to calcium carbonate in Re-Lyte products?

Calcium carbonate makes Re-Lyte products easier to mix and makes Re-Lyte Hydration calorie-free. Because it’s combined with citric acid and other ingredients, taking calcium carbonate in Re-Lyte isn’t the same as taking it by itself.

We think the original formulas for all of our Re-Lyte products are pretty great, and we know a lot of our customers agree. But as any Re-Lyte fan knows, our original Re-Lyte formulas can be a little difficult to mix. 

In the spirit of continuous improvement, we set our sights on making our Re-Lyte line mix easier without sacrificing our dedication to quality. Shortly after we started experimenting, we discovered that changing the type of calcium in Re-Lyte made it mix better and made Re-Lyte Hydration (formerly Re-Lyte Electrolyte Mix) calorie-free for our fasting community— a win-win! 

The new calcium we’re using is calcium carbonate. This form of calcium is one of the most common in supplements. It’s high in elemental calcium and it’s added to (and found naturally in) many foods today.

We’ve heard some concerns related to the quality, bioavailability, and side effects of calcium carbonate so we wanted to share some information that could help put your mind at ease.

The Quality of Our Calcium Carbonate

We use the highest-quality calcium carbonate. It is a mined mineral, but it’s pharmaceutical grade and purified, which means it doesn’t come straight from the rock (a misconception we’ve heard). 

The calcium carbonate we’re using doesn’t cost us any less than the calcium lactate we used previously. Cost was never a motivating factor in this switch. We did it to provide our customers with the best Re-Lyte experience.  

Are There Side Effects?

When taken by itself, calcium carbonate is alkaline and can neutralize stomach acid (it’s even used in popular antacids like Tums and Alka Seltzer). These qualities lead to concerns that it can cause mild digestive issues and should only be taken with food. 

But hydrating with Re-Lyte isn’t like taking calcium carbonate by itself. Re-Lyte includes other electrolytes and ingredients like citric acid, which counteracts the alkalinity of calcium carbonate before it reaches your stomach. In fact, as Re-Lyte dissolves, the calcium carbonate interacts with the citric acid to create calcium citrate, which is the form of calcium that’s known to be easiest on the stomach

The Bioavailability of Our Calcium Carbonate

There are a lot of factors that impact bioavailability—age, body chemistry, stomach pH, vitamin D levels, hormone levels, and a host of other things. 

We haven’t done our own studies and can’t make any promises about the bioavailability of the calcium in Re-Lyte products. We can say that research shows calcium carbonate is bioavailable, although it may be slightly less bioavailable than some other forms of calcium. 

But it’s important to consider what we mentioned above. As Re-Lyte dissolves, the calcium carbonate interacts with the citric acid to form calcium citrate. So it makes more sense to look at the bioavailability of calcium citrate, which is known to be one of (if not the) most bioavailable forms of calcium. Research shows that calcium citrate is well-absorbed on an empty stomach or after a meal.

Elevating the Re-Lyte Experience

We’re excited about the benefits of this change, and we hope you agree! We've already made the switch to calcium carbonate in Re-Lyte Hydration (formerly Re-Lyte Electrolyte Mix) and will be making the switch in Re-Lyte Immunity this summer. Later this year, we'll switch the calcium in Re-Lyte Pre-Workout and Re-Lyte Boost too. If you have concerns about the calcium carbonate in Re-Lyte, we do have some calcium-free options you can try— Unflavored Re-Lyte and Re-Lyte Hydration Support Caps.