DIY sports drink?

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Rex R

Rex R

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so how many of you athletes/cyclists/whatever drink 'sports drinks'? and of those how many mix their own? curious if you have a favorite recipe you could share. my brief google netted me this one:
5 tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp salt(I used 'lite salt' to get some KCl into the mix)
3.5ish cups tap water
1/2 tsp orange extract for some extra flavor.
waiting for it to cool, my initial sip wasn't bad however it was a little warmer than the fridge.
Rex
 
I put a tsp. of this Kratom green powder in my coffee in the morning. I also put 4 tsp. in my quart of orange juice and start working out like Krazy.IMG_2333.JPGThe bottom of the label says: Not intended for human consumption.
 
so 1st try came out not so good, my orange flavor is bitter, and I can cut back on sugar by at least 1 tbsp. not too bad but not great. will continue my quest for a beverage.
 
Cytomax. An oldie but a good one. Not certain why you'd mix one. The science of the home brew was surpassed in the 80s. The purpose of those drinks are more then fluid replacement and salt.
 
I'm not running twice-a-days in the Florida summer, so I just drink Gatorade or Powerade alternated with water when the sun is trying to kill me.
 
The research does not back the use of most of these sugar laden drinks over water. If it helps you drink more water, do for it, but they are no better than pure H2O at hydration.
 
Sport drinks replace electrolytes along with rehydration. Gatorade replaces a little bit of lost potassium but that is about it. Powerade, dont know, dont care for em. I am often told drink one cup of Gatorade to one or two cups of water. Nonsense, unless you mix your own and make it like syrup. Sport drinks are also loaded with sugars, which some label as energy. Sugar is not an electrolyte. Potassium, Magnesium, Sodium, Calcium and maybe one or two more. Grab a YooHoo if you feel you need electrolytes, they are loaded with em. Or grab a bite to eat. Just remember to still drink water. Pickle juice is good if you can stand to drink it. Tea is probably a good choice. I will say though that while working in the heat, Gatorade helps keep the pounding headaches at bay.

Google DIY electrolyte drink.
 
I miss the Gatorade breakfast drink. Three different sugars with different absorption rates and caffeine. Came in orange, tangerine and grapefruit.

I don’t think it ever made it out of the test market, but we loved them in the lab.

For electrolyte replacement, we use the powdered pedialyte. Walgreens used to have a house brand that was cheap.
 
I shot of moonshine.
Pinch of potassium chloride.
Healthy dose of expresso [double shot love that caffeine.]
I teaspoon Ginseng extract.

Shaken-not stirred....[me not the drink]- after drinking-who cares about sports, but ya feel REAL good!!!:rolleyes:
 
I am at the stage of wanting a little more taste than plain tap water, for my 6 mile ride :). adding some KCl helps reduce the cramping that crops up from time to time, I suppose that I could get the same benefits by loading my bottle w/ a cup of milk :).
Rex
 
Chocolate milk and a banana. Get your Ca and K in one shot.
Michael Chang used to get leg cramps at the end of long matches, until he started eating bananas before and during matches.
Coincidentally, I just saw an article a few days ago : taro has substantially more potassium than even bananas! Who knew.
I don't like the taste of poi, but taro chips? Mmmmm. Deep fried and salted, like potato chips. Two electrolytes in one bite.:D
 
blackjack2564 said:
I shot of moonshine.
Pinch of potassium chloride.
Healthy dose of expresso [double shot love that caffeine.]
I teaspoon Ginseng extract.

Shaken-not stirred....[me not the drink]- after drinking-who cares about sports, but ya feel REAL good!!!:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

That's like the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster (like having your brains smashed in by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick)

Charles_McG said:
Quinine is good for muscle cramps. Drink more G&Ts.
Click to expand...

It'll keep the malaria away as well, so it's practically health food!

In the same vein, a friend calls tortilla chips with salsa "whole grains and healthful vegetables."
 
beer and freedom fries are both vegan right? :). tonic water is bitter which is why the Brits mixed it with gin (and the brits like bitter things)
 
I think adding natural juices to any sports drink is very important.

8364082642_4e96b2751b_c.jpg
 
MikeyDSlagle said:
Sport drinks replace electrolytes along with rehydration. Gatorade replaces a little bit of lost potassium but that is about it. Powerade, dont know, dont care for em. I am often told drink one cup of Gatorade to one or two cups of water. Nonsense, unless you mix your own and make it like syrup. Sport drinks are also loaded with sugars, which some label as energy. Sugar is not an electrolyte. Potassium, Magnesium, Sodium, Calcium and maybe one or two more. Grab a YooHoo if you feel you need electrolytes, they are loaded with em. Or grab a bite to eat. Just remember to still drink water. Pickle juice is good if you can stand to drink it. Tea is probably a good choice. I will say though that while working in the heat, Gatorade helps keep the pounding headaches at bay.

Google DIY electrolyte drink.
Click to expand...

That is the junk research that Gatorade wants you to believe. Very few of us workout hard enough to require that kind of electrolyte replacement.
 
cwbullet said:
That is the junk research that Gatorade wants you to believe. Very few of us workout hard enough to require that kind of electrolyte replacement.
Click to expand...

I dunno. I've spent a good bit of time dehydrating myself past healthy levels.

powerade is trash. may as well drink kool-aid.
Cool water is good.
Gatorade never seems to have that "thick" feeling when drinking it, and as mentioned keeps headaches down/helps push them away.

Pickle juice is gross as hell, but I've found it decent at hangover maintenance, though I've moved to slugging V8 for that.

Obviously prevention is best.... eating well and keeping hydration levels high and not letting them plummet.

There is definitely a point where water just doesn't do it anymore, and It's not really all that rare I hit that point.
 
cwbullet said:
That is the junk research that Gatorade wants you to believe. Very few of us workout hard enough to require that kind of electrolyte replacement.
Click to expand...
I only drink it when my long run days are pushing ten miles or an hour or more of road time. Less than that and water is generally fine.
 
cwbullet said:
That is the junk research that Gatorade wants you to believe. Very few of us workout hard enough to require that kind of electrolyte replacement.
Click to expand...

Thanks Chuck.
(A) Yes, you do lose electrolytes when you sweat.
(B) Unless you're involved in some pretty heavy exertion---Gatorade was devised for football players practicing 6+ hr/day in hot sun-- the amount of electrolytes lost even in modest exertion is fairly trivial.
(C) Most of them are probably replaced by your next meal.
(D) For other than heavy exertion per (B), plain water is all that is necessary for most people after modest exertion.
(E) You almost certainly consume more calories than you use in exercise, when you drink a sugar-sweetened sports drink.

Source: Personal communication with author of "Hill's Chemistry for Changing Times" 15th ed, Hill, McCreary et al, Pearson Education 2020 :D

Best -- Terry
 
prfesser said:
Thanks Chuck.
(A) Yes, you do lose electrolytes when you sweat.
(B) Unless you're involved in some pretty heavy exertion---Gatorade was devised for football players practicing 6+ hr/day in hot sun-- the amount of electrolytes lost even in modest exertion is fairly trivial.
(C) Most of them are probably replaced by your next meal.
(D) For other than heavy exertion per (B), plain water is all that is necessary for most people after modest exertion.
(E) You almost certainly consume more calories than you use in exercise, when you drink a sugar-sweetened sports drink.

Source: Personal communication with author of "Hill's Chemistry for Changing Times" 15th ed, Hill, McCreary et al, Pearson Education 2020 :D

Best -- Terry
Click to expand...


Absolutely true. I was looking for the article. I can’t find it. The bottom line: Adolescents who drink Gatoraid have a higher body fat and lower fitness level.
 
Except for rare occasions, I drink water only with some black coffee as a pre-workout. The summers I spent as a lifeguard taught me that I do best if I replace electrolytes about a 3:1 ratio with water. So for every 60 oz of water, I drink a 20oz sports drink.

I make my own now using a packet of Crystal Light with 2 qts of water and 2 teaspoons of Morton Lite Salt for sodium and potassium replacement. My hydration pack has a 100oz bladder, so I fill that with ice water and take 2 bottles of my drink on the frame of my bike. Those fluids with a peanut butter sandwich, some jerky, and peanuts usually provide me with enough energy to ride all day assuming I eat a good breakfast.
 
cwbullet said:
The research does not back the use of most of these sugar laden drinks over water. If it helps you drink more water, do for it, but they are no better than pure H2O at hydration.
Click to expand...
I work in a specialty metals melt shop where summer temperature can top 120°, add to that a couple of layers of protective clothing and high levels of exertion. I get along just fine with plain water. The company supplies an "electrolyte replenishing drink" which has a lot of sugar calories. I don't bother with it. A balanced diet should provide all the potassium and sodium you need. Greens, oranges, bananas, etc.
 

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