What are Electrolytes? | Surge your Workout with a Homemade Electrolyte Drink
Nov 9th, 2009 by Enrico
I’m sure you’ve heard of Electrolytes before. They are heavily advertised in popular sports drinks such as Gatorade or Powerade. Almost like a buzz-word, Electrolytes seem to be this magic energy that gives us that jolt of energy when we need it.
Electrolytes aren’t magic. They are the essential components that fuel your cells. They are the motor oil that keeps our engines running strong. Electrolytes benefit us in powerful ways such as:
1. Hydrating the body much faster than just water
2. Preventing muscle cramps
3. Providing lasting energy for exercise sessions
So, you want to take advantage of these electrolytes, but don’t have the money or the calories to spend on expensive, high-calorie sports drinks? I’ve done a little digging, and I’ve come up with a recipe for your own, homemade electrolyte drink.
Here’s the kicker – Instead of just rambling off ingredients, I did some research and identified what exactly each ingredient does for you and what makes it important.
Secret Homemade Electrolyte Recipe
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- The foundation of your drink. Natures best hydrating liquid: The fountain of life itself.
- This is the main component of your drink: the electrolyte. Simple enough, this is what packs the punch. Baking soda alone will not react in the intended way until it is mixed with a solution, which in this case, is water.
- This one is a bit tricky because the salt must contain Potassium. This mineral is another electrolyte that will boost your energy even further. Potassium naturally occurs in Sea salts, so it is an obvious choice.
However, many products at your local supermarket post on the label, “Sea Salt” when actually it is not. The ploy is that “it started as sea salt.” Fortunately, identifying Authentic Sea Salt is very simple.
- The perfect way to top off your drink. Not only will this improve the flavor of the drink, but it will also provide your body with sucrose. Sucrose is also known as a “simple carbohydrate” or “simple sugar” as it metabolizes into energy in as little as 30 minutes. Think of this as the spark that lights the combustion engine.
- If you think that your drink needs a little more personality, you can add flavoring. Don’t forget that this substitute sports drink is meant to reduce calories, so you get more bang for your calorie-spent buck. Some smart flavorings you could try are lemon juice, lime juice, or orange juice concentrate.