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Basil Seed Electrolyte Drink is a great way to replenish the body during busy days, hot weather or workouts. In addition to all the great electrolytes this recipe provides through minerals, basil seeds provide a lectin-free source of protein, energy, fiber and overall sustenance!
Busy running around town? Make this drink before you leave the house to keep yourself going strong!
Or mix up a batch before work to prevent that energy dip between meals!
This recipe is Keto, Paleo, Vegan, Ancestral and great for most diets.
What are the benefits of basil seeds
As you may already know, or may have guessed, basil seeds are a lot like chia seeds, but they’re better!
Basil seeds provide a sustained boost of energy, help with constipation and aid in detoxing the body.
A great time to make this drink is when you’re hot or running around, busy or traveling. You get sustenance from the seeds, and electrolytes from the smartly fortified liquid.
Basil seeds:
- are a source of prebiotics, which feed good flora in the colon
- reduce estrogen (not ideal for everyone, but ideal for many in our modern world, overloaded with xenoestrogens)
- are considered to have healing properties in India and Thailand
- contain a lot of soluble fiber, may help with detoxing, constipation and regularity
- are high in Vitamin K
- contain more electrolytes than chia seeds: magnesium, calcium and potassium
- have a lovely basil flavor, fruity and fun in many culinary settings, including sweet treats and refreshing drinks
- are lectin-free! (unlike chia seeds)
In addition to being a fun novelty to add drinks and bowls, basil seeds are a concentrated source of protein that balance the digestion of our other nutrients.
By adding basil seeds to our electrolyte drink, we slow the digestion of sugars. The potential carbs in the the drink itself and any other food we eat alongside are delivered to the body more gently and slowly — for a gradual steady release of energy from our food.
Digestion of electrolytes is also regulated.
One tablespoon (13g) of basil seeds contains: 60 calories, 7g carbs, 7g fiber, 2g protein and 2.5g fat. (No net carbs.)
Learn more about what basil seeds are and how to eat them here.
Caution: Basil seeds are not ideal for most pregnant women or those trying to conceive, because they can lower estrogen levels.
Ingredients in Basil Seed Electrolyte Drink
Water, electyrolytes, fresh citrus juice, sweetener, optional ginger — and basil seeds — create this nourishing fun drink:
- electrolytes — Sea salt and potassium chloride help to restore what’s lost from sweating, workouts or time in the sun.
- fresh lemon or lime juice — Citrus tastes great, but it also helps the body to assimilate hydration.
- optional sweetener — For non-Keto, maple syrup is the best sweetener to restore glycogen lost from muscles and provide fresh energy. For Keto, stevia or your favorite low carb sweetener are good options. However, no sweetener at all is needed. Sometimes a brisk drink of gingery citrus water is more awakening! If you’re not exercising, sweating or in the sun, you might like your electrolyte water not sweet.
- freshly grated ginger — Ginger aids digestion of water and electrolytes, and it tastes delicious.
- basil seeds
How to make Basil Seed Electrolyte Drink
Just fill your jar or water bottle, add the other ingredients, then shake or stir — and you’re done. Easy to mix up and go, or mix up and drink!
But, if you want to drink it immediately, sorry: You do need to wait a minimum of 15 minutes for your basil seeds to soften.
Can you ferment (or pre-digest) the basil seeds
Yes, for those of you who enjoy Ancestral eating, or supporting digestion, you may wish to pre-digest your basil seeds. Fermenting doesn’t just make basil seeds gentler to digest, it makes their nutrients more accessible, so basil seeds become more nutritious.
The good news is: everyone who makes this recipe will soak their basil seeds long enough for some predigestion to occur — without even meaning to! Just 15 minutes of soaking begins the process, and that’s required for basil seeds to soften and gel before being eaten.
30 minutes or longer has greater benefits. 2 hours or longer is ideal for the full benefits.
Basil seeds are naturally lectin-free, but long soaking does release beneficial nutrients and digestive enzymes from basil seeds.
Read more about soaking seeds here: Which Seeds Should Be Soaked for Eating.
How much in advance can you make Basil Seed Electrolyte Drink
If you like planning ahead or have leftovers, Basil Seed Electrolyte Drink lasts well in the fridge for 3 days.
Basil Seed Electrolyte Drink
Equipment
- water bottle or any bottle or glass
Ingredients
- 16 ounces water
- 1-½ Tablespoons liquid sweetener of choice maple syrup is best for replenishing during exercise; for Keto, low carb sweetener of choice, including stevia, to taste; OR sweetener may be omitted, if preferred; honey may be used for GAPS.
- 1 Tablespoon lime juice or lemon (or 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar)
- 1 Tablespoon basil seeds
- optional 1 to 2 teaspoons ginger root freshly grated, to taste or ¼ teaspoon ginger tincture
- 1/16 teaspoon sea salt or "50/50 salt": salt AND potassium chloride - 1/32 teaspoon of each
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in water bottle, jar with lid or mason jar with lid. Seal and shake well. (Or, to use a glass, whisk ingredients together.)
- Wait a minimum of 15 minutes for basil seeds to soften, absorb water and gel. Shake again. Enjoy, or wait and drink later. Basil Seed Electrolyte Drink may be stored in the fridge overnight before drinking, too. (This will only make the seeds gentler and more nutritious.)
Notes
Nutrition
You can Pin Basil Seed Electrolyte Drink here:
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Pro tip
Need an added energy boost mid-morning, midday or in the afternoon? Take two cordyceps capsules (these), with your Basil Seed Electrolyte Drink, for deep energy and strength that’s MUCH better than coffee (or dangerous energy drinks), for a natural, truly healthy boost.
My husband does this daily and doesn’t have to drink caffeine like most Americans to keep going at work.
Use code BEAUTIFUL10 at checkout for 10% off your entire order, cordyceps here.
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