Homemade Sports Training Drink
By: Dr. Skip Hellen ND, CNC (Health Doctor)  Rev. 11/15/2013

Sports drinks are sold as liquid and electrolyte replacing beverages. Many fall into the misleading even false claims and purchase commercially produced sports drinks. Unfortunately, most of these drinks are ladened with excessive amounts of sugar and other chemicals that have no place in the human body. the good news is anyone can create their own sports drink in a few short minutes with healthy fresh ingredients. Here's how, fresh squeezed some orange juice, add mineral water and honey, blended to individual preference. The ingredients are rich in electrolyte minerals (electrochemical transmission) including potassium (muscle contraction) and natural carbohydrates (sugar for sustained energy). When the training intensity gets grueling, a drink such as this helps keep the energy intensity up. Orange juice concentrate is optional but not nearly as healthy as fresh squeezed. Any water is optional but not nearly as healthy as mineral water. Any honey is optional but not nearly as healthy as organic, raw honey. 

Formula (Orange juice – Water – Honey)
Here is some data on 2 pints of diluted orange juice concentrate and honey.
· The drink contains enormous amounts of concentrated energy - nearly 600 calories = 142 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates
· Contains nearly 2,000 mg of potassium
· Potassium is crucial for muscle contractions and nerve transmission and is lost during hard, sweaty training sessions
· Replacing potassium losses through sweat from intense training is essential for maximum performance

This homemade formula of fresh orange juice, water and honey contains all natural ingredients and is much healthier especially at a time of intense biological need. It’s up to each individual bodybuilder as to what he or she prefers. Some may prefer just plain old water which is fine however it is best to keep the water pure absent chemicals such as the chlorine in tape water. It has always concerned me when I see highly trained athletes waltz up to the drinking fountain in the gym and guzzle down copious amounts of municipal tape water during intense training sessions. This practice is potentially extremely damaging to the body and should never be done. I used to be a professional tennis player and drank enormous amounts of municipal tape water especially on hot days. What was worse, we were in the habit of using empty tennis ball cans as drinking cups. Now I'm sure there were many dangerous chemicals in those tennis ball cans, but we didn't know any better at the time.    

Summary
It is essential to properly hydrate the body and replace lost electrolyte minerals while engaging in intense physical training/exercise. Not properly hydrating may will result in less than maximum performance as well as physical damage even serious injury. It is highly recommended that maximum performance and health benefits will only be achieved when hydration, electrolyte minerals and energy are maintained at peak levels during intense physical training. Intense physical training is great to keep the body at maximum performance and optimal health. Learning how to manage all the variable factors surrounding intense physical training can be complicated and confusing. UHRI can help put all these factors into context so that physical exercise of any kind can be fun while promoting optimal health.

"Illness and disease are optional, choose not to participate" ~ Dr. Skip Hellen

Important understanding
It’s important to understand that optimal health can only be achieved and maintained when nutritional, physical, and mental requirements are met resulting in systemic biological balance (homeostasis).

The following are the cornerstones of success with anything in life, make these qualities an important part of your life strategy and you will achieve excellence in anything you do. 

   Personal responsibility encourages excellence,
character requires personal excellence,
commitment advances positive action,
discipline strengthens personal power,
tenacity promotes success ~ Dr. Skip Hellen 

OPTIMAL HEALTH ACTION STEPS
1. (Develop) a strong sense of self respect and discipline
2. (Pledge) Take the "Declaration of Health Independence" pledge
3. (Test) Complete the health assessment test (establish a personal health baseline)
4. (Decide) Set a goal to achieve personal health excellence (optimal health)
5. (Education) Learn health principles how to achieve optimum health
6. (Heath Compass) Buy a pH litmus test kit, start testing frequently – keep a test result log
7. (Manage/Adjust) Change behavior habits for best results
8. (Commitment) Stay the course until achieving personal health excellence
9. (Mentor) Help another achieve personal health excellence

Since behavior habits and nutrition are critical components of human health and longevity, denial, shortcuts and misguided beliefs can be very costly not only in terms of lost monetary wealth but in compromised health leading to rapid aging, illness, disease and death. DON’T TAKE YOUR HEALTH FOR GRANTED. IF YOU DON’T TAKE PROPER CARE OF YOUR HEALTH, WHO WILL?

The important thing to remember is consumptive habits (foods) will form the foundation of either optimal health or illness and disease. The old saying "you are what you eat" is absolutely true when it comes to health.

Developing strong personal character (respect, belief, knowledge, discipline, commitment) are the cornerstones of all personal excellence accomplishments. Taking the "Declaration of Health Independence" pledges and adopting the behavior principles solidifies a vital first step on the road to optimal health success. These pledge commitments not only help develop the skills required to accomplish the goal but better define the path to personal health excellence. The second step is purchasing a litmus test kit to accurately monitor health progress. (see below for event test kit sale)

Perhaps the hardest part of achieving optimal health is changing unhealthy behavior habits to healthy habits.

YOU provide the Courage, Dedication, Commitment and Action,
UHRI will provide the EDUCATION/KNOWLEDGE and DIRECTION

To get health help and learn more about “Mastering the Secrets of Ultimate Health” and achieve personal health excellence goals, log onto the web site below. UHRI is ready, willing, and able to help everyone achieve optimal health.

Litmus test kits are on sale for $10 (Events Only)
(A litmus test kit is an absolute must for those who are serious about ultimate health)

To learn more information on how to resolve health problems or achieve personal health excellence, refer to UHRI at www.uhealthri.com. Educational classes, programs, mentors and consultants are ready to help you achieve all your health goals including optimal health. Contact UHRI Office at - 714-969-1681

Live long, happy, ultimately health and wise

Dr. Skip Hellen