Rehydration Drink

Many of you may have been advised to use LMNT, Gatorade or Propel for hydration during sports activities and illness. However, it’s crucial to understand the potential health risks associated with these products, which I’m here to discuss.

These risks are primarily linked to synthetic colors, flavors, and sugars, and understanding them is crucial for making informed choices about your health.

• Synthetic Colors
  • Gatorade and Propel often use synthetic food dyes, such as Red 40 (Allura Red), Yellow 5 (Tartrazine), and Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue). These artificial colors have been linked to hyperactivity in children and an inability to sleep, and they may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Some studies are concerned about the potential carcinogenic effects of these dyes. The bottom line is that they are banned in other countries, so why are they allowed here?
    • Blue #1 is now Brilliant Blue – known to cause hyperactivity, chromosomal damage, kidney tumors, and asthma
    • Blue #2 is now Indigotine – known to cause hyperactivity, chromosomal damage and brain/bladder tumors
    • Green #2 is now Fast Green – known to cause bladder and testes tumors
    • Red #3 is now Erythrosine – known to cause thyroid cancer and chromosomal damage
    • Red #40 is now Allura Red – known to cause hyperactivity and various types of cancer
    • Yellow #5 is now Tartrazine – known to cause hyperactivity, thyroid tumors, and chromosomal damage
    • Yellow #6 is now Sunset Yellow – known to cause hyperactivity and kidney/adrenal gland tumors
• Artificial Flavors
  • Gatorade and Propel contain artificial flavors to enhance their taste. These synthetic flavors are designed to mimic natural ones but do not provide the same nutritional benefits as natural ingredients. There is also concern that these artificial flavors may contribute to a preference for overly sweet and unnatural tastes, which can influence dietary habits negatively.
  • Some individuals may be sensitive or allergic to artificial flavors, which can cause adverse reactions such as headaches, attention, sleep, digestive issues, or other allergic responses.
• Sugars and Artificial Sweeteners
  • Gatorade, in particular, contains high levels of sugar, which can contribute to weight gain, obesity, and related health issues like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. While it is marketed as a sports drink meant to replenish electrolytes, the sugar content can be problematic for those who consume it without engaging in intense physical activity, which is over 45 min in heat while sweating. Fun historical fact: This drink differs from the original recipe the Florida Gators football team created to combat the summer heat (hence its name). That one’s taste was so salty the executives didn’t feel it would sell and changed it to a more sugar-based drink.
  • Artificial Sweeteners in Propel, while often marketed as a low-calorie alternative, it typically contains artificial sweeteners like sucralose or acesulfame potassium. These sweeteners have been controversial due to potential health risks, including an increased appetite, disruption of gut microbiota, and possible links to metabolic disorders. Some studies suggest that artificial sweeteners may lead to the same health issues as sugar. People think they are safe to drink, but they are not.
  • LMNT is a trendy electrolyte drink praised for being “keto-friendly” and “clean,” but that doesn’t mean it’s ideal for everyone. While it skips traditional sugars, it’s still heavily sweetened — just in a different way. Every flavored LMNT packet contains stevia leaf extract, a highly processed sugar substitute. Stevia may be plant-derived, but the refined extract used in these products is far removed from the whole leaf. This kind of sweetener can confuse your body by triggering insulin responses without the presence of real sugar, potentially leading to blood sugar swings, digestive upset, or increased cravings. In some sensitive individuals, it also contributes to headaches or nausea — especially when used daily.
  • Dental Health: Both sugary and artificially sweetened beverages can have a detrimental impact on dental health. High sugar levels can lead to tooth decay, while acidic properties in artificially sweetened drinks can erode tooth enamel.

Marketing to Youth, a Vulnerable Marketing Group

These beverages are often marketed to children and teenagers, particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of high sugar intake and artificial additives. These drinks could unknowingly add to their inability to sleep, pay attention to school, eat foods that promote health, and so much more! Try eliminating them for three months and see what happens!

While rehydration drinks and packets are popular for their hydration and electrolyte-replenishing claims, it’s important to remember that there are alternatives. You can take proactive steps towards better health by choosing beverages with natural ingredients, lower sugar content, and fewer synthetic additives. PS We do NOT recommend Propel, Gatorade, Just Ingredients, Relyte or LMNT.

Want a better solution? Here are some recipe options that will replace electrolytes, support muscle recovery, and get you hydrated quickly. 

Option 1:

• 1/8 tsp Redmond Real Salt
  • You lose sodium when you sweat, so replacing it is important. However, not all salts are equal. Only unrefined natural salt supports your body’s sodium needs while giving it minerals. Natural salt helps support your muscles and blood pressure as well. To stay hydrated, you need sodium! The unrefined salt can also calm muscle cramps and fatigue, putting you back on the road to recovery after heavy exercise.
• 12 Oz Spring Water
  • Spring water is nature’s water! It’s clean and full of minerals, which restore your body’s natural balance. Filtered water may take out minerals, and re-mineralized water may contain man-made chemicals instead of nature-made ones. So, your best bet for any drinking water is spring water.

Option 2:

• Premier pH Minerals
  

  • This is our go-to flavorless option. It’s a broad-spectrum blend of trace minerals sourced from plants and seawater — nothing synthetic, nothing your body has to “work around.” Just potent support in the exact form your body can absorb and use. Add a few drops to your water during workouts, on hot days, or anytime your system needs extra replenishment.

• 12 Oz Spring Water
  • Spring water is nature’s water! It’s clean and full of minerals, which restore your body’s natural balance. Filtered water may take out minerals, and re-mineralized water may contain man-made chemicals instead of nature-made ones. So, your best bet for any drinking water is spring water.

Option 3:

• 2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
  • This vinegar made from fermented apples has been used for medicinal reasons for centuries. It’s full of bioactive components that provide antioxidant and antimicrobial benefits. It can support a healthy heart, sinuses, skin, and blood sugar levels. Its ability to help with fatigue and blood pressure makes it an especially useful ingredient in our rehydration beverage.
• 1/8 tsp Redmond Real Salt
• 1 scoop Aminowise
  • This includes plenty of beneficial vitamins and minerals and body-boosting essential oils. It also contains 12mg of potassium, vital to workout recovery. It helps that it tastes great, too!
• 1 Gallon of Spring Water
• 1 tsp local Honey
  • NOT NEEDED, But can add in if wanting more
  • Not all honey products are created equal, either. Highly processed honey strips away the natural vitamins and minerals and sometimes even adds harmful ingredients, like high-fructose corn sugar.
  • Local honey is better, but if you can’t find any, unrefined raw honey is the one you should choose. For our drink, the honey replaces vitamins and minerals lost through sweat, helps with inflammation, and boosts your energy after a draining physical event.

Option 4:

• 1/8 tsp Redmond Real Salt
  • You lose sodium when you sweat, so replacing it is important. However, not all salts are equal. Only unrefined natural salt supports your body’s need for sodium while also giving it minerals. Natural salt helps support your muscles and blood pressure as well. To stay hydrated, you need sodium! The unrefined salt can also calm muscle cramps and fatigue, putting you back on the road to recovery after heavy exercise.
• 2 pinches Calcium Lactate Powder
• 1 scoop NingXia Greens or Power Mix
• 1 squirt Vitality Drops (any flavor works)
• 1 Gallon of Spring Water
  • Spring water is nature’s water! It’s clean and full of minerals, which restore your body’s natural balance. Filtered water may take out minerals, and re-mineralized water may contain man-made chemicals instead of nature-made ones. So, your best bet for any drinking water is spring water.

Option 5:

• 1/8 tsp Redmond Real Salt
  • You lose sodium when you sweat, so replacing it is important. However, not all salts are equal. Only unrefined natural salt supports your body’s need for sodium while also giving it minerals. Natural salt helps support your muscles and blood pressure as well. To stay hydrated, you need sodium! The unrefined salt can also calm muscle cramps and fatigue, putting you back on the road to recovery after heavy exercise.
• 2 pinches Calcium Lactate Powder
• 2 oz (1 Packet) NingXia Red
• 1 Gallon of Spring Water
  • Spring water is nature’s water! It’s clean and full of minerals, which restore your body’s natural balance. Filtered water may take out minerals, and re-mineralized water may contain man-made chemicals as opposed to nature-made ones. So, your best bet for any drinking water is spring water.