Most of the time we rarely think about how much money we are spending here and there to stay hydrated. A quick bottle here, a case there, a purchase at the gym. All of the little things add up and pretty soon you’ve spent nearly 40 dollars on water that month. And for what!? Electrolytes! These simple recipes for various electrolyte waters will save you money and give you some great low calories options to use all summer long.
The main source of electrolytes comes from trace minerals that are placed in the water to help you replenish what has been lost through perspiration and daily activity. In a perfect world, people would be able to eat back the minerals that are lost in daily activities, however, with over processed foods and the decline in our food, we can no longer depend upon food to give us what we need. It becomes increasingly important to replenish electrolytes during the hot summer months and before and after exercise.
You can buy these trace minerals at your local health food store, like I did 😉 Here’s the brand I chose.
The bottle says you can add up to 10 drops 2 times a day to start, then you can progress to 40 drops or half a teaspoon. You can add this to any water or use a recipe of your choosing to make any drink into an electrolyte beverage.
Here’s Our Version of a Chia Sports Drink
Chia is also complete food having fiber, carbs, and protein as part of it’s make up. It can serve as a great way to refuel without all the bulk. There are also a couple of different ways that you can make it electrolyte.
- You can choose to use coconut water in the recipe
- You can add trace minerals
I like to keep my drinks low calorie so I would choose option #2
Here’s the recipe
- One cup of water – add your minerals here – 5 – 10 drop (you can add more later also)
- One cup of juice or watered down juice
- 3 tablespoons of chia seeds
- * Sweetner is optional
Directions: Heat your water so it’s warm, mix in chia seeds, then place in the fridge over night. In the morning you will have what I call “chia gel” You now have the base for all chia sports drinks.
Mix one cup of gel to one cup of juice then add in your trace minerals to make this a full course meal with rehydrating electrolytes! BAM – no more 4.00 chia drinks from the store. You just made one for 50 cents or less! This would also make a great snack on the go!
Home Made Vitamin Water
These are simple and easy. Add the ingredients listed on the jar then add trace minerals roughly 5 – 10 drops and you have an electrolyte vitamin water, made at home in an instant without the extra sugars, and additives.
In a previous article we wrote about how refreshing and re-hydrating coconut water can be. We even dubbed it “Natures Perfect Sports Drink.”
It’s a natural isotonic beverage, with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood. In fact, there are many reports of the use of Coconut Water as an emergency intravenous fluid during World War II in the Pacific area. (Coconut Water has been found to be sterile, pyrogen-free and ready to use.)12
Having said this here’s a great recipe for from runeatrepeat.com
- One Cup of watermelon Cubed
- One Cup of coconut water
- A squeeze of a lime
- Dash of salt to bring out the sweetness in the watermelon (source)
- Blend and serve chilled. Add stevia if needed.
Fitness Tips: Watermelon is said to have properties that aid in recovery. It contains L-citrilluine, an amino acid that can help to repair sore muscles.
Living Lean,
Adria
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