"When I was given the Totum Sport Performance Bundle to try out, I must admit, I was in a bit of a quandary. After decades of using every supplement, tonic and elixir available, all with “wonder ingredients” (usually with unpronounceable names) that promised breakthrough levels of renewal and revitalisation, I was a bit perplexed when told I’d be trying good old seawater!" – By Jason Martin
A massive product box arrived, with numerous boxes of glass vials and basic instructions. Having watched a fair number of Marvel movies lately with my six-year-old, who is obsessed with superheroes, I must admit that all the different boxes initially brought forth visions of clandestine spy activities, with unlabelled vials of rocket fuel and the like. However, being curious about what this apparent new fad offered, I was compelled to give it a proper go.
Totum is a completely natural hydration supplement, made from 100% cold micro-filtered seawater, and which provides you with all 78 essential minerals and electrolytes that are necessary for optimal hydration during workouts or competition. When you sweat, you lose not only water, but also electrolytes, so drinking just water is not the best solution. Instead, drinking high-electrolyte content is far better, and Totum's research shows that mineral salts prevent intracellular dehydration, thus aiding faster recovery, avoiding fatigue, and reducing the risk of injury.
When researching the product, it made much more sense when I read the product description: "Our minerals are present in ionic form, meaning they don't have to go through your digestive system like other mineral solutions. Instead, they are immediately and naturally absorbed, and utilised by your cells." So, you could liken it to a drip while exercising... it goes straight to where it is needed most!
The theory sounds about right, but the 'proof would be in the pudding,' so I decided to put the Totum products to the test during one of the many midsummer heatwaves that we have been experiencing in Gauteng. With the temperature over 30 degrees by 7am, it meant that I could still do my normal morning rides and test the range in a high-heat environment. I won't lie, I was a bit nervous, but as any marathon athlete knows, we spend a lot of time out there, and the need for a product to help as well as hydrate is a must-have.
The Sport Performance Bundle consists of four boxes of Totum Sport and two boxes of Totum Nite. You take Totum Sport 10 minutes before training or racing. and then every hour during events/sessions. or more frequently as required to maintain cellular hydration. It can be taken again immediately after you finish to maximise your body's ability to absorb protein and carbohydrates from your recovery products, which you take five to 10 minutes later. Totum Nite should be taken before bed, to help the body recover whilst you sleep.
Now, I'm not privy to the internal mechanisms in play when I'm exercising, so I can't tell you if the placebo effect is happening with this product. All I have to go on is decades of doing stupid things that my body has just had to endure, and my intellect is telling me that 100% seawater can't possibly make me feel as good as I do, while my body is saying it should be otherwise. Thanks to the supplement, I would wake up refreshed and invigorated, even after a 25-degree night and a double session of training regimen in baking heat the day before. I've never experienced that before, nor have I felt that good just a few minutes after 'doing a vial.' It couldn't possibly be this effective, could it? But apparently it can. About the only criticism I have is the packaging: Glass vials are not great, because using them mid-ride is impossible.
Please note: Totum Sport and Totum Nite are specifically designed for sports use and are packaged in convenient sachets for easy carrying and consumption during exercise. Our Quinton product line is packaged in glass vials. While Quinton is an excellent option for overall wellness, we do not recommend using glass vials during exercise due to their fragility.
These products turned out to be a revelation, and made me think that perhaps we've been overthinking what our bodies actually need. It forced me to look at absolute basics - as in, what is actually happening to my body during the course of training. If you look at what your body is losing during a workout, then plain old seawater does exactly what it claims. No more, no less, no gimmicks or complicated explanations, it simply replaces the Chloride and Magnesium that our bodies lose through sweating.
To be honest, I found this a difficult group of products to evaluate, because I had to get my head around it all first, but now I am a convert - and I'II be continuing to supplement with this product during the course of the year. The real tests will come during the 24-hour MTB and 500km gravel events I have planned, but so far, I'm sold. Honestly, I can't tell you exactly why, because in this high-tech world, it still doesn't make 100% sense to drink seawater, but then again, maybe simplicity is actually the key.
- Reviewed by the Modern Athlete Team
Totum vs Other Brands
Totum vs Other Brands
Customer favourites bundled for your convenience and saving.
Customer favourites bundles for your convenience and saving.
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Totum Sport: Specifically crafted for athletes, Totum Sport is a hypertonic seawater-derived solution that mirrors the essential mineral and trace element composition of human blood plasma. Ideal for use before, during, and after exercise, it helps ensure peak performance and swift recovery.
Totum Nite: This isotonic solution is designed for recovery and nighttime use. It aids in restoring the body after intensive physical activities and promotes deeper, more restorative sleep.
Usage: Athletes should consume one sachet of Totum Sport before, during, and after their workout or competition. For prolonged activities, a sachet can be consumed every hour to maintain optimal performance levels.
Storage: Store sachets in a cool, shaded place. For best results, consume immediately upon opening.
Totum Sport, with its hypertonic blend, sharpens an athlete's cognitive and physical abilities by stabilising neurotransmitter and electrolyte levels. This ensures optimal neuron functionality and muscle responsiveness, crucial for sustained energy, concentration, and peak physical performance.
Absolutely, both Totum Sport and Totum Nite are formulated for daily consumption, ensuring that athletes remain rejuvenated and primed for peak performance.
Specialized Formulas: Both Totum products, derived from seawater, are uniquely tailored for athletes. They align with the mineral and trace element structure of human blood plasma, guaranteeing natural and efficient uptake.
Natural Efficacy: Unlike many sports supplements with lab-derived ingredients, Totum's offerings present natural, ionic minerals for rapid and efficient absorption, ensuring athletes benefit immediately.
Purity in Performance: Free from artificial fillers or preservatives, Totum sachets give athletes a clean, potent mineral solution to elevate their game.
Totum Sport has an excellent safety record, with no reported side effects. It is suitable for athletes across all sports and show no known interaction issues with other supplements or conditions.
Yes, all Totum products are doping safe and approved by WADA.
Usage: Totum Nite is best used post-exercise to aid recovery. Additionally, consuming one sachet before bed will help in promoting deep, rejuvenating sleep.
Storage: Keep sachets in a cool, shaded place and use promptly after opening.
Totum Nite, the isotonic solution, supports the body's natural recovery process after rigorous activities by balancing and restoring essential minerals and trace elements. Its unique composition further promotes relaxation and aids in achieving a deeper, more restful sleep, ensuring athletes wake up refreshed and ready for the next challenge.
