Ditch the commercial sports drinks and artificial protein bars - Try economical, nourishing and handmade varieties instead

(NaturalNews) In a rather sad and ironic state of affairs, individuals exercising to improve health and fitness often fall into the trap of neon colored sport drinks and sugary protein bars with questionable ingredients -- believing these products support ultimate vitality and strength. Unfortunately, these 'foods' compromise true health and also tend to rack up a hefty grocery bill. But making your own at home is far easier than you might imagine and affordable to boot.Most sport enhancement foods contain odd ingredients that insidiously destroy health. High fructose corn syrup, artificial colors and flavors, fractionated palm kernel oil, genetically modified organisms and, unbelievably, flame retardant in the form of brominated vegetable oil are frequently found in sport recovery/endurance products. The problem is, these foods are convenient -- just grab and go. So often we sacrifice health (and taste) for a quick boost. Yet, there is a painless resolution to this dilemma: Make your own and save your cash, health and taste buds.The Chicago Tribune article, "Sports drinks: How to make your own," offers several simple, inexpensive recipes for recovery drinks. According to registered dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner, refueling beverages need three elements: water, electrolytes and carbohydrates. Just make sure to use purified water, organic ingredients and high quality Himalayan or Celtic sea salt for maximum nutritional benefit.

Electrolyte replacement drink from Yoga Journal

4 cups hot water
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tsp honey
1/4 tsp salt

Combine all ingredients and chill before consuming.

Organic sports drink from Kitchen Table Medicine

Organic fruit juice

Water or green tea

Organic sea salt

Fill sports bottle with half juice and half water. Add a pinch of sea salt and shake.

Thrive sports drink (Raw)

Juice of 1/2 lemon
Juice of 1/4 lime
3 dates
2 cups water
1 Tsp agave nectar
1 tsp coconut oil
Sea salt to taste

Place all the ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.

In addition, unsweetened coconut water with a pinch of sea salt is a basic, electrolyte-rich recovery drink.

Now, onto the protein bars. Here we can really get creative. Anna Sward of Protein Pow(d)er offers the following recommendations and recipes:

"For each recipe below, bind the powder, flour and other ingredients with milk [coconut, almond or hemp varieties are healthy choices]. You can also use a nut butter. The goal is to have a batter that comes together like a dough which can be easily formed into bars. Next, melt 90-100 percent dark chocolate over low heat -- enough to coat the bars, about 40 grams. Once coated, place the bars in the freezer for at least 30 minutes."

Again, organic ingredients are recommended.

Orange and goji berry whey protein bars

1/2 cup organic, unflavored or vanilla whey protein power
3/4 cup ground almonds
1/4 cup coconut flour
3/4 cup goji berries
1/4 cup coconut milk
1 Tsp vanilla essence
1 Tsp grated orange rind
1 tsp of chili power

The incredible red velvet pumpkin seed protein bars

2 small cooked beets
1/2 cup of vanilla whey
1/4 cup of coconut flour
1/4 cup of milk
1 Tsp organic pumpkin seed butter (or peanut or almond butter)

Using the recipes above as a foundation, it's easy to play and experiment, modify and adapt handmade protein bars and sports drinks to fit specific tastes and needs. We are also liberated from expensive and bizarre products. In the end, it's an economical, nutritious and tasty win-win solution.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.naturalnews.com/038869_Gatorade_BVO_flame_retardants.html

http://www.bodybuilding.com

http://www.abqjournalfit.com

http://articles.chicagotribune.com

http://everydaypaleo.com/natural-homemade-paleo-sportss-drink-recipe/

http://www.youbars.com/buildabar/

http://www.elementbars.com

About the author:
Carolanne enthusiastically believes if we want to see change in the world, we need to be the change. As a nutritionist, natural foods chef and wellness coach, Carolanne has encouraged others to embrace a healthy lifestyle of organic living, gratefulness and joyful orientation for over 13 years. Through her website www.Thrive-Living.net she looks forward to connecting with other like-minded folks who share a similar vision.

Follow on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/Thrive_Living

For Pinterest fans, connect here: www.pinterest.com/thriveliving/natural-news/

Read her other articles on Natural News here:

http://www.naturalnews.com/Author1183.html

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