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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
Suzanne
0Thanks for this. I had been dizzy and feeling faint for several days and went online to see if that was usual on Keto. I couldn’t believe it was due to dehydration as I drink LOTS of water. After a bit of investigating, I found that it wasn’t the water I might be lacking, but the electrolytes. I had some magnesium tablets, so I am just taking them and drinking your recipe. It’s very refreshing and I hope this cures the dizzies. So economical compared to other electrolyte choices.
Kathie Whiting
0Thank you for sharing the Sugar Free Keto Electrolyte Drink Recipe! I get migraines and whenever I cut out carbs I would have a terrible headache that seems to last for weeks, so it was difficult to stick to it. I saved your email on how to avoid the keto flu that you sent out in May and read it this morning because I had such a headache and I remembered the title. I’m so glad I did!! I mixed the drink recipe and drank it right away ( I prefer it unsweetened) and within the hour my headache went to just a mild headache!! I did not have any Potassium Chloride powder so I came home and made a salad with a bunch of Potassium rich veggies like you said and now I feel like I can do this and make it through this part!! What a game changer, Thank You so much for all your posts and emails, they drew me back to get on track again. Keep up the great work and thank you so much again!
Lorenia Mathews
0I Love your electrolyte drink recipe for keto flu !!! It tastes great !!! I used a liquid stevia/erythritol blend to sweeten. I hope it gets rid of this tiredness/no energy soon. How often do I need to drink it ?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Lorenia, As often as you feel you need it. If you are going through the keto flu phase, then drink it as needed.
JOY
0Hi. Can I make this without the lemon juice because i am sensitive with lemon or lime?
thanks.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Joy, Yes, the recipe will work fine without the lemon juice. Enjoy!
JamesR
0Hi, the main reason I’m commenting is to let folks know that the powdered Magnesium that was linked to is terrible about dissolving in water, and it tends to clump and it also tastes bad. I have a big bag of that product and take it separately (later in the evening to help me sleep).
FWIW I’ve been making my own variation of this drink for a while. I fill a tall cup mostly with water, add a packet of True Lemon or Lime, a little Tang powder, a splash of Orange Juice, and a few shakes of NoSalt (potassium) and table salt. This drink is pretty tasty, but the Mg powder would definitely ruin it.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi James, Thanks for the feedback. Those are great tips!
Yevonne
0I love this! Only, I use Lipton decaf ice tea and I don’t add sugar. For the salt, I use Redmonds real salt. I like to drink this in place of a snack mid afternoon. Keeps the cravings away.
Pat
0I’m on blood pressure meds. My meds require me to keed my potassium intake low. Is it okay for me to leave it out of the recipe?
Yevonne
0I’m glad you said this, I’m on BP meds too! Thanks!
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Pat, Yes, the recipe will still work without the potassium.
Pat
0I tried the recipe with the sweetener and decided I might like it better without. I tried it without and I like it much better that way 🙂 I’m hoping that won’t affect the electrolyte properties of the drink 🙂
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Pat, The sweetener does not affect the electrolyte properties. Enjoy!
Pat
0Thank you 🙂
Diane
0Exactly how much potassium (K) is in this drink? What form does it come in? I believe cream of tartar is almost pure potassium, but is bitter I am told. Your thoughts….. Thanks
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Diane, This drink has 362 mg of potassium per serving.
Colleen
0I would love to be able to frequent your website more. However, you have so many ads on your pages that it takes forever to navigate. I really wish you would limit them. This is crazy. It is not even fun (or worth the effort) to try and support you. 🙁
Catherine
0Colleen, I took the plunge for the ad-free membership to this website. It’s a game changer. Not only do I get the ad-free web access, which makes the site a joy to use, but lots of extras and a members-only area with so many hints, tips and good advise! So glad I signed up. This really is one of the best sites for low carb and keto lifestyles.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Colleen, Thanks for the feedback. You can get more information about the ad-free website experience here.
Jerome
0Hi, can I make a pitcher of this and drink from it for 2 days or so?
Thanks!
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Jerome, Yes that would work fine.
Synchrony
0I can’t even take 2 sips of this. It’s nothing against the recipe as some seem to really like it but the acv is so gross. I can’t have any of the fake sweeteners because I get so nauseous and a migraine. What exactly in this recipe is 100% needed as electrolytes?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Synchrony, Apple cider vinegar offers a lot of healthful perks, but if it’s not your taste, feel free to skip it.
Denay DeGuzman
0What a flavorful electrolyte drink recipe! Perfect for taking on bike rides, hikes and kayaking on the river. So enjoyable and refreshing!
Sandra Shaffer
0Very refreshing. Perfect for our hikes. I also keep a batch in the refrigerator to refill my water bottle that I keep by my Peloton.
Leah
0Hi! I’m not a fan of ACV. Is it a crucial ingredient for this?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Leah, Apple cider vinegar offers a lot of healthful perks, but if it’s not your taste, feel free to skip it.