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Homemade Citrus-Flavored Electrolyte Drink

By Holly Darnell, RD

April 3, 2024

We’re headed into sweaty seasons, and, of course, every good cardio or HIIT workout ends up with you a sweaty mess. Is drinking water enough to sustain your output and for recovery? Not if you want optimal performance as well as recovery.

For that, we introduce you to this citrus-flavored homemade electrolyte drink. Besides a few key ingredients, the superstar ingredient is Multi Collagen Advanced Hydrate†. Featuring a hydration superfood blend that includes Spanish red cave salt and red marine algae, this supplement contains two times electrolytes vs. leading sports drinks† and helps you achieve rapid hydration for your skin and body.

What Is An Electrolyte Drink?

Electrolytes are a group of essential minerals that we must get regularly from our diets. They’re called electrolytes because they are basically electrically charged minerals.

This group includes sodium, calcium, magnesium and potassium, which all play critical functions in the body — including aiding in hydration and many muscle, heart and nerve functions.

The primary reason that sports drinks were created was to help replace electrolytes that are lost through sweat. The issue with commercial sports drinks is that they’re often high in both calories and sugar — plus they usually contain artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors and other not-so-great chemicals. And some don’t even contain enough electrolytes.

Electrolyte drinks can benefit anyone who works out and are especially beneficial for endurance athletes who complete long, high-intensity workouts, as well as people who are not consuming enough fluids.

Electrolyte Drink Benefits

In general, an electrolyte drink has the following benefits:

• Promotes electrolyte balance, to help promote beneficial levels of certain minerals, such as potassium or sodium

• Promotes healthy hydration levels

• Helps reduce muscle spasms and cramps

• Supports healthy, normal blood pressure levels

• Helps regulate normal cell and nerve functioning

• Assisting in balancing your pH levels (the measure of acidity and alkalinity)

Using Multi Collagen Advanced Hydrate† in this electrolyte drink also provides these benefits:

• 2x electrolytes vs. leading sports drinks†

• Provides skin and body hydration

• Hydrates rapidly — faster than water alone

• Provides rapid absorption of water and key nutrients

• Provides a real food source of balanced electrolytes

With the 10 types of collagen from 10 food-based sources, Multi Collagen Advanced Hydrate† also helps:

• Reduce joint discomfort and stiffness

• Helps improve flexibility

• Improves exercise recovery by 56.3%

Homemade Electrolyte Drink Ingredients

First, you need the essential minerals: sodium and magnesium, along with perhaps calcium and manganese. This one-serving recipe that includes Multi Collagen Advanced Hydrate† contains 634 milligrams of sodium (27% Daily Value), 114 mg of magnesium hydroxide (28% DV), 1158 mg of potassium (25% DV), 0.35 mg of manganese (19% DV) and 218 mg of calcium (18% DV).

Besides the main ingredient of Multi Collagen Advanced Hydrate† (lemon lime flavor), coconut water is also essential. It naturally contains minerals, including a good dose of potassium plus some sodium and calcium. It also imparts a nice flavor that mixes well with the citrus content and the Hydrate† powder.

The juice from three fruits — lemon, lime and orange — is also used for natural sweeteners, flavor and antioxidants. These juices also help push the vitamin C content to 170 mg, or 189 percent Daily Value.

Nutrition Facts

Overall, with these outstanding ingredients, the nutritional profile for this homemade electrolyte drink is 148 calories for around 12 ounces. The macronutrients are 24 grams of carbohydrates (including 15 grams of sugar and 3 grams of fiber), 1 gram of fat and 12 grams of protein. These macros make it not just what to consume before a workout but also a good in-workout drink and a post-workout drink.

As shown above, one serving also contains the essential minerals for an electrolyte sports drink, with 18 percent Daily Value or more of sodium, magnesium hydroxide, potassium, manganese and calcium.

How does that compare to a leading sport drink brand for a 12-ounce bottle? Calorie count is less at 97 calories, but so is sodium content (145 mg), fiber (zero), protein (zero), potassium (only 56 mg), calcium (just 3.7 mg), magnesium (zero) and manganese (zero).

Plus, with MCA Hydrate†, you’re also getting two times the electrolytes compared to conventional sports drinks.

How to Make an Citrus-Flavored Electrolyte Drink

Fortunately, even with all the ingredients, this is a pretty simple recipe to put together.

First, juice the lemon, lime and orange (Cara Care variety — or red-fleshed navel orange — if possible). An old-fashioned manual squeezer does just fine, as you cut the fruit in half (after washing it first) and then place it on top. Push down and then twist in both directions until all the juice is out. You can get a manual squeezer that has a top with slits that doesn’t allow the seeds in.

In a pint glass, add the juices, coconut water and MCA Hydrate†. Mix with a brother or immersion blender until the Hydrate† powder is fully dissolved and everything is combined. Add ice and enjoy.

If you’re consuming during a workout, add to a sports bottle and take it with you.

Other Homemade Health Drinks

• Energy drink

• Detox water

• Drink for healthy weight management

• Pink drink

• Beauty collagen drink

Recipe developed by Holly Darnell, RD. Holly is a registered dietitian nutritionist who unlocked self-love at the intersection of exceptional food and practical solutions for healthy living. She’s passionate about helping others make simple, positive lifestyle changes on their individual path to healing.

†2x or 3x more electrolytes per serving, based on overall sodium and potassium levels. Plus, this formula includes magnesium and calcium.