Make your own Natural Home made Electrolyte Drink!
So, one of my “cure-alls” is to drink Gatorade or electrolyte sports drink. It is helpful when you start feeling an illness coming on and to keep hydrated after a big sporting activity or night of reckless drinking.
Electrolytes are important in the bloodstream to help hydrate and flush out the cells of impurities and infections. Often, plain water does not do the trick at hydrating the body. When we administer IV fluids in the hospital, we assess the patient for dehydration status and determine the concentration or type of IV fluids necessary to rehydrate. Drinking fluids can be just as therapeutic, as long as a patient is not too ill. If a patient is unable to drink or unable to keep down fluids due to nausea or vomiting, he/she may need IV fluid replacement and should go to the Emergency Room to be evaluated
Although brands like Gatorade and Powerade are sold in every gas station and grocery store, many patients want an all-natural way to replenish and restore fluid balance. Pedialyte has less sugar. There are many sugar free brands of electrolyte fluids on the market. However, to give the body a therapeutic hydrated push, a balance of electrolytes including glucose (or dextrose) are necessary to penetrate and flush out cells.
Here is a recipe for a healthier alternative sports drink to brand name electrolyte fluids:
120 ounces of fresh filtered water
1 ¼ cups of Coconut water concentrate
4 tablespoons of Dextrose powder (can add extra to taste)
3 ¾ tablespoons of Sea Salt
400 mg Magnesium Citrate dissolved
3-4 cups frozen fruit
Blend ingredients (may need to separate ingredients in half depending on size of the blender). Makes a little more than 1 gallon.
Patients with electrolyte abnormalities, renal or heart issues may be at risk of fluid overload or other problems. So, talk to your doctor before rehydrating.
If you would like to become a patient at Modern Family Medicine, you are welcome to make an appointment online or call us at (602) 363-1631.