Lately, I’ve been a little obsessed with electrolyte-enhanced water. The other day, there was a sale at the store–10 bottles for $10–and my eyes did that whirly jackpot thing, cartoon character-style. What’s going on here?

Water with electrolytes isn’t exactly new–it flowed (heh) into the mainstream bottled-water scene about five years ago, and now you can find it on shelves in just about every grocery store. Electrolyte-enhanced waters have things like potassium and sodium added to them, which help your body absorb the water more quickly. These electrolytes are helpful in preventing dehydration, so they’re especially useful during and after intense workouts. But filtered tap water is A-OK for shorter workouts and day-to-day hydration.

So is it necessary to invest in bottles of the stuff? You can actually DIY a version of your own electrolyte-enhanced water using things you probably already have in your kitchen. Dr. Oz’s site features a recipe from Bob Harper with four ingredients: water, agave nectar, sea salt, and baking soda (WebMD has a similar recipe).Filling a water bottle about halfway with citrus juice–which contains potassium–and distilled water, plus pinches of salt and honey, can make an electrolyte-infused drink, too.

Of course, doing it yourself won’t be exactly like the stuff on the shelves–brands like SmartWater, for example, are also “vapor-distilled,” and most brands are also flavorless–but as someone who’s shelled out more than she probably needs to on bottles to drink post-workout, I love having these cheaper options at the ready.

Do you drink electrolyte-enhanced water–or just go for the regular stuff? Are you a sportsdrink fan?