Be safe and stay hydrated!
Hot enough for you? Staying cool is one thing (see previous post), but staying hydrated is quite another. While there are tons of psychedelically coloured electrolyte drinks out there, the easiest way to avoid nasty colours and ingredients is to make your own.
Here is a simple, yummy recipe to whip up at home:
- 4 cups water or coconut water
- ⅛ tsp Himalayan sea salt
- ¼ cup natural juice (grape, apple, lemon, pineapple)
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup
- Garnish with some fresh citrus slices
Here’s the WHY behind each of the ingredients.
I call coconut water mother nature’s Gatorade. It is rich in sodium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and calcium. It’s a perfect drink for athletes, pregnant moms, little ones and people needing some extra hydration. Try it on ice with fresh mint, or use it as the base in a smoothie or use it as a base for homemade popsicles. Coconut water is low in sugar (get unsweetened!) and contains no artificial sweetener.
Himalayan (or any other) Sea Salt is rich in dozens of trace minerals that your body needs daily (most notably sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium). Add a pinch to your water and you have created your own basic electrolyte drink. News flash: processed table salt does not contain the same minerals.
Citrus fruits are rich in electrolytes, with lemons containing the most of any of them! The naturally occurring sugars in these fruit juices help to maintain energy during a workout and speed up recovery afterwards. Try adding some fresh lemon, lime or orange slices to your drink.
Maple syrup is a nutrient powerhouse including antioxidants, vitamins and minerals like zinc, potassium, manganese, thiamine, calcium, iron, magnesium, and riboflavin. Good news it also fewer calories than honey!
Be safe and stay hydrated!