Now that I’m getting more seriously into exercising and attempting to make it more of a routine, I’m thinking more about all those sports drinks people consume. I always knew athletes drank them because, well, they are the target audience in advertisements! But why do they drink them? I gradually came to learn it had something to do with electrolytes.
Ok…So…what are they? I simply had to know. Now that I’m running, I want to make sure I understand so I can stay healthy!
First, a scientific explanation on what they are:
If you’re like me, that video may help you visualize what electrolytes are chemically…but what do they do and why does our body need things that transmit electricity?
According to Discovery Fit and Health, electrolytes “are what your cells (especially nerve, heart, muscle) use to maintain voltages across their cell membranes and to carry electrical impulses (nerve impulses, muscle contractions) across themselves and to other cells.” To me, that’s super interesting. To think that we have all these little electrical currents running through us! That right there is magic pure and simple. But when we sweat, we lose the electrolytes. When exercising, we need to help our body replenish!
That’s where the drinks come in.
Because I’m 1) poor for the rest of the summer and 2) interested in natural health, I decided to look into making my own electrolyte replenishing drinks. No artificial dyes for me, thank you very much! It turns out that I’m not alone in this endeavor. There are a variety of websites out there with DIY recipes. Three things they all have in common are water, salt, and citrus. Many add sugar of some sort (especially stevia).
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| Fitness can mean more excuses for kitchen magic fun! |
I have started to approach DIY sports drinks as I would any homemade remedy – kitchen magic! So grab your kitchen knife and let’s make a potion!
My basic drink includes water, a bit of salt (most recipes recommend at least a teaspoon), and a citrus fruit. Today I used freshly squeezed lemon, but really any citrus fruit would work. A lot of athletes recommend orange. I have not been adding sugar because I don’t think my drink needs any and, really, I feel I get enough of that. My husband, who has pickier taste-buds, said he didn’t notice the salt and enjoyed the drink as is! As you make your concoction, you may want to chant towards your success and fitness, or envision your healthy future and put that intention into your drink. You can add your drink to your bottle while you go, or chill it in the refrigerator for your victorious return!
Cheers to a happier, healthier Druid!
Author M. A. Phillips 
Great tip, thanks for sharing! I hate buying Expensive-ade ™, but it sure does taste great after a long work-out. I’ll have to try this.
I highly recommend trying to make your own drinks! It’s so easy! Let me know if you find a recipe you really like!
One of the best sports drinks for after running or cycling is chocolate milk. Ovaltine works great.
My husband just got done telling me that he read a bunch of running forums saying the same thing. Very intrigued… But I can’t imagine myself wanting chocolate milk when it’s so hot out. Milk just never sits right with me in the heat… Definitely something I’ll consider more when the temperatures become more autumn-like!
Ovaltine ingredients: Sugar, Alkalized Cocoa, Whey (from Milk), and 1.5% or Less of: Salt, Carrageenan, Mono- and Diglycerides, Artificial Vanilla Flavor, Yellow 6, Red 40, Blue 1.
Hmmm… Yeah… Trying to get away from the artificial flavors and colors. Planned on sticking to making chocolate milk from scratch anyway. Things made from scratch usually end up tasting better anyway! Thanks for the ingredient list. 🙂
I’m a big fan of a little lemon juice in my water! I think I probably get enough sodium through food that I don’t bother adding it to ma drinks. Yay for hydration! Super important when working up a good sweat, especially this time of year!
I love lemon water! I drink it even when I’m not running. So refreshing!
This is something I am going to try as the isotonic drinks are expensive to purchase.
They really are, especially compared to the cost of a few citrus fruits, water, and table salt!
I am unsure why I never thought of this before. Thanks for this blog.
With the weight loss goals and general health benefits I always have in the back of my mind, knowing there are others out there trying to run helps me actually get up in the mornings! I’ll have to try this recipe after my next workout! Also, lemon smells divine, and as smells are a really magical thing for me, that triggers a lot of both memories and ideas.
Seeing your druid on the run series, I’m inspired to think of my work outs in a more spiritual light! I may do a post on my blog about health and health goals, as well as my journey so far to them (which thus far have been fairly pathetic >.<).
Lemons do have a clarifying quality to them, huh? And they are well known as a cleaning agent, so they’re definitely good for purifying. I have a little lemon tree in my garden. It’s my first year with it and am hoping to get some little lemons!
Good luck with your health goals. It does help to know you’re not alone! Glad to have inspired you. 🙂