DIY Rehydration Drinks: How to Make Your Own Electrolyte-Enhanced Water for Cheap

While it's easy to make fun of water with "electrolytes," there's actually some science behind it. Despite the name, electrolyte-enhanced water isn't all that high-tech, it mostly means that it's been infused with vitamins and minerals such as potassium and sodium, which are very helpful in preventing dehydration.

Unfortunately, electrolyte water isn't especially cheap, and compared to the tap, it's downright expensive. Luckily, there's a few recipes out there that can help you mix your own electrolyte-enhanced water to stay cool through the summer.

Agave Water

Doctor Oz recommends adding the following ingredients to about 1 liter of water.

• ½ teaspoon of baking soda
• 2 tablespoons of agave nectar
• ½ tablespoon of sea salt

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Sugar Water

WebMD has a similar recipe, but recommends using sugar instead of the agave nectar.

• 1 quart of water
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• ½ teaspoon of baking soda
• ½ teaspoon of table salt
• ¼ teaspoon of salt substitute (potassium-based), such as Lite Salt or Morton Salt Substitute

In any case, the general idea is to enhance the water with sodium, potassium, and natural sugar, which will help your body to absorb water more quickly.

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Other potential ingredients include fresh citrus juice, which are high in calcium and potassium, and honey, which provides glucose and helps your body with mineral absorption. Experiment with the mixture and find out what works best for you.

If you don't especially care about electrolytes, and just want a refreshing flavored water drink, try simply adding fruit.

Photos by Glacéau, Fresh Eggs Daily, Operation Boot Camp