Summer running makes me sweat, and all that sweat makes me thirsty, really thirsty. At the end of my longer runs I find that my mouth and lips get all gummy and gross, especially if it’s really hot and humid. I’ve found that by the time my run is almost over I’m craving a few very specific drinks, all equally glorious in their own right. At some point I starting putting all of them together in varying combinations and ended up with a super tasty, refreshing, hydrating and healthy summer drink.

The main ingredients to this drink involve coconut water, fresh squeezed lime and seltzer. Coconut water adds a bit of natural sweetness, a soft and subtle flavor, as well as a good dose of potassium (make sure to get 100% coconut water as many brands add sugar and other ingredients).

I started drinking fresh squeezed lime juice and got obsessed. While I mainly add lime juice because I love its taste, limes also have great health benefits. The vitamin C in limes help in the absorption of iron and the building of collagen, has anti-inflammatory properties, and is involved in supporting the body’s immune system.

Seltzer has zero health benefits other than what typically belongs to water, but I’ve found that the carbonation in seltzer feels amazing as it dissolves away that “gummy” and gross feeling in my mouth. I use lime seltzer to help enhance the lime flavor, you could use whatever flavor you want or plain seltzer.

You’ll notice a couple smaller ingredients that I put into this drink. The salt and baking soda are a great way of boosting the electrolyte content in the drink. These two ingredients make it taste more “salty,” similar to what you would experience with a drink like Gatorade. Honey is obviously for sweetening things up!

The beauty of this recipe is how flexible it can be. I find that I’ll change the proportions depending on what my body is craving. More seltzer if my mouth needs the extra fizz, more limes if I’m craving extra fruitiness, or no honey if I’m not craving the sweetness. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!

Coconut Lime Ultimate Summer Hydration Drink

• 1 cup coconut water
• 2 fresh squeezed limes
• ¼ tsp salt
• ⅛ tsp baking soda
• 2 tbsp honey
• Ice
• 1 can lime seltzer
Combine all ingredients (except seltzer) in a 1 quart canning jar. Vigorously shake/stir to dissolve honey. Add seltzer and enjoy 😋
Makes 1 quart