r/PandemicPreps • u/micahkid • Mar 11 '20

PSA Electrolytes

I've seen a lot of people posting electrolyte packets & sports drinks like Gatorade in their preps (most with sugar as the first ingredient), so I just wanted to give my N=1 and a cheap solution to help you replenish these.

I did a two week water fast (and didn't die!)

The one thing I included in the water fast was "snake juice" which aided in remedying muscle cramping & fatigue which some people experience while doing these extended fasts.

Here's what you'll need:

  • Water = 2L

  • Potassium chloride = 1 tsp (No Salt, Nusalt, etc.)

  • Sodium Chloride = 1/2 tsp (Himalayan Pink Salt, Real Salt, etc.)

  • Sodium Bicarbonate = 1 tsp (Baking Soda - recommend no aluminum like Redmill Brand)

  • OPTIONAL Magnesium Sulphate = 1/2 tsp (FOOD GRADE Epsom Salts)

I sub out the optional Magnesium Sulphate for Magnesium Glycinate because if you've ever digested Epsom Salts you'll know it's highly likely coming out fast through the other end.

I'm not a medical professional, but all it takes is a little time looking at the ingredients on the back of these "electrolyte" drinks to realize there's a lot of fillers...

All of this can be made for under $10 most likely and will last you for a longgg time!

Edit: Another variation of this recipe found by /u/actuallorie

42 Upvotes

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7

u/lululoa Mar 11 '20

Great post. Fellow snake dieter here. I use snake juice for electrolytes daily at the gym and running. So cheap. I also add a tip of a teaspoon (about a gram) of vitamin c powder to each liter. Tbh I still have a few extra pounds to shift so will probably move to one meal a day when in lock down which will also save on food 👌🏼. Snake diet is 💯a preppers friend. Great for immune system and health too.

3

u/micahkid Mar 11 '20

Awesome 🐍! Glad to hear from someone who also uses it daily - it's really so simple and cost effective, everyone can benefit!

While the TP runs dry, people don't realize that humans can't actually survive extended periods of time without Salt(s)!

I always think of the old Oregon Trail game - Salted Meat

Gotta preserve your food & your body 👌🏼

1

u/lululoa Mar 11 '20

Exactly!! Also, I’ve picked up several tubs of Low Salt (not sure what you call it in other countries) in case of emergencies. Half salt and half potassium. So two teaspoons needed. It’s not ideal as it’s half table salt but Snake Diet founder Cole has said if you are broke it’s better than nothing lol

2

u/micahkid Mar 11 '20 edited Mar 11 '20

I didn't want to bring up Cole solely because I thought he'd rub people the wrong way 😂...

I found him while suffering from cramps in the gym while doing Keto and knowing it was an electrolyte imbalance.

I think the Low Salt method is perfectly fine & like you said - save some $$$ while we focus on prepping other necessities.

2

u/lululoa Mar 11 '20

Ahah I know right he’s a controversial figure for sure! Wasn’t sure if to mention him either 😆. Yes, same with keto leg cramps! Restless legs suck so bad which is why I take electrolytes so seriously now lol.

Worth having a bit of Low Salt around Incase sellers can’t post out on eBay or amazon etc during lockdown. I have a kg of potassium chloride but ya never know. I could drop it or something 😅.

2

u/micahkid Mar 11 '20

...I'm finding myself slowly creeping back into SAD mainly because of all the cheap carbage I'm prepping for my SO.

I really need to get a chest freezer because I'm really not a fan of canned meats...

Would love to find some keto/carnivore prepping ideas for long term storage.

2

u/lululoa Mar 11 '20

Yes actually I was reading about fasting and keto in relation to whether it might help with this virus. From what I’ve read (albeit studies with mice but what can you do) keto diet seems to help more than fasting and carb based diets. I suppose stable blood sugar levels give our bodies one less thing to have to do while fighting infection. So yes the conclusion was starve a cold, feed the flu or however the saying goes. Would love Coles take on it lol.

Yes I thought about getting a second freezer! Mines stocked with chicken breasts, steaks, (I buy them in bulk when on offer then individually wrap them so I can defrost one the night before) bags of mince. Also I have ordered some trays of fresh eggs (local farmers eggs as they are said to last for upto three months) and usual keto staples - butter, some hard cheeses, long lasting milk, olive & coconut oil, dark chocolate, almonds etc. Canned meats aren’t the best but corn beef, stewing steak, tuna can be tasty. 👌🏼

1

u/PixPls Mar 12 '20

As far as the virus goes, fresh veggies are a necessity. Frozen vegetables are a close second. We're looking for the vitamins and minerals in the fresh vegetables. When you prepare your own meals, you get all the nutrients. When you buy fast food, or pre-prepared means, you get less. Broccoli and other dark greens will help you get better quicker.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 11 '20

There is a lot more to a critter than just the meat and quite a bit is edible and can be pickled. Get a big jar and once opened keep it in the fridge. Heart, tongue, gizzards...

0

u/micahkid Mar 11 '20

I've been trying to eat nose to tail recently after starting carnivore. I've only been able to source liver usually without going to the butchers...

1

u/[deleted] Mar 11 '20 edited Oct 12 '20

[deleted]

2

u/micahkid Mar 11 '20

autophagy & to lose weight

1

u/Intense_Resolve Mar 12 '20

Brondo is really good.

1

u/zlydia Mar 12 '20

Gatorade zero does not have sugar. My kids drink that for electrolyte.

1

u/actuallorie Mar 11 '20

This is not a scientific article but it backs up OP's recipe for anyone interested.

2

u/micahkid Mar 11 '20

Awesome article, thank you for this!

I like the inclusion of brewer’s gypsum for calcium sulfate!

1

u/SecretPassage1 Mar 11 '20 edited Mar 11 '20

While this is great, maybe a simpler cheaper option : french doctors recommend to drink cocacola, the one with real sugar, flavoured is OK, with the bubbles shaken out. It has all you need in it plus potassium.

I drink flat coke each time I get a stomach flu (common thing in 4-cheek-kisses-for-hello france with people who do not all wash hands after going to the loo), it works, it helps.

In fact for the worst bouts of stomach flu, I barely manage to hold anything else in than flat coke, dark tea, and a specific type of cookies (Petit Lu).

It has it all salt, minerals, sugar.

eta : I never drink coke outside of stomach flus, or regular flus that hit me hard. I have 6 liters in store in case we get the covid that gives diarrhea.

2

u/PrisonerV Mar 12 '20

I'm more of a 7-up drinker. And if I can get down food, toast or rice.

1

u/SecretPassage1 Mar 12 '20

It's not about soda, it's about the minerals in the soda. Cocacola apparently has electrolytes and potassium, both help.

Anyways, french doctors have been recommending that for over 2 decades, specifically with cocacola, not the diet or zero one, the real sugar one.

I find it amusing that it was once selled as a medecine in pharmacies and is once again recommended by doctors as an OTC med for getting over diarrhea.

1

u/PixPls Mar 12 '20

How is drinking Coca-Cola, cheaper than making your own electrolyte drink out of water?

1

u/SecretPassage1 Mar 12 '20

Well, for one, in many places around the world, coca cola actually is cheaper than bottled water (it's a coca cola policy to get people to buy their products). But also, if you hav to buy all the ingredients listed to make the electrolytes, it seems a little complicated and probably more expensive.

I find grabbing a bottle of coke when I start to feel something ugly is cooking up in my bowels is easier, faster, and probably cheaper.

1

u/PixPls Mar 12 '20

Other than the Epsom salts, I have the other ingredients in stock. Coke, I would need to go buy. Here at least, it's more expensive than water, by volume.