Heads up, friends: this post has affiliate links, and if you shop through them or use my code I may earn a little something at no extra cost to you. I only ever share what I genuinely use. 💛
Hey friends, it's Lizzie! What I drink before class is Celsius, and the packet in my water bottle is Cure. So which one is better? Real talk: they are not competing for the same job. One is caffeine, one is electrolytes, and I drink both in the same day for completely different reasons. Here is how I actually use them, and how to decide which one you need.
They are two different products
Celsius is an energy drink. I normally drink the standard line before a kickboxing class when I want to show up switched on. Standard Celsius and Vibe drinks have 200mg of caffeine per can. Blue Crush is part of CELSIUS ESSENTIALS, with 270mg per 16 fl oz (473mL) can. The Blue Crush facts below come from its product label; my routine here refers to the standard Celsius I normally drink.
Cure Hydration is an electrolyte mix. It goes into my water bottle, not next to it: a packet in the water I'm already drinking, so the water does more. It is low in sugar, it has no caffeine, and it's what I reach for during and after training in Florida heat.
So the honest answer to “Cure or Celsius?” is: what are you trying to fix? Tired is a Celsius problem. A long, sweaty session in the heat is when I reach for Cure. They are not interchangeable, and neither replaces plain water.
When I drink Celsius
- Before a class when the day has already taken a lot out of me.
- Not late in the day. My usual standard Celsius has 200mg of caffeine per can, and that is real caffeine.
I don't drink it for hydration. It's a caffeinated can, and I treat it like one. I wrote a full honest take on Celsius if you want the long version.
When I drink Cure
- In my bottle during any training session in the heat, which in Florida is most of them.
- After sparring, when I've sweated through everything and plain water isn't cutting it.
Full details in my Cure Hydration review.
Can you have both?
I do, on training days, but not mixed together and not at the same moment. Celsius before, water with Cure during and after. I'm not a nutritionist, so this is what works for me, not a plan for you. If you are sensitive to caffeine, pregnant, or managing a health condition, ask your doctor before you make either a habit.
Which one to buy first
Buy Cure first if you train in heat or sweat a lot. Hydration is the boring habit that makes everything else feel easier.
Buy Celsius first if your problem is energy, you already drink water like a champion, and you want a sugar-free alternative to a sugary pre-workout or a third coffee.
Buy neither if you're not drinking enough plain water yet. Start there. Everything else is a layer on top.
The code situation
My ambassador code LILO and link are for Cure. For Celsius, I earn a commission through my Amazon link. Neither is a sponsorship, and I'd tell you if it were.
What the labels say, side by side
I'm not a nutritionist, so I'll stick to what the cans and packets say. The label example here is CELSIUS ESSENTIALS Blue Crush: one 16 fl oz (473mL) can is one serving, with 270mg of caffeine, 10 calories and zero sugar, with vitamins in the blend. That is different from the 200mg in standard Celsius and Vibe drinks. A Cure packet is the opposite job: electrolytes from pink Himalayan salt and coconut water to replace what you sweat out, low in sugar, and no caffeine at all. The easiest way to remember it: one changes how awake you are, the other changes what's in your water. Neither is a health drink, and neither is a substitute for eating.
Product details: Blue Crush Essentials label and CELSIUS caffeine amounts by product line. Check the can you are buying, because the product line matters.
My Florida heat rule of thumb
Hydrate before, sip during, replace after. Before class I drink plain water so I'm not starting empty. During class my bottle has a Cure packet in it and I drink it between rounds instead of gulping it at the end. After sparring, when I've sweated through everything, another bottle of water and something to eat. The Celsius only shows up before class, and only on days I need it.
The most common mistakes
- Using Celsius as a water replacement. It's a caffeinated can. Drink water next to it.
- Using electrolytes in every glass, all day. They're for when you sweat. If you sat at a desk all day, water is enough.
- Drinking either late. The Cure is fine at night; the Celsius is not, unless you enjoy staring at the ceiling.
- Expecting either to fix a bad night's sleep. Nothing in a can fixes that.
Cost, honestly
Both are more expensive than plain water, which is free and which I'd push you toward first. Prices move constantly, so I won't print numbers that will be wrong by next month. What I'll say is that a box of Cure packets goes further than you'd think if you save them for hot training days, and so does a case of Celsius if you save it for the days you need it. Buy small first, see if you actually reach for them, and then decide.
If you only take one thing from this: they are different tools, and the boring one matters more. Drink your water, add electrolytes on the days you sweat, and save the caffeine for the days you genuinely need to show up switched on. That is the whole system, and it keeps me training through Florida summers.
💧 What's in my water bottle: Cure Hydration
The electrolyte packet I train with in Florida heat. Low sugar, no caffeine. Code LILO at checkout.
âš¡ What I drink before class: Celsius
My usual standard Celsius has 200mg of caffeine per can. I earn a commission through my Amazon link. Blue Crush Essentials has 270mg per 16 fl oz can, so check the product line before buying.
Your Questions, Answered
Can you drink Cure and Celsius together? I don't mix them, but I do use both on a training day: Celsius before, water with Cure during and after. They do different jobs. If you are sensitive to caffeine or managing a health condition, ask your doctor first.
Is Cure Hydration an energy drink? No. Cure is an electrolyte mix with no caffeine. It goes into water to help you rehydrate after sweating; it will not wake you up.
Does Celsius count as hydration? I don't count it. It is a caffeinated energy drink, and I drink water alongside it rather than instead of it. For hydration after a sweaty session, an electrolyte mix in plain water is what I reach for.
