I've read in several places how you really need some kind of Gatorade-type drink for runs over an hour long. I don't really care for all of the extra stuff they put in Gatorade so I was wondering if anyone has any healthier alternatives. I saw on a healthy cooking show the other day that coconut milk has electrolytes. ??? I've also read that milk is a good post-workout drink, but I'm clearly not going to be chugging milk in the middle of a marathon. I'm looking for something with no artificial sweeteners or high fructose corn syrup, or corn syrup at all for that matter, or dyes.

Thanks!

Kara

What about propel fitness water, it is like 10 calories for a big jug. I dont think it has corn syrup in it for that low of calories

Kara, I like Crystal Light Hydration. It has sodium and electrolytes without the calories. It comes in a little tube that you dump into your water bottle and is only 5 calories.

If you can't find it at your grocery store, Amazon has it in two flavors, berry and lemonade: Crystal Light Hydration

ETA: Oops, I think it has artificial sweeteners. Sorry!

Kara you can get your electrolytes out of your food! if you are eating a healthy diet...and we know you are! I really doubt you have anything to worry about. Grab a granola bar. I know you are training hard but I think...and I could be wrong here...we all know I often am! that you don't have anything to worry about...now maybe, if you were doing the IRONMAN...?

Thanks for the suggestions, all!

I'm not totally against artifical sweeteners, Meg, but I find that they don't agree with my belly before or during a run.

Thanks for the info, Gary! I'll have to do some more research on the food angle.

Kara

Well, after research I realized that I was wrong...what! ME!!

When Angie and I trained for our marathon some of the folks got a little carried away with the electrolyte thing...maybe it's a little more of an issue than I thought!

I PM'd KARA so don't worry gals...we aren't going to lose her to dehydration!!

Yeah, you're stuck with me.

Kara

Just found this...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12056182

Now to figure out how to carry a load of coconut water around on race day...

Kara

Don't forget to put the "Lime in the coconut and drink a bowl up!" hehe...okay, may age is showing...

They make electrolyte capsules/tablets that some runners use... I've never used them, but I'm sure you could pick some up in a running or maybe nutrition store.

If you need sugar as well, you could drink some watered-down fruit juice or something, to get completely natural sugars.

I did check out the gel but it had just as much junk as Gatorade does. I wonder if the tablets or capsuls are better. And I also wonder how they're tolerated by the belly. Anyone ever use them?

Kara

It has artificial sweeteners.

Diva, I actually tried lime in fresh baby coconut and it was NASTY!!!

LOL! It's a 70's song girlfriend.

Anybody seen "Beetlejuice"????

Kara