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Four flavors of homemade nature's gatorade in mason jars with a white background.

Nature's Gatorade (Homemade Electrolyte Drink)

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5 from 8 reviews

Description

This homemade electrolyte drink, lovingly known as "Nature's Gatorade," is a refreshing, energizing way to hydrate using just clean, nourishing ingredients. It delivers key minerals your body needs to support hydration at the cellular level without any refined sugars, dyes or additives. Simple to make, totally customizable and absolutely delicious, this is a natural solution that truly works!

Ingredients

Units Scale

Base Ingredients for All Flavors

  • 1 cup unsweetened coconut water
  • optional: 1-2 teaspoons pure maple syrup (for added sweetness)
  • 1/8-1/4 teaspoon unrefined mineral salt
  • choice of 1 lemon or 2 limes yielding 1/4 cup juice (see flavors below)
  • choice of fruits/veggies (see flavors below)
  • 2-3 cups ice cubes (for serving)

Wild Blueberry:

  • 1/2 cup frozen unsweetened wild blueberries (or sub 1 cup fresh blueberries)
  • 1 large juicy lemon, juiced

Watermelon Lime:

  • 2 cups watermelon, chopped
  • 2 limes, juiced

Cucumber Lime:

  • 1 cup cucumber, chopped
  • 2 limes, juiced

Green Apple:

  • 1 cup green apple, chopped
  • 2 lemons, juiced

Honeydew (no need to strain):

  • 2 cups chopped honeydew
  • 2 limes, juiced

Apple Cider (no blending or straining)

  • 1 cup unsweetened apple cider
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • optional: sprinkle of cinnamon and/or nutmeg and garnish with fresh apple slices for cozy fall vibes

Cherry-Limeade 

  • 1/2 cup fresh cherries, (8-9 pitted fresh cherries) [frozen cherries can work but the flavor is better with fresh]
  • 2-3 limes juiced (1/4 cup fresh lime juice) [lemon juice also works well here]

Strawberry Lemonade

  • 3 strawberries, hulled
  • 2 whole lemons, peeled (you will blend the entire lemon without the peel and still also add the juice of one lemon as listed above as a base ingredient)

Kiwi 

  • 3-4 kiwi, skin removed and center removed (no black seeds or skin for the best texture and flavor)
  • 3 lemons, juiced

Blue Lemon-Limeade 

  • 1/4 teaspoon blue spirulina
  • extra fresh lemon and lime juice to taste

Dragonfruit Lemonade

  • 1/3 cup fresh or frozen dragonfruit
  • 4 lemons, juiced

Strawberry Peach

  • 1 cup frozen or fresh peaches
  • 2 extra lemons (3 total), juiced
  • 3 fresh strawberries, grated using this grater plate [place the strawberry puree at the bottom of the glass then layer with crushed ice and then the lemon, coconut water, maple syrup, salt strained blend)

Strawberry Blue Lemonade July 4th Electrolyte Drink

  • 2 extra lemons (3 total), juiced
  • 1/2 teaspoon blue spirulina
  • 5 fresh strawberries, grated using this grater plate [place the strawberry puree at the bottom of the glass then layer with crushed ice and then the peach, lemon, coconut water, maple syrup, salt strained blend)

Instructions

  1. Blend all ingredients (except the ice) in a high-speed blender for 1 minute. Add maple syrup if you like it sweet like traditional Gatorade. No need to blend or strain the blue lemon-limeade, July 4th strawberry lemonade or apple cider flavor (just stir/whisk). For layered drinks do not blend the first layer of fruit puree into the main drink. Place in the bottom of your glass and layer with crushed ice and then the strained, blended drink. 
  2. Pour the drink through a mini strainer over a glass filled with ice. Fill to the top, then use a glass straw to stir and chill. Enjoy immediately! See the notes in this recipe card below and see the full blog post write up above this recipe card for why these ingredients help with proper hydration and energy.

Equipment

Notes

A note about electrolytes: I don’t recommend skipping or substituting the coconut water - it’s the key ingredient that delivers a natural blend of electrolytes like potassium, magnesium, and sodium, which are essential for proper hydration. Electrolytes help direct water into your cells (not just your bladder!), making hydration more effective. Watermelon adds even more hydration and a natural boost of potassium and magnesium, making this combo extra refreshing and energizing.

Don’t skip the salt either! I recommend starting with 1/8 teaspoon of high-quality mineral salt (like Redmond Real Salt) and adjusting to taste. My kids prefer it less salty, but I’ll go up to 1/4 teaspoon after a workout. The salt helps round out the electrolyte profile and supports better fluid absorption.

  • Prep Time: 5
  • Category: Drinks
  • Method: Blender

Find it online: https://www.eatingbyelaine.com/natures-gatorade-homemade-electrolyte-drink/