On hot summer days, you’re more at risk for becoming dehydrated and depleted or imbalanced in important minerals. Try these suggestions for getting more of these essential nutrients, without the sugar typically found in many electrolyte replacement beverages.
Several years ago, my mother, who was in her 90s, became dehydrated and depleted in electrolytes after a bad case of intestinal flu. She was treated with intravenous electrolyte replacement in the emergency room, and the physician recommended electrolyte replacement drinks for her.
She followed a sugar-free diet, so I researched alternatives to commercial electrolyte drinks that contain sugar, artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, and additives. Within about a week, my mother told me that drinking the sugar-free electrolyte replenishment beverages—cactus water, in particular—made her feel more alert and energized than water alone….