Make Your Own Sports Drink

In a previous post I talked about all the chemical additives in our food. If you're an athlete relying on relying on sport drinks and gels, it is often challenging to find products without extra dyes or additives.

Here is a link to a great article on more natural sources of fuel for athletes by a dietitian from the Canyon Ranch Spa.

While brands such as Clif, Carb Boom!, and Gu don't use high-fructose corn syrup, food dyes or artificial sweeteners, you can also get in the kitchen and make your own sport drinks and snacks.

Here are two sport drinks recipes to try. Just test it out to make sure it is palatable at various temperatures and doesn’t cause any stomach upset.

Tart Cherry Sport Drink

Tart cherries help to reduce inflammation associated with exercise.

32 ounces water
1 teaspoon sea salt
24 ounces Knudsen Tart Cherry Juice (if this is too tart for you use regular cherry juice instead)
¼ cup lemon juice

Makes seven 8-ounce servings
60 calories, 177 mg sodium, 186 mg potassium, 15 grams carbohydrate

Pina Colada Sport Drink

The coconut water gives a light flavor, a few carbohydrates and tons of potassium.

12 ounces water
½ teaspoon sea salt
32 ounces O.N.E. Coconut water
12 ounces 100% pineapple juice
¼ cup lemon juice

Makes seven 8-ounce servings
60 calories, 194 mg sodium, 352 mg potassium, 15 grams carbohydrate

Directions for making your own sport drink:Bring the tap or bottled water to a boil. Dissolve the salt in the water. Mix in juice and coconut water (if using). Chill and consume.