Not only does it cost virtually nothing to make a homemade sports drink, especially if you have plenty of sugar and salt in your pantry already, but — just like Gatorade — it has the backing of scientists. A study involving 14 endurance athletes found measurable benefits from drinking sugar water before and during a three-hour bicycle ride (via Bicycling). The study compared to water with either sucrose or glucose added and with no salt. (Sucrose fared a little better than glucose because it includes two different types of sugar, which gives the body more options for absorption). “Carbohydrates are the cheapest part of the sports drink. We pay for the bottle, added flavors, and any number of added ingredients,” said Leslie Bonci, a sports nutritionist, about purchasing brand name sports drinks. She added, “Sugar water is not fancy but can be as effective, and if you add a couple of shakes of salt you have a drink that’s comparable to a sports drink at a fraction of the cost.” Bicycling offers some simple recipes for homemade sports drinks. They typically call for adding 5 tablespoons of sugar and a 1/4 teaspoon of salt to your water bottle. Add lemon and lime, coconut water, honey, and even a little juice for more flavor.