Due to the drinking water being depleted in vital minerals in many parts of the world – including the U.S., electrolyte drinks are crucial for any activity and general hydration during the warmer months.
We have explored The Best Electrolyte Drinks for powders and liquids, as well as the Top 11 Fruits and Vegetables High in Electrolytes. These articles prompted many questions regarding how to make a natural electrolyte drink at home, on the cheap, and that is effective for every level of activity.
After reading these articles, you will see the most sports drinks are nothing more than sugar, salt, and artificial colors, and even coconut water might not be ideal due to cramping during exercise.
While electrolyte powders and bottled sports drinks are great for convenience, you can make a very impressive natural electrolyte drink using fruits, vegetables and sea minerals for a fraction of the cost.
The following is a list of the best homemade, natural electrolyte drinks. These recipes are open to tweaking based on your personal tastes. You may find that you want to use less of the liquid sea minerals for some of these formulas to get the flavor you want.
If you feel like you are losing a lot of sweat and may need more sodium and carbohydrates, you always add a pinch sea salt and raw honey or maple syrup in place of stevia. If you are following a low-carb diet, you may need to increase your sodium intake, along with potassium.
How to Make a Natural Electrolyte Drink (Basic)
1. The Classic: Lemon, Orange, and Cucumber Electrolyte Drink
The Classic is basic and just requires you to slice lemon, cucumber, and orange, throw it in as is, and add Total Hydration liquid electrolytes and optional Stevia.
32 oz. water
3 droppers DayLyte
1 sliced lemon
1 sliced medium cucumber
1 sliced orange
Powdered stevia to taste (optional)
The Electrolyte Stats
Sodium: 54.5mg
Chloride: 475mg
Potassium: 802mg
Magnesium: 109.9mg
Calcium: 113.4mg
Phosphorus: 68.2mg
Zinc: 3mg
2. Carbonated Lemonade Electrolyte Drink
This one takes mineral effort and is an incredibly refreshing way to replenish electrolytes. I have made this one on numerous occasions to have during a hike. This is an excellent way to get sodium bicarbonate, calcium, and magnesium without having to add baking soda or calcium-magnesium powder.
25.3 oz. bottle Gerolsteiner Mineral Water
Freshly squeezed juice of 2 lemons
Powdered stevia to taste
Serve chilled
The Electrolyte Stats
Sodium: 115mg
Potassium: 126mg
Magnesium: 105.6 mg
Calcium: 351.6mg
Bicarbonate: 1,800mg
Chloride: 40mg
Potassium: 10mg
Sulfate: 35mg
Other trace minerals: 55mg
Bonus: Carbonation and bicarbonate. Carbonation increases stomach pressure, which pushes the contents through the stomach lining and into the bloodstream. This increases the delivery system for electrolytes to your bloodstream and muscles. However, this could cause a lot of burping. Bicarbonate helps balance your pH and in some studies to potentially increase muscle performance.
Recommendation: Post-workout lemonade for muscle recovery or in-between exercise. I often take this one on a hike and drink it during rest periods.
3. The Mojito Electrolyte Drink: Mint, Lime and Cucumber
The Mojito is for those brutally hot days where you just want to sit under a lime tree and call it a day.
32 oz. filtered water
1 handful of fresh mint
Juice of 2 limes (or two tablespoons bottled lime juice)
1 sliced cucumber
3 droppers DayLyte
Powdered stevia to taste (optional)
The Electrolyte Stats
Sodium: 56.6mg
Potassium: 559.60mg
Magnesium: 97.1mg
Calcium: 82.3mg
Phosphorus: 66.4mg
Zinc: 3mg
4. Frozen Watermelon Electrolyte Slushee
Watermelon is an electrolyte superfruit on its own. People go crazy over the taste of this one and it is so simple to make. Scoop out the watermelon, add to a blender, and then pour into individual paper or plastic cups and freeze.
Watermelon is 92% water and originally comes from southern Africa. It contains potassium, sodium and a high level of lycopene, which protects against sun damage. The white and rind contain one of the only sources of citrulline, which benefits nitric oxide production for athletic performance.
The Electrolyte Stats
1 cup
Sodium: 1.5mg
Potassium: 170mg
Magnesium: 15.2mg
Calcium: 10.6mg
Phosphorus: 16.7mg
Recommendation: This is awesome on a hot day after a solid workout. Watermelon has been found in studies reduce muscle soreness. This is also one of the only things people can keep down to stay hydrated during the stomach flu or food poisoning.
5. Cherry Recovery Electrolyte Drink
12 oz. filtered water
4 oz. organic, cold processed tart cherry juice (no added sugar)
3 droppers DayLyte
Juice of 1 lemon (or 2 tablespoons bottle lemon juice)
The Electrolyte Stats
Sodium: 122.2mg
Chloride: 475mg
Potassium: 351.80mg
Magnesium: 65mg
Calcium: 10mg
Zinc: 3mg
Recommendation: Cherries perform very well in studies for athletes. Numerous studies have found decreased muscle soreness and increased recovery from cherry juice and dehydrated cherry supplements. Drink after heavy lifting or endurance training. You could make a protein shake with whey or plant-based protein with it as well for a complete recovery drink.
6. Lemon, Strawberry and Mint Electrolyte Drink
32 oz. Filter water
Juice of 1 lemon (or 2 tablespoons bottled lemon juice)
5 sliced strawberries
A handful of fresh mint
3 droppers DayLyte
Powdered stevia to taste
The Electrolyte Stats
Sodium: 50mg
Chloride: 475mg
Potassium: 308.3mg
Magnesium: 76mg
Calcium: 13.3mg
Zinc: 3mg
How to Make a Natural Electrolyte Drink (Advanced)
1. ELECT: The PhytoVest Formula (secret until now)
This is the formula that I almost made into a commercial electrolyte drink. The problem is that you need to drink it fresh. HPP or pasteurization will ruin the flavor. This is a little more expensive to make, but the nutrition profile is superior to anything on the market. My family and friends ask me to make this for them every summer.
16 oz. filtered water
2 tsp. BaoMax
1 tsp. Yacon Syrup
18 drops of Total Hydration Keto Electrolyte Concentrate
7 drops Liquid NuNaturals Orange Stevia
*Serve cold. This drink tastes best chilled.
The Estimated Electrolyte Stats
Sodium: 25mg
Potassium: 190mg
Magnesium: 21.6mg
Calcium: 22.8
RAW YACON ROOT
Potassium
Magnesium
Iron
Phosphorus
Antioxidants
FOS
An increased absorption rate of minerals
Fiber to stabilize blood sugar suppress appetite
BAOBOB “The Tree of Life”
2x Calcium of Milk
B-vitamins
Iron
6x the Potassium of Bananas
Magnesium
3x Vitamin C of Oranges
6x Antioxidants of Blueberries
Polyphenols
Fiber to stabilize blood sugar and suppress appetite
Bonus: ELECT tastes similar to orange Gatorade and has an incredible nutrient profile for hydration, energy, digestive health (contains a prebiotic fiber) and reducing your appetite to aid weight loss.
Recommendation: I have used this for gym workouts, hikes, regular daily hydration, you name it. This is best consumed in the 16-32 oz. range due to the fiber content of yacon and baobob.
2. Marty’s Super Electrolyte Soda
NAHS Greensflush (one dropper full)
Potassium: 386mg
Magnesium: 59mg
Calcium: 135mg
3. Marty’s Cold Brew Electrolyte Drink
Marty’s Cold Brew formula is probably one of the more unique combinations I’ve seen.
Chloride: 325mg
4. Marty’s Pre and Post Sauna Electrolyte Drink
Chloride: 325mg
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