With electrolyte powders becoming more popular, it’s easy to fall for fancy branding and claims that promise ultimate rehydration. To avoid overpriced products filled with artificial ingredients, the best and most nutritious solution is usually the same—to make it yourself with the help of a few natural ingredients from Mother Nature!
Before we dive in, let’s first take a moment to understand why electrolytes are very effective at rehydrating the body during a hot summer day, intense physical activity, or whenever you may need it.
Electrolytes are essential minerals that help maintain fluid balance, muscle function, and nerve activity in the body. They are found in a variety of foods and beverages.
Here are five natural electrolyte boosters:
If you’re not regularly implementing the above natural sources of electrolytes, another easy alternative is an electrolyte drink!
To make a homemade electrolyte drink, you must have salt. Electrolyte drinks need salt because salt (sodium chloride) contains essential electrolytes that are vital for maintaining fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle contractions in the body.
During physical activity or exposure to heat, the body loses sodium through sweat, which can lead to dehydration, muscle cramps, and fatigue. By including salt in your recipe, your beverage will help to replenish lost sodium, ensuring proper hydration, preventing electrolyte imbalances, and supporting overall bodily functions.
What kind of salt is best to use?
For a homemade electrolyte drink, it's best to use a high-quality salt that contains trace minerals. Here are a few good options:
- Sea Salt: Natural sea salt retains essential trace minerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium, which can be beneficial for electrolyte balance.
- Himalayan Pink Salt: This salt is rich in trace minerals, giving it a pink color. It's a popular choice for homemade electrolyte drinks due to its mineral content.
- Celtic Sea Salt: Known for its gray color and moisture content, Celtic sea salt is harvested from coastal regions and contains a variety of minerals.
These types of salts not only provide sodium but also contribute additional minerals that can support overall electrolyte balance and hydration.
Now, let’s make the easiest and most delicious homemade electrolyte drink!
LOOP Lemonade Electrolyte Recipe
This recipe can be adjusted to taste and for specific needs, but 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 355 ml of liquid is a good starting point for an effective homemade electrolyte drink.
For the liquid, we’re using our best-selling LOOP Crush Lemonade. Our Crush Lemonades are always cold-pressed and never from concentrate! So you can expect the purest form of flavour and a clean ingredient list. Made with the sweetest strawberries from local farms in Quebec and juicy fresh lemons, you can also feel good about reducing food waste! LOOP lemonades contain 24% of your daily Vitamin C and organic cane sugar for sweetness, so it’s the perfect base for a delicious homemade electrolyte drink.
Ingredients:
- 355 ml (12 oz) of LOOP Strawberry or Blue Crush Lemonade
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt (around 1.5 grams)
Steps:
- In a glass, combine the LOOP Crush Lemonade and salt.
- Stir well until the salt is fully dissolved.
- Enjoy your refreshing, homemade electrolyte drink!
This simple drink provides essential electrolytes and keeps you hydrated naturally. By restoring these vital minerals, electrolytes ensure proper hydration, reduce the risk of cramps, and improve overall performance and recovery.
We hope this will help you beat the heat and keep you hydrated all summer long! Let us know if you tried out this recipe and which Crush Lemonade flavour you chose! Tag us on socials @LOOPMISSION 😀