Trace mineral drops are a liquid concentrate of minerals from seawater or salt-lake water, with most of the sodium taken out. You add a few drops to water, juice or a smoothie, and the two brands we carry, ConcenTrace and Aussie Trace Minerals, are both high in magnesium and very strong-tasting, so start small and follow the label.
What are trace mineral drops?
Seawater carries dozens of minerals, from familiar ones like magnesium, potassium and calcium to tiny amounts of boron, zinc and others. Trace mineral drops start with that water, concentrate it (usually by evaporating it in the sun) and remove most of the sodium. What's left is a dense liquid that's mostly magnesium and chloride, with a long list of other minerals in smaller amounts.
Brands call them "ionic" because the minerals are dissolved in liquid. In practice, that just means they mix straight into a drink.
Not the same as an electrolyte powder
Electrolyte powders are usually built around sodium and potassium for sweating, and come flavoured and ready to drink. Trace mineral drops are a concentrate you dilute yourself, a few drops at a time.
ConcenTrace vs Aussie Trace Minerals
| ConcenTrace | Aussie Trace Minerals | |
|---|---|---|
| From | Great Salt Lake, Utah | Southern Australian ocean |
| Sodium | About 99% removed | Sodium-reduced |
| Magnesium | 260 mg per 40 drops | High, plus 70+ trace minerals |
| Label dose | 10 drops a day, building to 40 drops once or twice daily | Adults: 5 to 20 drops in 500 mL, once or twice daily |
| Flavour | Unflavoured, very strong | Unflavoured, lemon lime or peppermint |
| Sizes | 60, 120 and 240 mL | 60 and 240 mL; flavours in 60 mL |
Trace MineralsConcenTrace dropsFrom the Great Salt Lake. Also in 120 and 240 mL.Shop →
Aussie Trace MineralsElectrolytes, 240 mLThe better buy if you use it daily.Shop →
Aussie Trace MineralsLemon limeA flavour that takes the edge off.Shop →
Aussie Trace MineralsPeppermint74 trace minerals with a peppermint flavour.Shop →
UtahConcenTrace
Concentrated by solar evaporation with about 99% of the sodium removed. It's a source of magnesium, a mineral that helps in energy metabolism and tissue formation. The label starts you at 10 drops a day for three days, then adds 10 drops a day up to half a teaspoon (40 drops) once or twice daily.
AustraliaAussie Trace Minerals
Australian ocean water, concentrated by the sun and reduced in sodium. The directions are smaller and simpler: 5 to 20 drops in 500 mL of water or juice, once or twice a day. The 60 mL bottle is the try-it size and travels well.
Not a drinker? Aussie also makes a Magnesium & Trace Mineral Spray for the skin, made from the same concentrate cut with spring water. You spray it on and rub it in.
Aussie Trace MineralsMagnesium & Trace Mineral SprayMagnesium and trace minerals in a spray bottle.Shop →
How to use them
The most common reason people ask us about trace mineral drops is filtered water. Reverse-osmosis and distilled water have had most of their minerals taken out, and some people find it tastes flat. A few drops per glass or bottle puts some minerals back and changes the taste. If you use a pitcher, our water filter pitcher guide covers mineral filters too.
- Start low. Begin at the bottom of the label range and work up over a few days.
- Pick a drink that hides it. Orange juice, a smoothie or a bowl of soup masks the taste far better than plain water. ConcenTrace's own directions suggest mixing it into juice or food.
- Spread it through the day. Split your drops between a morning and an afternoon bottle. It's easier on the taste buds and on the stomach.
- Ease back if needed. If your stomach complains, go back down to fewer drops.
Good to know
Drops go into cold or room-temperature drinks. They don't need refrigerating, and ConcenTrace's label actually says not to.
Reading the label
| On the label | What to check |
|---|---|
| Magnesium | The big one in both brands. Add it to the magnesium in your multivitamin and any separate magnesium supplement. |
| Sodium | Both are sodium-reduced, so a serving adds very little. On a sodium-restricted diet, check the exact amount anyway. |
| Potassium | Potassium, chloride and sulfate are there in smaller amounts. If you've been told to watch your potassium, read this part closely. |
| Serving size | Might be 40 drops on one bottle and fewer on another. Compare servings, not bottles. |
| NPN | An eight-digit NPN on the label shows the product is licensed for sale in Canada, including its dose and directions. |
Watch your magnesium total
The usual upper limit for magnesium from supplements is 350 mg a day for adults (it doesn't count magnesium from food and water). Loose stools are the usual first sign you're taking more than your body wants, and diarrhea is listed as a known reaction on the ConcenTrace label.
Comparing forms of magnesium? Our magnesium guide covers the others on our shelf.
Taste: what to expect
Honestly, unflavoured trace mineral drops taste like the sea with a bitter finish. A few drops in a large bottle of water is mild; forty drops in a small glass is a lot. Most people settle on juice, a smoothie or a flavoured version, and the taste becomes familiar quickly. If you only want to soften the flat taste of filtered water, you'll likely need fewer drops than the full label serving.
With trace mineral drops, a few drops in a big bottle goes a long way.
Check first if this is you
Kidney disease. Your kidneys clear extra magnesium and potassium. If you have kidney disease or reduced kidney function, talk to your doctor before using any mineral concentrate.
Blood pressure or heart medication. If you take medication for blood pressure or your heart, or have been told to limit sodium or potassium, check with your pharmacist first.
Other medications. Magnesium can affect how some medications are absorbed, including certain antibiotics and osteoporosis medications. Your pharmacist can tell you how far apart to take them.
Children. The directions on the bottles we carry are written for adults. Ask your healthcare provider before giving drops to a child.
Follow the label
More drops don't mean better results. Stick to the label range unless your doctor, pharmacist or naturopathic doctor suggests otherwise.
Questions we get a lot
Can I buy Aussie Trace Minerals in Canada?
Yes. We carry Aussie Trace Minerals Electrolytes in 60 mL and 240 mL bottles, plus lemon lime and peppermint flavours and the magnesium spray, at both stores and online.
How many drops of trace minerals should I take a day?
Follow your bottle. Aussie Trace Minerals suggests 5 to 20 drops in 500 mL of water or juice once or twice daily for adults. ConcenTrace starts at 10 drops a day and builds up to 40 drops once or twice daily.
Is ConcenTrace the same as Aussie Trace Minerals?
They're similar ideas from different sources: ConcenTrace comes from the Great Salt Lake in Utah and Aussie from Australian ocean water. Compare the magnesium per serving, the serving size and the flavours, and pick the one you'll actually use.
What happens when you start taking trace mineral drops?
Most people notice the taste first. Some get loose stools if they start with too many drops, which is why both brands suggest starting small.
Are trace mineral drops the same as electrolytes?
They overlap. Trace mineral drops are mostly magnesium and chloride with very little sodium, while sports electrolyte mixes usually focus on sodium and potassium. Our electrolytes guide walks through powders, tablets and liquids if you're deciding between them.
Not sure which drops are right for you?
Bring your question to the supplement aisle at either store, and we'll help you compare labels and flavours.
Trace mineral drops are in the supplement aisle at both stores: 486 Starboard Drive in Bedford and 590 Portland Street in Dartmouth, open seven days. In HRM, order by 11 am with Luminate Express for same-day delivery, or choose pickup. Anywhere else in Canada, orders over $80 ship free.
Sources: Dietary Reference Intakes; product labels. This article is general information, not medical advice.
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