Replenish Electrolytes naturally / healthy alternatives to Sport Drinks

Dear Yoginis,

this week we have talked in my classes about the importance of proper hydration and specifically about ELECTROLYTES and I have promised to post the Basics about Electrolytes and why they are so important as well as recipes for making your own electrolyte drinks at home…HERE IT IS :

ELECTROLYTE 101

An electrolyte is a substance that ionizes when dissolved in suitable ionizing solvents such as water, basically contains free ions making them electrically conducive. The best known primary ions of electrolytes in physiology are sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), chloride (Cl⁻), hydrogen phosphate (HPO₄²⁻), and hydrogen carbonate (HCO₃⁻). The human body requires a subtle and complex electrolyte balance between the intracellular and extracellular environment. These gradients are very important to a variety of physiological body functions including regulating the hydration of the body as well as blood PH, and are critical for nerve and mucle function. Without a delicate balance of these electrolytes we can experience muscle weakness or all over loss of energy, muscle cramps and headaches, etc.

Although you now might want to reach for the readily available “Sports Drink”, please remember that most of them (if not all) are filled to the brim with artificial ingredients (some of them carcinogenic) as well as tons of sugar (or even worse artificial sweeteners).

HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES (natural electrolyte-rich homemade drinks)

1) most basic natural electrolyte Drink

2cups of filtered water, 1cup of 100% fruit juice (e.g. apple, orange, lemon, cherry, lime or POMEGRANATE – my favorite), 1/2 of a teaspoon of sea salt

2) Coconut water

1 -2 cups of coconut water raw or blended with 1 tablespoon of Chia seeds (Superfood)

3) in a blender

2 Bananas, 3 cups of coconut water, 1 cup strawberries, 1 teaspoon of salt, juice of 1 lime, 1 cup of filtered water, 1 cup of ice

or

1 frozen Banana, 1 cup of Almond milk, 1 cup of Kale

4) for the “juice lovers”

juice 5 celery stalks, 2 apples, 1 cup of filtered water, 1 lemon

Happy experimenting…

Emme