Confession: I used to drink a lot of gatorade. A LOT of gatorade. Water was never enough for me in the summer; I always needed something a little stronger to keep my thirst at bay. Then, one day, I read the ingredients on that back of that gatorade bottle, and decided I needed a new plan! This recipe popped up in my feed from The Cardamom’s Pod blog, and I fell in love. I have now been using this recipe for years – for pregnancy, labor, while nursing babies, for kids in hot summer weather, for grownups in hot summer weather, and as a healthier alternative to lemonade when we have a crowd of kids over. I’ve shared it many times with Facebook friends and now hand out the recipe in all my childbirth classes! You could say I’m a fan of this electrolyte drink.
What are electrolytes?
To put it simply, electrolytes are minerals that are electrically charged. They have many functions in the body including muscle function, energy, bone formation & even boosting the immune system. Many electrolytes, including chloride, potassium and sodium, help the body regulate water balance and prevent dehydration. All three of these minerals are found in a good quality sea salt!
So, here is the preffered electrolyte drink around the Speece household. It is a tweaked version of the recipe that my kids named “Summerade” because it always reminds them of summer. I have two options for sweeteners listed. The sugar is necessary if you are using the drink specifically to prevent dehydration. Otherwise, I prefer the stevia glycerite drops to make this a healthy, every day beverage.
Summerade
1/2 c lemon juice
2 T lime juice
1/3 c sugar or approx. 15 drops stevia (more to taste)
1/2 t high quality sea salt
1/4 t baking soda
Combine all ingredients. Add enough water and ice to make 2-3 quarts, depending on how concentrated you like it. Stir just enough to combine ingredients in order to retain some of the fizziness from the baking soda. Drink right away.
Looking for some healthy snacks to enjoy with your Summerade? Click here!
For more information about getting the best possible nutrition during pregnancy, a downloadable food and activity journal PDF, exercise guide for pregnancy health & to prepare for labor, as well as an entire module dedicated to stress reduction for improved health – check out this $15 mini childbirth course: Nutrition, Exercise and Stress.
