Welcome summer and the heat that come with it!! It had been fairly mild here in Missouri up until about a week ago but the thermometer has now risen! It has been in the upper nineties and we had our first heat advisory today. Oh and did I mention that there is humidity too…yuck!!
We all know that we need to be cautious when it gets to be really warm. Along with taking frequent breaks and cooling down, we need to be sure that we are staying hydrated and replacing the electrolytes in our body that we lose from sweat. Commercial sport drink are popular but they come with high fructose corn syrup and food dyes, which are not the best option to keep our bodies running optimally. Red dye #40 is linked to causing cancer. High fructose corn syrup can add to the risk of diabetes. These are just a couple of the health risks associated with these ingredients, but in my opinion, they are reason enough to avoid them at all cost!!
Did you know that you can make a health alternative in your own kitchen in about 5 minutes??!! Well, you can!! Here is the recipe –
Homemade Electrolyte Drink
1 quart water
1/8 – 1/4 tsp. sea salt such as Celtic Sea Salt or Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
1/8 – 1/4 tsp. calcium/magnesium powder such as Natural Calm with Calcium
1-2 tbsp. honey
1/4 cup juice such as lime or lemon
Heat 1/4 cup of water and dissolve the calcium-magnesium powder, salt and honey, stirring well. Add juice and remaining water. Mix and enjoy!
Please note – This is meant to be consumed if you are going to be in the heat for long then an hour. If less than an hour, just plain water will be enough to keep you hydrated.
I have made this with a both lime juice and tart cherry juice and liked them both. I personally enjoyed the lime best. If you are using a bottles juice, choosing a concentrate is that way to go as it will not have added sugar. You can play with the ratios to fit your taste.
I hope you give this natural alternative a try! Stay hydrated, my friends!
