Primal Nutrition: use lemon juice and sea salts for electrolytes

I add sea salt, squeeze lemon juice into the water then plop the peels right in. It’s electrolicious.

All kinds of electrolyte products have saturated the market in recent years.  We buy little packets of powder and add them to our hydration packs and water bottles.  We buy little packets of gooey substances with strawberry, chocolate and other flavors then the goo gets on our hands and clothes.

Well I got tired of spending money on the commercial electrolyte products, and I was skeptical about whether those products truly lived up to the hype, so I experimented: I started adding freshly-squeezed lemon juice (from organic lemons, of course) and a teaspoon of sea salt to the water in my hydration pack.  Both lemon juice and sea salt are packed with electrolytes and other key constituents that our bodies require, especially when engaging in our favorite strenuous outdoors activities.

I’ve had positive results.  On three recent mountain bike rides, all 28 to 35 miles in length with arduous ascents, my lemon juice/sea salt combo has sustained me well.  In fact, I’ve been riding hard and finishing with energy remaining.  The lemon juice/sea salt blend tastes clean and refreshing as well, unlike some of the really nasty electrolyte concoctions I’ve tried over the years.  I’ve also saved cash since lemons and sea salt cost far less than the packaged stuff.  Speaking of packaging, there is none — lemons are “green” too.

Next I think I’ll start adding lime juice.

What’s your preferred source of electrolytes?  Do you have any homemade electrolyte drinks that work well?