Our Story 1

Why Skëdagø? 

Skëdagø is a premium, all-natural electrolyte mix designed for today's on-the-go lifestyle. Skëdagø (skeh-da-go) is a word created by our founder designed to mean “whole body health”. And one of the most fundamental building blocks of health is hydration. 75% of us are chronically dehydrated, making us prone to fatigue, irritability, muscle cramps, headaches, kidney stones and more! 

A lot of us know this, so why are we all still so dehydrated?  

Because we don’t like water enough and we don’t know what else to drink- options either have too much sugar, artificial ingredients or a weird taste. Or, they have electrolytes, which we have a fuzzy idea are important, but they are for highly specific times - “pre-workout” “during workout” “post-workout” and our daily regimen is not that….well, regimented.. Or, they’re not there when we need them – which is all the time, in our bag right next to our water bottle! 

Skëdagø takes the confusion out of hydration by checking all the boxes of the ideal hydration solution:

√ Balanced electrolytes for all day hydration

√ A pinch of organic cane sugar to speed absorption of water into your bloodstream so you feel better, quicker. 

(see * for more on the function of this pinch of sugar!) 

√ Functional natural ingredients to boost your overall health

All this, without any of the “bad stuff” – such as artificial ingredients or the nebulous ‘natural flavors’ catchall which can include undisclosed, highly processed ingredients. 

√NO highly processed sugar substitutes - (like a lot of the other products out there...

NO stevia

NO sugar alcohols (erythritol, sorbitol, maltitol, etc.)

NO dextrose

NO maltodextrin

 

Why? Not only can these sugar substitutes have a funny aftertaste, they can also cause bloat and other unpleasant forms of gastric distress.  And emerging evidence suggests they can interfere with your gut microbiome - that delicate ecosystem of healthy bacteria in your gut that has been linked to everything from mood to immunity.  So why would you want to hydrate with something that could contribute to health problems in other ways?

Every cell and every muscle fiber operates at peak performance when we are hydrated.  

Skëdagø is an all-natural hydration solution that will help you stay hydrated throughout your day – whether you are recovering from a tough workout, a rough night out, or just a long day.  –Skëdagø helps maintain optimal digestion, mental clarity, upbeat mood and consistent energy.  So you will start to see what it feels like to be at your best - everyday. 

 

Who created Skëdagø?

Skëdagø was created by Dr. Becky Peterson, a Stanford Medical School trained Neuroradiologist.  As a mother of three and an avid runner, health and wellness have always been a personal and professional priority. She created Skëdagø to satisfy her own need for a desirable hydration solution – something that would make her want to drink more water and stay ahead, not behind, of her hydration needs.  She wanted a throughout-the-day hydration mix without any of the downsides of the existing options, such as excessive sugar, artificial ingredients or sugar substitutes.  And, as ‘food as medicine’ has become more mainstream, Dr. Becky wanted to add functional ingredients for ‘drink as medicine’ – so each time you hydrate, you get a boost of antioxidants or other functional ingredients for a “threefer” – the combined benefits of water, electrolytes and functional ingredients.

Dr. Becky has always enjoyed outdoor and active pursuits, most notably long-distance and trail running. She has completed three marathons, two at Big Sur along the stunning California coastline, and one on Vancouver Island. She currently resides in Northern New Jersey with her husband, three boys, and their labrador Tyler.  She loves being active outside – whether it’s running, biking, hiking, skiing, fishing, tennis, waterskiing, sailing, or any other active pursuit – because as Einstein said, “Life is like riding a bicycle.  To keep your balance you must keep moving.”  And so she does.

 

What is Skëdagø's Mission?

Skëdagø's mission is to make hydration easier and healthier. 

Daily dehydration is like a hidden enemy that weighs most of us down every day, decreasing our productivity, performance and morale.  75% of us are chronically dehydrated. Dehydration is the #1 cause of midday fatigue, accounting for a 20-30% decrease in productivity.  Just 4% dehydration affects reaction time even more than a 0.08% blood alcohol level! Imagine how that affects our frontline workers, as well as everyone else.  When we are well hydrated, everyone benefits.  

So how does Skëdagø make hydration easier and healthier?  By providing a solution that checks all the boxes

√ balanced electrolytes, 

√ a pinch of organic cane sugar to speed hydration

√ functional natural ingredients

Skëdagø is designed to support you during work and in play, whether you are fighting fires, working a shift in the hospital, sitting in an office, working out or on the slopes.  Life takes us to lots of places….Skëdagø Hydration goes where you go.  

What are Skëdagø's Ingredients?

Skëdagø's ingredients are all-natural, non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free and vegan.  You will never see the nebulous word “natural flavors” on our ingredients list. You will see premium ingredients you deserve - like organic black tea powder, organic maqui berry powder, and pink Himalayan sea salt. 

At Skëdagø we believe that our community raises the bar, every day.  You no longer accept misinformation or half-truths when it comes to what you put in your body.  We are excited by how informed consumers are becoming because this means we are all being held to higher standards.  But the volume of information is so plentiful that it is easy to capitalize on confusion when all you want is clarity. 

We believe that the further something is taken from its source, the more it is altered and stripped of the nutrients the earth imparted to it, the less it has to offer you. Like Stevia, for example. The natural stevia leaf is world's away from the Stevia that makes its way into consumable products - processed by chemical reactions, bleached, and altered. That’s why we make sure our ingredients are as ‘close to the source’ – meaning minimally processed – as possible.

Skëdagø does not contain any "agents" - anti-clumping, dispersing, or carrier agents. Because these agents are not real ingredients and do not belong inside your body. In order for Skëdagø to fully dissolve, you may have to shake it like you mean it!.  We would rather you put a little muscle into it than worry about ingesting chemical agents which don’t belong in your body.

 

Why does Skëdagø have sugar?

Skëdagø has a pinch of organic cane sugar – 6 grams per serving, which flavors 16 oz of water.  A fraction of leading sports drinks. When you drink Skëdagø, you will notice a very subtle sweetness. This pinch of sugar serves a dual purpose of flavor and function.  When you drink water with electrolytes, you need a pinch of sugar to “open” the shortcut from the gut to your cells (technical name, the sodium glucose co-transporter in the small intestine, but let’s just call it the sugar/salt shortcut.) (INSERT DIAGRAM OF THE SUGAR/SALT SHORTCUT)

Some of our competitors use a little bit of sugar but also add Stevia or other highly processed sugar substitutes to give a sweeter flavor.  We avoid Stevia and other sugar substitutes because of their potential disruption of the gut microbiome and other bad effects on the gut.  But another reason we avoid them is because of research which suggests that “non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) “– sweeteners without calories – can confuse your body because when you taste something sweet your body anticipates getting calories.  And when the anticipated calories aren’t there, you make up for it by eating more later.  Kind of like. your body doesn’t like being tricked. We at Skëdagø like to keep it clear and transparent – for you and your body.  

 

What is Skëdagø's signature “balanced electrolyte profile”?

Skëdagø not only provides clean, natural, low-calorie flavor, but it also contains the electrolytes sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium in a signature balanced electrolyte profile. Electrolytes are those little electronically charged particles your body uses to maintain proper fluid balance, acting as little guideposts directing the water where it needs to go. They also support proper nerve, brain and muscle function. While electrolytes are becoming more popular, there is a lot of confusion about what they do and how much we need of each one.

 

What is an electrolyte?

An electrolyte is a mineral that is highly reactive in water -  when it dissolves in water, it creates positively or negatively charged ions, which allow it to conduct electricity (hence “electrolytes”), which is important for many body functions.

 

Spotlight on….

Sodium (Na+)….just enough (5%)
Sodium is an essential electrolyte for maintaining fluid balance, muscle and nerve function. As most people know, sodium is lost when your body sweats – hence the need to replenish it after a strenuous workout.  If your blood levels of sodium get too low, called hyponatremia, you can suffer from headache, irritability and fatigue.  In more extreme circumstances, severe hyponatremia can lead to decreased consciousness, coma and even death.  

A lot of electrolyte powders or sports drinks pack in the sodium. At Skëdagø, the science and sports nutrition experts we work with suggest that for the majority of our daily hydration needs, given how much sodium we get in our diet, this much added sodium is in excess. For endurance athletes, it is always a good idea to consult with a sports nutrition expert as to proper hydration during an extreme event, as each individual’s body has different needs and improper hydration can be dangerous (quote source).  But for everyday hydration, including the range of typical workouts or activities, Skëdagø has just enough sodium for optimal hydration, but not too much.

Skëdagø contains 125 mg of sodium, or 5% of the RDA (recommended daily allowance), as compared to leading sports drinks and electrolyte powders that contain upwards of 250 mg, or twice as much sodium,

Magnesium (Mg2+)….giving you more (10%)
By contrast, Skëdagø has 10% of the RDA of magnesium. The majority of people in the U.S. don’t get enough magnesium in their diet.  Low magnesium has been linked to several negative health conditions, such as depression, weakness, high blood pressure and heart disease.

While calcium stimulates heart and other muscle fibers to contract, magnesium works to help these cells relax.  Magnesium may help to relieve muscle cramps, prevent migraines and has also been shown to help lower blood pressure, regulate blood sugar levels, improve quality of sleep and reduce symptoms of depression.

Potassium (K+)… just enough (5%) 
Potassium serves important functions relating to fluid regulation, nerve signals and heart and other muscle contraction.  Potassium may help reduce blood pressure and water retention, as well as prevent kidney stones and protect against stroke.  It has also been shown that potassium may help prevent osteoporosis by decreasing how much calcium the body loses through urine.

 

Calcium (Ca2+)….just enough (5%)
Calcium helps to regulate blood circulation, muscle function and nerve signaling, as well as being an important part of tooth and bone health.  

  

When do I drink Skëdagø?

 Throughout the day!  

Because of Skëdagø's signature balanced electrolyte profile, it is safe (and encouraged!) to drink Skedago throughout the day.  We like to drink Skëdagø during and after our workouts, and then again in the afternoon to prevent the afternoon slump. Hydration is still important even on the days you don’t exercise because your body and mind still need hydration for optimal performance. Alternating plain water with Skëdagø is a great way to meet your daily hydration needs. And, of course, Skëdagø can support you when life’s celebrations contribute to dehydration….the electrolytes help speed the rehydration process so you can start feeling better faster.

 

How do I drink Skëdagø?

Just rip open your Skëdagø mix stix flavor of choice and add to16 oz of water (more or less, according to taste). hake or stir vigorously.  If your Skëdagø isn’t dissolving all the way, that’s okay!  It’s because we left the chemicals out, and if you “shake it like you mean it” it will dissolve enough.  

 

So we thank you, our consumer, for holding us all to a higher standard.  The world deserves your best self every day – you deserve to enjoy your best self every day - and we hope being optimally hydrated with Skëdagø will help you get there.