Come on. Even their ‘natural’ version is full of chemicals, refined sugars, and mysterious ‘natural flavors.’ Let’s think about why we drink sports drinks in the first place. Hydration. Didn’t your mother give it to you when you were sick? I know mine did – gotta stay hydrated! And as a kid or parent how many soccer games did you or your kids finish with a big swig of Gatorade?
Gatorade has become such a staple, go-to source of hydration that we don’t even question/consider the ingredients used in their magic elixir. You don’t need the power of these red, orange or blue flavored commercial sports drinks to hydrate yourself. While Gatorade does what it should – hydrate you – it also adds in an insane amount of nasty, nasty things that just are not needed for the human body to function. In fact, overtime it might even cause damage to your body.
After doing a little digging, I found some natural alternatives to Gatorade – so please, for the love of your body and its ability to perform at high levels, stop drinking artificial drinks (including soda, Crystal light, Kool-Aid, etc.) and use what nature has already provided us to stay hydrated!
How to Replenish Electrolytes Naturally, Food Babe:
Gatorade has become such a staple, go-to source of hydration that we don’t even question/consider the ingredients used in their magic elixir. You don’t need the power of these red, orange or blue flavored commercial sports drinks to hydrate yourself. While Gatorade does what it should – hydrate you – it also adds in an insane amount of nasty, nasty things that just are not needed for the human body to function. In fact, overtime it might even cause damage to your body.
After doing a little digging, I found some natural alternatives to Gatorade – so please, for the love of your body and its ability to perform at high levels, stop drinking artificial drinks (including soda, Crystal light, Kool-Aid, etc.) and use what nature has already provided us to stay hydrated!
How to Replenish Electrolytes Naturally, Food Babe:
- Juice Celery + Apple + Lemon - This juice combination works wonders for replacement of electrolytes. The celery has a natural source of sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, and phosphorus. Apple provides additional potassium and natural sweetness. Lemon is the highest electrolyte containing citrus fruit.
- Stir Sea Salt + Baking Soda + Lemon Juice + Maple Syrup into 8 ounces of Water – This is a great natural remedy for serious endurance athletes – You might think drinking baking soda is a little weird, but it’s been used for centuries to treat various aliments. In this case, it’s added to the mix because it makes the body less acidic and provides an additional source of sodium bicarbonate.
- Shake Raw Coconut Water + Chia Seeds - Raw coconut water has a ton of electrolytes and potassium that will not only help you stay hydrated but also keep your body from getting any cramps. It is completely natural and very low in sugar. Combine this with a packet of chia seeds and you have a 1-2 punch! Chia seeds are an incredible energy food – full of omega 3 fatty acids, protein, fiber. These seeds have the ability to keep you from getting dehydrated because of they can hold 9 times their weight in water! There are travel packs available that don’t need refrigeration either – perfect for just throwing in your gym bag or purse.
- Blend Frozen Banana + Almond Milk + Kale – This smoothie is extremely hydrating. The banana provides a good source of potassium and magnesium which help regulate your fluid stores. Almonds are extremely rich in magnesium and potassium. When you make your almond milk, make sure you add sea salt (store bought almond milk already has salt added to it). Kale is a superfood and another excellent source of magnesium and calcium.
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