At this point in my “career” in the Health & Wellness field, if I had to pick one thing that I am know for, it would be this: 

Lemon Water on Waking

It’s the way I start my day, every . single . day. 365 days a year. Whether I’m at home or traveling. Whether I’m up at 4:30 am or  7:30 am. 

What does it mean?

1. 12+ oz of water first thing in the morning, before you eat or drink anything else. YES before your coffee. But you can be making the coffee as you’re drinking the water. 
2. Warm, not hot, but not cold or even cool.
3. With lemon, 1/2 T + to your taste. Fresh or bottled. (just watch for preservatives in bottled lemon juice) I use organic bottled lemon juice. I’ve been doing this YEARS and I started with fresh lemons, then found some would mold before I got to them and broke a few citrus juicers. I am sensitive to sulfites and other preservatives so the conventional bottled lemon juices are a no-go for me. The organic ones cost more, but are far cheaper in cost and time than fresh lemons.  
4. CHUG – don’t sip.

Why?

There are tons of reasons, well, 20 if you read this article!

Top 20 Benefits Of Having Lemon Water In The Morning

Here are my top 5:

#1 Hydration.

Whether you’re a mouth breather, snore, drool, or perfect sleeper you become dehydrated over night. Even if you sip water from your bedside table, you aren’t drinking enough to hydrate given the cleansing your body goes through during sleep. 

We wake in our most-dehydrated state. Drinking water to hydrate is the kick start to the next few reasons. Drinking warm is even more efficient as your body can absorb it immediately with out wasting time and energy to bring it to body temp. 

#2 Elimination…Poo. 

Yup, I said it. The rapid hydration, plus lemon water if you choose, brings water into your bowels and encourages your body to relax and GO.  The most-natural “cleanse”. Get rid of all the junk your body has been busy cleaning out all night. 

#3 Energy!

Hydration is key to energy! A side effect of dehydration is fatigue, muscle and mental. Many people find that when drinking the warm lemon water they don’t need as much coffee to feel energized in the morning. 

#4 Reduced food cravings

Another side effect of dehydration can be food cravings. We often mistake thirst for hunger. Thinking we’re hungry when we’re actually thirsty. Starting the day hydrated will help avoid the food craving/hunger/energy roller coaster.

#5 Bring on the heat!

Warming your body from the inside is much more effective than putting on a sweater and slippers. The water doesn’t have to be scalding, just warm enough that you can still drink it all at once. With in a few minutes your body temperature will increase which is awesome in the cooler months! 

 

Want more?? Watch my SimplyFIT & Fresh You Tube video about Lemon Water on Waking!