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The Homemade Electrolyte Drink Recipe I Make Instead Of Buying The Fake Stuff
I started making this homemade electrolyte drink when I was eating low carb, and didn’t want the store-bought versions packed with sugar or artificial sweeteners. I needed something clean, refreshing, and easy — and without complicated ingredients. Here’s why this natural electrolyte drink checks all those boxes and more:
- Slightly sweet, tart, and refreshing – This reminds me a little bit of my sugar free lemonade in that it keeps you cool and hydrated, but it’s not so sweet. If you like lemon water, you’ll enjoy my electrolyte drink recipe, too.
- Super light, with clean ingredients – This light drink has just 8 calories and 1.5 grams of sugar per serving. And it doesn’t have the artificial colors, preservatives, or sugar you’d find in store-bought sports drinks like Gatorade.
- Customizable variety of electrolytes – I’ve included natural sources of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and chloride in this recipe. You can easily adjust this DIY electrolyte drink for your workouts, hot days, fasting, or everyday hydration. (Disclaimer: It’s always a good idea to check with your dietician or doctor to confirm what’s right for you!)
Whether you want a sports drink, a healthy drink besides water, or just a hydration boost that leaves you feeling good, this is easy to include in your daily routine. Let me show you how to make your own electrolyte drink!
“Excellent! I have been searching for something that tastes good, not too salty and this is it! I only made one serving, but now will make a daily batch to keep in the fridge.”
-Sierra
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my electrolyte drink recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Lemon Juice – Fresh lemon juice tastes best, but you can use bottled for convenience, or even lime juice if you prefer.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – A great natural source of electrolytes! It also adds a tangy kick to the electrolyte beverage.
- Sea Salt – Provides sodium.
- Potassium Chloride – This is usually labeled as a sodium-free salt replacement like this.
- Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – Let me be real, a blend of lemon juice and ACV is going to taste pretty sour on its own! While many drinks like this have added sugar, I chose Besti to sweeten my homemade electrolyte drink. This natural sweetener has zero calories, is gentle on blood sugar, and unlike artificial sweeteners, it has no aftertaste. It’s also perfect for mixing into drinks (both hot and cold), because it dissolves effortlessly! You could use my zero sugar simple syrup instead, but I don’t recommend most other sugar substitutes because most don’t dissolve well.
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Want to add magnesium?
As written, my electrolyte drink includes sodium and potassium as the primary electrolytes. Although, the ACV does add some magnesium, I’m cautious about overdoing it.
If you need extra magnesium to help with muscle cramps or sleep, add a dash of magnesium glycinate powder (this is a good kind for effective absorption). Be careful though, because too much magnesium can have side effects [source].
Flavor Variations
This recipe has a lemony flavor, but you can easily adjust it! Here are some ways I mix it up sometimes:
- Minty Watermelon – Add a handful of fresh mint leaves to the homemade electrolyte drink and swap the water for watermelon juice.
- Citrus – Swap the lemon juice for a mix of other juices, such as orange juice, grapefruit, and lime. I still like to keep some lemon so that it’s not super sweet.
- Berry Blast – Add 1/4 cup of mixed berry puree (blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries). This one is my favorite!
- Coconut – Replace the plain water with coconut water (I always look for no sugar added). This will add some extra calcium and magnesium, but not a huge amount.
Homeamde Electrolyte Drink
By
Stay hydrated with my naturally sweetened, homemade electrolyte drink! It's refreshing, hydrating, and takes just 5 minutes to make.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Combine all ingredients (except ice) together in a mason jar. Close the lid and shake, until the sweetener dissolves.
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Adjust sweetener to taste, if desired.
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Enjoy as-is, or pour over ice.
Did you make it? Leave a review or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 drink (entire recipe)
- Variations: Don’t miss my flavor variations for other flavors, like watermelon, citrus, berry, or coconut.
- Storage: You can make this natural electrolyte drink ahead and store in mason jars (I like these) in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. Stir or shake before serving over ice.
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Homemade Electrolyte Drink
Common Questions
- What are electrolytes? Electrolytes are essential minerals that conduct electricity when dissolved in water, including sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium, among others. According to the National Institutes of Health, the right electrolyte levels help with fluid and PH balance, move nutrients and waste in and out of cells, and make sure that nerves, muscles, heart, and brain work the way they should.
- What drinks have electrolytes? Coconut water and bone broth are two of the best natural electrolyte drinks. Fruit juices, cow’s milk, and store-bought sports drinks also have them, but I’m not a fan because they’re so high in sugar. My sugar free electrolyte drink is a great alternative!
- Can I drink electrolyte water every day? Yes, it’s okay to have one homemade electrolyte drink every day, especially if you are active or on a keto diet (to avoid keto flu), but don’t overdo it. Cleveland Clinic has a good overview on this.
61 Comments
Sierra
1Excellent! I have been searching for something that tastes good, not too salty and this is it! I only made one serving, but now will make a daily batch to keep in the fridge. It will be great for the summer. Thanks!
Amy
0I have made this numerous times without any sweetener and it tastes great. This was a lifesaver for keto flu. Now that I’m a few weeks into keto I generally dilute it a little more or drink over ice. If I had it to do over I would not start keto without it.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so glad this drink was helpful for you, Amy! Thank you.
Merryat Maryanne
0Is this drinkable without the besti powder?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Merryat, That’s very individual but it would taste very sour without Besti added.
Edmeral
0Hi Maya, can you drink this a fast?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Edmeral, It’s up to you how strict you are, but it does have calories.
Rickk
0I think I’m going to make this – hold the water – and bring it to work as a concentrate. Add a couple ounces to some soda water and boom – you got a real drink.
Jennifer
0I make this at least once a week and I’ve tried all the different flavors. Love it.
Zara
0This is such a great alternative to gatorade. I keep some in the fridge year-round since my kids play sports, but we all go through it particularly quickly in the summer!
Melissa
0I was so excited to make this! I have always hated store bought drinks like this. This drink was delicious, cannot wait to make it again!
Kristy
0Found my new workout buddy! This is so easy to make and tastes great. I’m really loving this, thanks.
Jackie
0I love how refreshing this drink was! I’m definitely going to try the other flavor variations you suggested!
Jellian
0Finally found my new hydration go-to. It’s quick to make, and the taste is so refreshing. I really appreciate all the natural ingredients.
jennifer
0I made the minty watermelon version with some leftover summer juice I had in the freezer — it was amazing. I definitely am a person who needs to pay attention to my electrolytes!
Christie
0It was kind of hard to find a few of the ingredients, but now that I have them making this simple drink is a breeze.
Candace
0Hi Maya, The drink is super tasty, but the Besti powdered monk fruit allulose blend says it is 3 grams carbs per 1 teaspoon serving. So, you would be drinking 36 grams of carbs at 1/4 cup? I am calculating something incorrectly?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Candace, Besti has 0 grams net carbs. The carbs in allulose are not metabolized by the body, so the net is zero. You can learn more about calculating net carbs here. Hope this helps!
lisa
0I made and drank this yesterday and have had the worst upset stomach since. Maybe I was already coming down with something but still not feeling right this morning.
Tyson Adams
0Tastes fine. Isn’t that a lot of lemon juice though in regards to the carbs?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Tyson, This drink has only 1.9g of net carbs.
Tracy Howard
0Thanks for this recipe. Would you be able to provide a link to where I can get potassium chloride? I’m very confused about this unfamiliar-to-me ingredient. Walmart seems to carry tablets, but I’m assuming I would need a powder. An online search for that produced an overwhelming variety of choices, and I’m not really sure they are all the same thing. Help? Thanks in advance.
Wholesome Yum A
0Hi Tracy, this potassium chloride is what you’ll want to look for and is also linked in the post above. Enjoy!
Mim
0Very happy with the taste. Is the glass of this, sufficient for 1 day? Ia a young 70 yr old woman and drink about 1 gallon of water a day.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Mim, You can store the drink in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
Ashley
0Taste kind like sprite?
Thank you!
Jennifer Cook
0Hello! This tastes much better than I thought it would! I ordered the Wholesome Yum Allulose and monk fruit granulated blend and it dissolves just fine for me, even in cold drinks. I doubled your recipe, except the sweetener, and added 2 tsp of Calm Magnesium. My stomach is hurting. Is it the Calm, or one of the other ingredients? I don’t have any experience with potassium. Your thoughts are appreciated.
Sharon
0Yes, that is a lot of magnesium! It will give you stomach cramps.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Jennifer, I suggest making the recipe without the Calm to see if that is the issue.
Esther
0HI Maya, I have a question! What, exactly, is necessary in this drink to serve as an electrolyte drink? I’m not keen on bitter flavors like ACV and lemon.
Thanks!
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Ester, ACV and lemon are key ingredients in this electrolyte drink.
B
0I absolutely loved this recipe, but it did cause some stomach issues for me. Is it possible to substitute liquid monk fruit for the granulated blend? If so, what would the conversion be for 1/4 cup?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi B, if you are looking for a liquid substitute I suggest the Wholesome Yum Simple Syrup. Most people prefer 1-2 tablespoons of sugar-free simple syrup as a starting point. Adjust to your liking!