Are you a fan of energy and sports drinks? You can bet most of our Olympic athletes are. For them and other very physically active people, sports drinks can be a useful tool to re-hydrate the body and replace lost nutrients. For the rest of us mere mortals, they can be a refreshing way to counteract summer's heat. And while some of these drinks are relatively healthy and some of them aren't, there's one thing they all are: expensive. Whether you're an athlete or a weekend warrior taking on all those home improvement projects this summer, working hard causes your body to sweat out nutrients called electrolytes along with water. Electrolytes are essential minerals that affect the amount of water in your body, the acidity (or pH level) of your blood, your muscle function, and other important bodily processes.
If you rehydrate your body without replacing these minerals, you risk getting hyponatremia, an electrolyte imbalance that causes vomiting, headaches, lethargy, muscle weakness, cramps, or, in more serious cases, seizures or coma. In the heat of summer, it is much easier to deplete your body's reserves more quickly, especially if you are trying to start an exercise program and not yet used to regular physical activity. It is also important for children, older adults, and anyone who is immuno-compromised to stay well-hydrated in the heat.
But you don't have to rely on bottled sports drinks full of artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners. It's easy to make your own homemade sports drink to replenish sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and other nutrients. Here's a quick, easy, and inexpensive recipe:
Healthy Electrolyte Drink
(Recipe courtesy of The Institute for Integrative Nutrition)
Prep time: 2 minutes
Yields: 1 serving
Ingredients:
4 cups warm water
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tsp honey
1/4 tsp salt
Directions:
Mix well, chill and serve. You can double or triple the recipe to make larger quantities, and store in a glass or BPA-free plastic bottle. Enjoy!
Jackie Thorne,is a New York state Registered Nurse, Certified Health Coach (CHC), and accredited member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). She is also a counselor and educator, striving to guide and empower others to take a positive, pro-active approach to their health and well-being. As an avid yogi, gardener, and outdoorswoman, she feels privileged to make her home in the lovely Adirondack foothills of upstate New York, and to be a beneficial force in the community. Jackie enjoys sharing her passion for health, happiness and nutrition, and helping people live healthier and more fulfilling lives. Jackie lives and works with the belief that if we can improve our own well-being, it will lead to a better world for everyone.
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