Ditch The Mass-Produced Sports Drinks

Sports drinks replace essential nutrients lost during intense physical activity, but they also contain a lot of non-essential and unhealthy ingredients. In their simplest form, sports drinks are a mix of salts, sugar and water, a concoction that replaces electrolytes (nutrients like sodium, magnesium and potassium) lost in sweat, raises blood sugar levels, and helps the body rehydrate.

Electrolytes regulate the nerve impulses that control basic bodily functions such as fluid balance, heart beats and digestion, so it is important to replenish the electrolytes lost through intense workouts, physical labor or illness; however, a glance a at a label of Gatorade or PowerAde reveals that these beverages contain many extra ingredients, like high-fructose corn syrup and artificial colours, flavours, and sweeteners. Why does a very simple, rehydrating infusion contain all of these extra, unnecessary and unhealthy ingredients?

The answer is that it is cheaper to mass produce sports drinks made with artificial flavours, sweeteners and low-quality sugars than to use quality ingredients. Moreover, the bright, artificial colours make the otherwise pallid-hued drinks seem more palatable to consumers. For the massive corporations who manufacture Gatorade and PowerAde (Pepsi Co. and Coca-Cola respectively), the bottom line is more important than providing consumers with a quality, healthy product. Luckily, it is super easy (and more cost-effective) to mix your own healthy sports drinks, and you can feel good that you are downing something healthy while declining to support unethical companies.

Here’s How To Make Your Own!

A basic sports drink contains water, minerals, and sugar. You can feel free to substitute the ingredients you prefer or have on hand for those that we suggest, but the following recipe is tried and true, and chock full of quality ingredients.

¼ tsp. Himalayan rock salt

¼ cup fresh lime juice

1 tbsp. maple syrup

1 bottle of Foy water

Simply mix all the ingredients together, and enjoy after a work out, hard day of physical labor, or while sick. The Himalayan rock salt is a quality source of electrolytes like sodium, as well as a lesser source of potassium, magnesium and other trace minerals; lime juice provides potassium and natural flavor; maple syrup raises the blood sugar and sweetens the beverage, and Foy water hydrates and provides a clean source of pure, pH balanced, ethically sourced, and local water.