Hydration is so very important when you exercise but it’s especially important in the summer when doing anything out in the heat. Many people resort to Gatorade or Power Ade thinking that those sugary drinks are the best way to replenish electrolytes. If you are a person who doesn’t read labels or if you are a consumer driven by marketing campaigns then that may seem to be the way to go. But if you are the least bit health conscious and if you check labels for ingredients, you’ll notice that the sugary colorful drinks on the market contain lots of additives and colors that translate as toxins in your system in addition to the large amount of added sugar. So if you’d like to eliminate toxins and reduce the amount of sugar you take in, check out these other options. I love this infographic from FoodBabe.com. It gives you several choices. My favorite is Coconut water and chia seeds. That’s what I used for hydration when I ran the Can Am 30 mile sled dog race this winter. Some people consider coconut water an acquired taste. You may want to add a bit of lemon or lime to the water to add a little flavor to it.
I’ve also posted a recipe elsewhere on this Blog given to me by Scott Josephson, formerly of the Hippocrates Institute who is now the Senior Vice President for Operations at Gold’s Gym in Washington DC. Here is the link to a Low Glycemic Homemade Sports Drink Recipe.
Whatever way you choose, just make sure you hydrate and replenish those electrolytes.