Why SALTD Includes Small Amounts of Citric Acid and Stevia

We know ingredient choices matter — especially for people with chronic illness, sensory sensitivities, or MCAS concerns. Here’s why we included very small amounts of citric acid and stevia glycosides, and why we kept them low.

The short version

SALTD was built to support structured high-sodium hydration that people can use consistently. Citric acid and stevia glycosides were included in trace amounts to improve palatability and make repeated daily use more realistic, while keeping the formula sugar-free and the ingredient profile as simple as possible.

The real formulation challenge

In theory, an electrolyte could be stripped back to just sodium, potassium and magnesium salts. In real life, that is not always enough. High-sodium drinks can be harsh, intensely salty, and difficult to consume day after day.

For people using electrolytes consistently as part of a routine, taste is not a minor issue. It affects adherence. And adherence matters more than ingredient perfection on paper.

Without palatability
People may under-dose, skip servings, or stop using the product altogether.

With better tolerability
People are more likely to use the product consistently and actually benefit from the hydration routine they are trying to follow.

Why we included citric acid

Citric acid is included in a very small amount to help balance flavour. High-sodium formulations can otherwise taste flat, mineral-heavy, or aggressively saline.

• It helps offset the harshness of the salt profile.
• It improves overall drinkability without turning the product into a sweet or sharp-tasting drink.
• It supports a cleaner, more repeatable taste experience over time.

We did not add it to make SALTD taste like a typical sports drink. We added it in a restrained way to make a high-sodium product easier to live with.

The goal was not big flavour. The goal was to take the edge off a high-sodium formulation enough that it remains usable.

Why we included stevia glycosides

Stevia glycosides are included in very small amounts to soften the salt profile without adding sugar. Many people want or need a sugar-free option, especially for repeat daily use.

• It helps reduce the harshness of a sodium-forward drink.
• It allows us to avoid loading the formula with sugar.
• Only a very small amount is needed to improve drinkability.

SALTD is not designed to be sweet. The stevia is there to make the formula more manageable, not to turn it into a flavoured wellness drink.

What about MCAS and ingredient sensitivities?

This is a valid concern. Some people with MCAS, sensory sensitivities, or highly individual reactions prefer to avoid citric acid, stevia, flavouring agents, or even certain mineral forms entirely.

We are aware of that. We did not ignore it.

The challenge is that there is no single formula that works for everyone. Some people need the cleanest possible ingredient deck. Others need a formula that is actually tolerable enough to drink repeatedly. Those two goals do not always align perfectly.

• We kept these ingredients low on purpose.
• We kept the overall ingredient list tight.
• We aimed for the best balance between simplicity and repeatability.

We do not claim SALTD will suit every individual with MCAS or every type of sensitivity. That would not be honest. Tolerance is personal, and users should always assess their own response carefully.

Why not remove them completely?

Because a formula that is technically cleaner but practically hard to consume is not automatically better. If removing these trace ingredients made the product so salty or unpleasant that people avoided using it, that would be a worse outcome for many users.

Product development is trade-offs. The right question is not, “Can you remove every potentially disliked ingredient?” The right question is, “Can you build a formula that is simple, functional, and realistic for repeated use?”

Why we did not use sugar instead

Many hydration products use sugar or glucose-based systems. That approach can make sense in some contexts. But it also creates trade-offs that we did not want for SALTD.

• Higher calorie load
• Potential taste fatigue with repeated daily use
• Less flexibility for people actively avoiding sugar
• A formula that starts to look more like a conventional sports drink

SALTD was deliberately built as a sodium-first, zero-sugar product. That meant solving palatability in a different way.

Our formulation philosophy

Every ingredient in SALTD has a job. Nothing was added casually.

What this means in practice

SALTD is not trying to be everything to everyone. It is trying to be a transparent, sodium-forward electrolyte that people can realistically use as part of a routine.

• High sodium
• Zero sugar
• Simple ingredient profile
• Designed for repeat use
• Built with real-world adherence in mind

That is why trace ingredients like citric acid and stevia made the final formula. Not because they are perfect for every single person, but because they helped us build a better real-world product overall.

Our view

We would rather be honest about trade-offs than pretend a formula can suit everyone equally. SALTD was built to balance simplicity, taste, and consistent daily use. That balance is exactly why these ingredients were included in small amounts — and why they were kept low.