I used to buy sports drinks all the time, but it always bugged me that they never really had enough of the good stuff. Gatorade? Barely any magnesium, not nearly enough potassium, and just a sprinkle of salt. The only “premium” packets I’ve seen that get close are those Element powders, but those things are pricey. I wanted something cheap and effective—so I started making my own.
It all began when I bought this little digital pocket gram scale off Amazon for about ten bucks (link). This thing is tiny, accurate, and it measures below a gram, which blew my mind. Ever since I got it, I’ve been weighing everything—any powder supplement I buy gets the scale treatment now. Honestly, it’s probably one of the best “investments” I’ve made in terms of health tools.
Then came the minerals:
- Potassium Citrate (link) – gentle on the stomach, dissolves well, and I snagged a massive 1,167-serving bag for about $20. Each scoop gives me 300 mg, which is perfect for bumping up the potassium that sports drinks always skimp on.
- Magnesium Glycinate (link) – this one I take at night because it’s insanely calming. I’m not going to say it makes me sleep like a rock instantly, but I will say it doubles how quickly I relax and helps me drift off easier. Way smoother than the other types of magnesium that can wreck your stomach.
From there, I just add plain old salt (sometimes iodized, sometimes not—whatever’s in the kitchen). Mix it all in with a packet of flavoring—lemonade, fruit punch, whatever I’m in the mood for. Pro tip: stay away from already-salty mixes like Gatorade powder, because the added salt on top will make it taste like you’re drinking the ocean.
Cost Breakdown
Here’s where it gets fun—because this DIY mix is dirt cheap compared to buying bottles or packets.
- Potassium Citrate → $20 for 1,167 servings = 1.7¢ per 300 mg serving
- Magnesium Glycinate → $20 for 135 servings = 14.8¢ per 210 mg serving
- Salt → basically free (pennies for hundreds of servings)
- Scale → $10 one-time
So a big 24–32 oz bottle of DIY hydration (300 mg potassium + ~600 mg sodium + optional flavor packet) costs me about 2¢ a serving. If I throw in magnesium, it’s still under 10¢ total. Compare that to Element packets at $1+ each—or even a regular Gatorade—and the savings add up fast.
To put it in perspective:
- Potassium bag lasts ~3 years if I use it daily.
- Magnesium bottle lasts ~4.5 months if I take it nightly.
My Routine
Daytime: I’ll throw potassium + salt + flavor packet in my water bottle. That’s my all-day drink, cheaper and stronger than anything I can buy at the store.
Nighttime: I keep magnesium separate, because once you push past 200–300 mg in a drink, the taste shifts hard and gets bitter. I just take it quick with water before bed, and it works wonders for winding down.
Honestly, this whole thing started because I just didn’t want to pay for overpriced sports drinks. But it’s turned into one of those habits that sticks—because it works, it’s cheap, and I actually feel better hydrated. The scale was the little gateway that made it possible. And now, I kind of laugh when I see people loading up on $3 Gatorades when I know my bottle cost me pennies and actually has the minerals my body wants.