In the sixties, a Florida college football coach looking for ways to improve the health, hydration and performance of his athletes consulted a group of research physicians to find ways to help his players endure the grueling summer conditions. Researchers determined that the decline of his athletes’ performance during hot weather was due to the loss of electrolytes from sweating and the depletion of muscle carbohydrate stores, which caused muscle fatigue and failure. They formulated a special carbohydrate and electrolyte drink out of water, sugar, sodium, potassium, phosphate and lemon juice and gave it to the athletes. The football team began winning almost all their games and their collective sex lives improved dramatically. The researchers named the drink “Gatorade” in honor of the school’s mascot, the Florida Gators, and sold it everywhere at about a 1000% mark-up. But don't worry: you don’t have to buy the brand name beverage to reap the benefits – you can make a similar drink once a week and bring a bottle of it to all your workouts for a fraction of the cost.
SIMPLE VERSION:
2 quarts of water [for caffeine boost use 1 quart water &1 quart brewed black or green tea]
1/2 cup of fruit juice [try: lemon, lime, coconut, orange or cranberry]
1/2 cup of honey, agave nectar, coconut nectar, brown rice syrup or maple syrup
1/2 tsp salt
FANCYPANTS ADD-INS:
1/4 cup whey protein, 1 tbsp ginger juice or 1/2 tsp powdered ginger, 1 tbsp spirulina powder, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
DIRECTIONS:
Combine and chill.
