It is brutally hot in Texas right now. I've lost track of how many days in a row it's gotten over 100 degrees. Needless to say, this is the season to manage Pitta, which means lots of fresh fruit, lentil salads, and cooling drinks.
In addition to drinking water, it’s also really important to replenish electrolytes in order to stay sufficiently hydrated. Most commercial electrolyte drinks are full of artificial colors, flavors, and refined sugar. But this Ayurvedic “gatorade” is a great way to replenish electrolytes naturally, and keep your body cool and hydrated.
I've been drinking variations of this drink at least once a day, to replenish electrolytes and stay both hydrated and cool. I'm especially enjoying the variation with coconut water, which is very cooling and rich in potassium.
While this drink is best chilled, I don't recommend adding ice, which will dilute the added minerals and can actually cool off the digestive fire excessively. Our digestion is already weakened when temperatures are hot, which is why our appetite generally lessens. Ice will further weaken our digestive fire and is therefore not recommended.
Cooling Ayurvedic Electrolyte Drink
V↓ P↓ K↔
Ingredients
4 cups water
1/2 teaspoon rock salt (himalayan pink or other similar)
3 teaspoons maple syrup or sucanat
fresh juice of two limes
Preparation
Stir together ingredients and enjoy! Store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Variations
Replace 2 cups of water with unsweetened coconut water. Because of the added natural sugar, you can reduce or eliminate the maple syrup/sucanat.
Add muddled mint leaves for an extra cooling effect and flavor.
Add sliced cucumber or fresh fruit for both flavor and micronutrients.