Waste or mistakes never happen in a farm kitchen.....only future animal or plant food.

August 9, 2010

Make your own rehydrating "Energy" drink

Refreshing "Energy" drink
Here is the "Energy" beverage I drink at least a pint of every day.
Ingredients:
Unrefined sea salt
Ionic minerals (alternative to salt)
Coconut water
Aloe Vera Juice (optional)
Orange Juice (not from concentrate)
Fancy 1/2 gal bottle (optional...but it does make it more fun)
Carbonated water

I add a small handful of salt to the bottom...about a TBS or so and/or minerals. Next a small can of coconut water to the jar, then add aloe vera juice to the top of the lines at the bottom of the jar....maybe 1-2 cups?  I fill to the top with OJ and shake...Oops, don't forget to put the lid on....

I do a roughly half and half juice mix with carbonated water in my recycled amber bottle and sip on it throughout the day.  The added minerals proved to be essential for helping me feel satisfied this past winter.  Apparently, my hunger cravings were really mineral cravings. Now that the weather is warmer...ok, sweltering hot...I have switched to the salt for the sodium.  If I am working outside, I may go thorough multiple "pints" in a day to stay hydrated.  The OJ has minerals, sugar and potassium for energy, the coconut water has electrolytes and amino acid similar to our blood and the aloe has lots of pro intestinal benefits plus vitamins and amino acids.  (There is a possibility that aloe should NOT be mixed with OJ...but I am not a fan of apple juice, so I choose to mix it in my OJ....it's not like I'm stubborn or anything.)  The carbonated water provides CO2 which helps oxygenate the brain and cells and contributes to bone health. Ray Peat has a discussion of that in his Altitude and Mortality article and Osteoporosis article.

2 comments:

  1. You may already have heard, but supposedly carbonation leaches calcium from the bones. I dont know if this belief applies to natural carbonation as a by product of fermentation or just man made carbo. Whatever makes you feel good !

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  2. Yes, I HAD heard that too...and so was naturally leery of introducing carbonation into my diet when it was recommended to me.

    I have since learned that the opposite is true.

    "Increased carbon dioxide favors bone formation, and decreased bicarbonate favors the loss of calcium from bone (Canzanello, et al., 1995; Bushinsky, et al, 2001). The use of sodium bicarbonate can stimulate bone formation."

    This is a quote from http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/calcium.shtml

    I suspect the "carbonation is bad" rumor came about from the effects of commercial soft drinks with their other questionable ingredients, but I am only guessing.

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