# Gatorade alternative that actually provides the electrolytes, etc AND also tastes good. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 15, 2016, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gatorade-alternative-that-actually-provides-the-electrolytes-etc-and-also-tastes-good/762961 "2016-08-15T22:55:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gatorade-alternative-that-actually-provides-the-electrolytes-etc-and-also-tastes-good/762961/41 "2016-08-16T20:58:42Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#): > > You can “roll yer own” that tastes much better, using Morton’s “Lite Salt” for the potassium, and a pinch of regular salt, etc. WHO had a recipe for oral rehydration. If you dig around you can find the correct ratios. The problem isn’t so much that Gatorade is a little weak on what’s needed, although that’s part of it, it’s damnably expensive for what you get. Folks who are working hard in hot conditions need to drink gallons a day. > > The sugars (and salts) helps allow the gut to absorb it, otherwise it will run right through. If the mix is made correctly it will never taste particularly good, this is probably an example of bean counters and marketing types. It’s something like a half-teaspoon of salt per quart, and 2 tablespoons of sugar, so pretty weak stuff overall. ---
**Author:** ![akrako1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@akrako1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akrako1)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gatorade-alternative-that-actually-provides-the-electrolytes-etc-and-also-tastes-good/762961/42 "2016-08-16T21:57:48Z")
how do you like Coconut Water? I find it delicious but others find it repulsive… It does have a significantly higher amount of Potassium, but also less Sodium - so depending on your medical needs (is the sodium important?) it may work fine. A few different takes on it: [link](http://healthandwellness.kaplan.edu/articles/nutrition/Coconut%20water%20-%20Is%20it%20really%20natures%20sport%20drink.html) [link2](http://www.runnersworld.com/fuel-school/is-coconut-water-better-for-runners-than-sports-drink) [link3](http://huffinesinstitute.org/resources/articles/articletype/articleview/articleid/446/natures-gatorade-effectiveness-of-coconut-water-on-electrolyte-and-carbohydrate-replacement) ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gatorade-alternative-that-actually-provides-the-electrolytes-etc-and-also-tastes-good/762961/43 "2016-08-17T07:01:15Z")
I use Powerade Zero and add Lite Salt to it. ---
**Author:** ![onething](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/df788c/32.png) [@onething](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/onething)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gatorade-alternative-that-actually-provides-the-electrolytes-etc-and-also-tastes-good/762961/44 "2016-08-17T18:45:14Z")
Just drink alkaline water (from a spring, most are). They contain all of the minerals your body needs and provide health benefits. Plus, its about the same price as Gatorade, minus the sugar, food coloring and all of that crap. Some brands include Icelandic, or AQUAhydrate, which is designed for athletes. Hope this helps. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gatorade-alternative-that-actually-provides-the-electrolytes-etc-and-also-tastes-good/762961/45 "2016-08-17T19:11:03Z")
> [@akrako1](#): > > how do you like Coconut Water? I find it delicious but others find it repulsive… It does have a significantly higher amount of Potassium, but also less Sodium - so depending on your medical needs (is the sodium important?) it may work fine. > > A few different takes on it: [link](http://healthandwellness.kaplan.edu/articles/nutrition/Coconut%20water%20-%20Is%20it%20really%20natures%20sport%20drink.html) [link2](http://www.runnersworld.com/fuel-school/is-coconut-water-better-for-runners-than-sports-drink) [link3](http://huffinesinstitute.org/resources/articles/articletype/articleview/articleid/446/natures-gatorade-effectiveness-of-coconut-water-on-electrolyte-and-carbohydrate-replacement) Yeah, Gatorade is rather low in Potassium, and that’s harder to get than sodium. Regular contains just 30 mg of potassium- a banana gives you 800 or so mg potassium . OJ has 450 mg. Regular Gatorade is crap for electrolytes, even they know it and released a “Gatorade Endurance” product. ---
**Author:** ![hermitcrab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@hermitcrab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermitcrab)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gatorade-alternative-that-actually-provides-the-electrolytes-etc-and-also-tastes-good/762961/46 "2016-08-18T20:46:01Z")
have you tried Propel? filtered water with potassium, sodium, and some vitamins (probably some sort of non-caloric sweetener, as it has no calories). it comes in quite a few different flavors (kiwi-strawberry is actually pretty good IMHO), or unflavored. if buying overpriced water isn’t your thing (it’s still cheaper than Gatorade), you can buy it powdered and add to your own water. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gatorade-alternative-that-actually-provides-the-electrolytes-etc-and-also-tastes-good/762961/47 "2016-08-18T22:21:10Z")
**onething** , if it’s just water from a spring, how can it be “designed for athletes”? And why on Earth would it cost as much as Gatorade? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gatorade-alternative-that-actually-provides-the-electrolytes-etc-and-also-tastes-good/762961/48 "2016-08-19T00:03:44Z")
> [@hermitcrab](#): > > have you tried Propel? filtered water with potassium, sodium, and some vitamins (probably some sort of non-caloric sweetener, as it has no calories). it comes in quite a few different flavors (kiwi-strawberry is actually pretty good IMHO), or unflavored. if buying overpriced water isn’t your thing (it’s still cheaper than Gatorade), you can buy it powdered and add to your own water. Some sugar is necessary for absorption when you’re replenishing electrolytes. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gatorade-alternative-that-actually-provides-the-electrolytes-etc-and-also-tastes-good/762961/49 "2016-08-19T01:47:02Z")
I don’t have much to add, but the Cucumber Lime / Limon Pepino flavor is easily my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![hermitcrab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@hermitcrab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermitcrab)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gatorade-alternative-that-actually-provides-the-electrolytes-etc-and-also-tastes-good/762961/50 "2016-08-19T01:51:37Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Some sugar is necessary for absorption when you’re replenishing electrolytes. well, it’s got sucralose…hmmm… ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gatorade-alternative-that-actually-provides-the-electrolytes-etc-and-also-tastes-good/762961/51 "2016-08-19T01:56:20Z")
> [@hermitcrab](#): > > well, it’s got sucralose…hmmm… Sucralose is an artificial sweetener. ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gatorade-alternative-that-actually-provides-the-electrolytes-etc-and-also-tastes-good/762961/52 "2016-08-19T03:01:16Z")
I second the Propel recomendation. I like the grape and black cherry. I should probably pick some up but I have been on a lifewater kick lately. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gatorade-alternative-that-actually-provides-the-electrolytes-etc-and-also-tastes-good/762961/53 "2016-08-19T19:33:49Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Too much sugar, as a long-term source of empty calories in your diet, is bad, but it’s surprisingly difficult to define what exactly “too much” means. A great philosopher by the name of [Wilford Brimley](http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/20/20b232101633836e1a7a46a9a94031dffcb0530a6d2c9bab63b7278bc60c4cc0.jpg) has this covered. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gatorade-alternative-that-actually-provides-the-electrolytes-etc-and-also-tastes-good/762961.md?page=2)