Nature's Blue Gatorade
Editor’s note: We routinely turn to energy drinks to replenish and rehydrate us, but are they actually good for us? Our sister site, Souk, has a few healthy alternatives worth trying—ones that don’t contain processed dyes or have the same sugar content.
Over to Souk…
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Let's be real, some of us MIGHT have a growing collection of all available motivational water bottles in the market, and some of us MIGHT be winning at meeting daily hydration goals. But between endless work deadlines, Day 1189675 of dragging ourselves to the gym, AND trying to protect whatever fraction of mental health we have left, there are moments when we could use a little extra boost of something just to keep going.
We will always, unreservedly, stand on the side of recipes that let us replace a much-loved or required commercial food or drink with a healthier version. (Major bonus points for recipes that require simple, easily available ingredients and come together in minutes. Got no time for elaborate experiments in the kitchen, bro.)
One of the big draws of Gatorade (coined for the eponymous Florida Gators football team) is its vibrant, radioactive colors—especially that not-usually-found-in-nature electric blue. It turned an elite sports drink into a massive pop-culture icon. And again let's be real, we’re all guzzling it down for the convenience, even though that high sugar content is engineered strictly for pro athletes training for long periods of endurance.
But we're not pro athletes. And we could easily do without the synthetic dyes, preservatives, and stabilizing agents, thank you very much. So when we spotted this recipe for a 'natural' gatorade on @gunambeauty (in turn inspired by @superfoodsguy), we had to share.
An energy-boosting, electrolyte-replenishing, antioxidant-rich, BLUE Gatorade alternative (with all the hydration goodness and colour of the original but none of the nasties) that can be made at home in minutes with clean, easily available all-natural ingredients?
YES, PLEASE.
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NATURE'S BLUE GATORADE
Ingredients:
1.5 cups Coconut Water (or 12 grams (1 scoop) Coconut Water powder in roughly 200-250ml of water)
1 Lime
1/2 Lemon
1/4 to 1/2 tsp Blue Spirulina (for a nutrient-packed, antioxidant-enriching pop of blue)
A pinch of Sea Salt
A dash of Raw Honey (OR) Agave Syrup (maybe skip if you're using coconut water powder which already has some sucrose in it)
Ice
Method:
Step 1: Juice out the lime and half a lemon into a tall glass.
Step 2: Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon (larger amounts can taste very earthy) of blue spirulina, a pinch of sea salt, and the dash of raw honey or agave syrup (if using).
Step 3: Stir or whisk these directly into the citrus juice to help blend the ingredients smoothly.
Step 4: Pour in the fresh coconut water (or the pre-mixed scoop of coconut water powder and water).
Step 5: Drop in a few cubes of ice, give it one final stir, and voila—we now pronounce you hydrated and refreshed!
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Known for its striking hue, Blue Spirulina (Phycocyanin) is rich in antioxidants, protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins B, C, E, K, iron, manganese, potassium, folate, and amino acids for improved well-being. We like that Gunam's Phycocyanin is both organic and vegan, and sourced from pristine algae farms in Ooniyoor, Tamil Nadu.
Price: Rs. 1,900
Ishka Farms' graded sea salt comes from the Tuticorin salt pans on India's long east coastline, which produce flavorsome salt from the sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean.
Sea salt, with its briny taste and coarse texture, lends a complex flavor profile to even the most ordinary recipes. Graded sea salt is sea salt sorted and separated by crystal or grain size through a screening process to ensure consistent crystal sizes. The uniform grains prevent unexpected large salt pockets in baking or cooking, and it retains small amounts of natural minerals like magnesium, potassium, and calcium that refined table salt loses.
Price: Rs. 220
This two-ingredient (dried coconut water powder and sucrose—to help keep the powder dry, free-flowing, and shelf-stable, act as a dissolving aid, and ensure a sweet and coconutty flavour profile) coconut water powder from Urban Platter is made from tender coconuts, which are believed to have more nutrients compared to mature coconuts.
We think a jar would be good to have on hand for when it may be hard to get access to fresh coconut water to add to smoothies, recipes like the one above, or even to simply drink mixed with water for a refreshing drink on warm days!
Price: Rs. 325
The Moonshine Honey Project is a sustainable craft honey brand and subsidiary of Moonshine Meadery—India’s first-ever meadery. They source 100% natural, raw, and unpasteurized honey in small batches directly from beekeepers across India.
We love how the variants developed by Moonshine aren’t just distinct in flavor, but also in the way they are harvested. For instance, while their Mustard, Acacia, and Sidr honeys are obtained through migratory beekeeping across shifting flowering seasons, this specific multifloral blend comes straight from their stationary Pune chapter. Here, the bee boxes remain anchored in one place, serving a dual purpose: capturing a unique local flavor profile while actively working to revive and support the local bee ecosystem.
Price: Rs. 650
This premium plant-based liquid sweetener made from 100% Blue Agave makes for a great sugar, honey or artificial sweetener alternative in beverages (coffee, tea, smoothies, and cocktails), desserts, breakfast foods (pancakes, waffles, yogurt, and granola), and baked treats.
We like that it has a mild caramel-like sweetness, is easier to pour and dissolve into hot or cold drinks as compared to some other syrups, has a lower glycemic index compared to regular sugar, and is completely plant-based with no unnecessary additives!
Price: Rs. 625
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For more stunning lists and recommendations, head over to our sister site, Souk!
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