Easy Electrolytes For An Active Lifestyle


(No Tequila Necessary)

This is a recipe that we developed a few years back, to help our clients stay hydrated after practicing hot yoga.

We have found that it works really well any time you feel dehydrated or simply tired.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup filtered water, room temperature
  • 1/2 fresh organic lime squeezed (or equivalent amount of organic lime juice)
  • 3 small squirts of raw unfiltered honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon of rock salt (preferably Himalayan)

Mix all of the above together and enjoy! You may need to adjust to taste.

A word about electrolytes

Electrolytes are minerals that dissolve in water and carry electrical charges. Sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-) and calcium (Ca2+) are the major electrolytes in our body. Other electrolytes are magnesium (Mg2+), bicarbonate (HCO3-), phosphate (PO42-), sulfate (SO42-) and many others in very small amounts (called trace minerals).

What they do

Pure water does not conduct electricity, but water containing salts does. Since our body is made mostly of water, these minerals can be found everywhere in our body. They are inside our cells, in the spaces between our cells, in our blood, our lymph, and everywhere else. Since they are electrically charged they can carry nutrients into and out of our cells (through the cell membrane).

Why they matter

Electrolytes are important because they are what our cells (especially nerve, heart, muscle) use to maintain voltages across their cell membranes and to carry electrical impulses (nerve impulses, muscle contractions) across themselves and to other cells. Our kidneys work to keep the electrolyte concentrations in our blood constant despite changes in your body. When we exercise heavily, we lose electrolytes in our sweat, particularly sodium and potassium. These electrolytes must be replaced to keep the electrolyte concentrations of our body fluids constant.

The most common electrolyte imbalances are in sodium and potassium. To keep our body healthy, our cells need to have a lot of potassium inside and a lot of sodium in the fluid outside. To keep the balance, potassium and sodium constantly move back and forth through the cell membrane.

Why honey

Our large intestine can absorb water more easily if it contains at least a little “salt” and “sugar”. The mix of glucose and fructose in honey allows quick energy through glucose. Fructose helps slow the absorption of glucose to prevent sugar spikes, and glucose helps the body efficiently process fructose.

Why lime

Lime among other big benefits (source of vitamin C, B6, folic acid, flavonoids and phytochemicals) is a great source of potassium. According to Ayurveda, lime is cooling to the body (as opposed to lemon which is heating to the body). It also has a sweet post digestive effect as opposed to sour (lemon’s post digestive effect).

Why rock salt

Due to the dumping of waste products taking place in the ocean’s today’s sea salt is not as clean as it used to be. Also, according to Ayurveda rock salt has a sweet post digestive taste which is cooling to the body as opposed to the salty post digestive taste of the sea salt. Himalayan rock salt in particular is the most beneficial to our body due to its special crystalline structure which allows it to be very easily metabolized by our body. Himalayan rock salt is often labeled as Himalayan sea salt. It can be found here: Himalayan Salt

Let us know when you try it. We would love to hear from you!

Disclaimer:
Please, do not use anything you are allergic to or a medical doctor has told you not to use. And as always, check with a medical professional before you start a new routine.


Thank you for reading and sharing! See you at one of our upcoming events.


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