This refreshing sports drink (a spin-off of traditional iskiate) was specially crafted for my awesome hubby, who is an avid competitive cyclist. So staying hydrated and fully energized is super important for him, especially on race day and on long rides.
I know there’s no shortage of “healthy” sports drinks out there – but just take one look at the labels and you’ll know why I felt the need to create something REAL and nourishing for my guy!
So whether you’re a cyclist, runner, hiker, surfer or some other variety of exercise enthusiast, this drink provides a healthy boost of hydration and nutrition in every sip!
Ingredients
- 16-20 oz filtered water
- 1 organic green tea bag (or infuser filled with 1-2 tsp loose green tea)
- 2 tbsp fresh-squeezed lemon juice (or lime)
- 1 tbsp raw honey
- Pinch of Celtic sea salt
- 2 tbsp Chia Seed Gel (see recipe below)
Instructions
- Boil 16-20 ounces of water and add to large glass.
- Add tea bag/infuser and allow to steep 5-7 minutes.
- Remove tea bag/infuser and allow tea to cool until lukewarm. (You want the tea to be lukewarm before adding the lemon juice and raw honey, so they retain their naturally beneficial nutrients and enzymes.)
- Then, add lemon juice, honey and sea salt. Stir well to combine.
- Place in frig to chill.
- Once cold, stir in chia gel until dissolved and serve.
Notes
This recipe calls for green tea, a healthier caffeine choice. For a caffeine-free version, you can simply skip the tea altogether and just add all of the ingredients to room temp water (or for an added nutritional boost use coconut water or water kefir). Then chill and add chia seed gel once the juice mixture is cold.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 2/3 cup filtered water (room temp)
Instructions
- Mix seeds and water together.
- Allow to stand 2-3 minutes. Stir again.
- Allow to stand for 12-15 more minutes, until chia seeds form a nice gel.
- Store gel covered in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
- Use chia gel in any beverage you'd like to give a nutritional boost to, such as smoothies, honey-sweetened lemonade, kombucha, etc.
just what I’m looking for. I think. –question: how does your husband feel about it? does it work as well as other goo’s, gels, etc. for the long rides where you need something more than Gatorade-like drinks? looking for a recipe to sustain me through a half marathon. thanks!
Hi, Denise! Thanks for your inquiry. Here’s what my hubby had to say and he’s very serious about these issues because he’s a competitive cyclist. He uses chia seeds (in drink form and in his food, like in his morning granola) as a natural hydration booster daily. He doesn’t use Chia during a race, but again uses it pre- and post-exercising as a hydration booster.
As far as improving hydration and maintaining adequate electrolyte balance during the actual race (or in your case, marathon), he recommends avoiding sugar-based beverages such as Gatorade and all like products. Instead, he recommends using Hammer Nutrition for during-the-race hydration because it’s all-natural (no refined sugar and artificial ingredients) and is specifically formulated for endurance athletes who are concerned about not just performance, but their overall health. The product he uses is called Heed (used to replace electrolytes and maintain hydration).
As far as performance gels, these are used as you know, for calorie/energy during races. He again recommends Hammer gels because again, they aren’t sugar-based and are all-natural specifically formulated for endurance. However, he also recommends that for anything over two hours (which a marathon generally is) that you use a product called Perpetuem instead. Here’s the website, so you can research this and see if you believe these products will work for you as well: http://www.hammernutrition.com/fuels-energy-drinks/
As a disclaimer, we are not affiliates of Hammer and do not receive anything in the form of money or product from Hammer. My husband is just sharing this with you because he has been using their products for years and has seen firsthand how they’ve helped him improve in his performance without any ill health impact. Hope this helps! Blessings, Kelly 🙂
My husband is a competitive cyclist also. We avoid the commercial goos. His “magic formula” is beet juice, juiced lemon, chia and maple syrup. You have quick and slow burning fuels, lemon for lactic acid build up and beet juice has been shown to enhance performance. I blend in the vitamix so it’s smoother and easier to consume. Coconut water is also one of the best electrolyte options.
That’s awesome, Anna! Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
I was wondering if you could please also share your beet chia recipe or email it to me 🙂 THanks
Hi, Angela. I do not have a beet chia recipe? Perhaps you’re thinking of another site. Blessings, Kelly 🙂
Thank you for this recipe. Can you make a big batch of this and leave in your refrigerator and if so how long will it last? Thank you in advance
Hi, Nicole. The longest we’ve had this in the frig is about 3 days. But keep in mind, it’s best (raw lemon juice or any raw juice for that matter) when consumed within 12 hours, as that’s when the nutrients are most potent. Blessings, Kelly
I tried these energy drinks recipe and it works just awesome. It is far better than all those chemical flavored energy drinks in the market. Thanks for sharing.
You are so welcome! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a kind note! Blessings to you, Kelly 🙂