Skills >Backpacking Fitness Is There Enough Sugar in Your Electrolyte Mix? When You Need ElectrolytesFirst things first: Most sports dietitians agree that electrolyte mixes aren’t necessary for all types of activity. (Photo: Photography By Tonelson via Getty Images)The Role Sugar PlaysAccording to Hilary Kave, sports and performance dietician at Skratch Labs, sugar in electrolytes do two things. Sugar and sodium can help speed up the absorption process, explains Kave, but only in the right concentrations, explains Kave. But if you’re pushing your body to its limit during long, strenuous hikes, sugar can make a measurable difference.