For optimal health, the very first thing to consume in the morning is a glass of lemon water. This is an ancient tradition that is renowned for many benefits. It sounds simple enough, but here are some important tips to make sure you are maximizing the impact:
1. Use warm water. Do NOT use hot water. You should be able to put your finger in the water. If the water is too hot, it will denature or deactivate the beneficial enzymes from the lemon (and apple cider vinegar). NOTE: I like to put salt and cinnamon in a mug and then add hot water… and the cool mug will bring down the temperature to a safe point (test it with your finger). If it’s too hot, just add a bit of cool water.
2. Add apple cider vinegar (ACV). Just a tablespoon or a splash. This is similar in benefits to the lemon. ACV is recommended in almost all health protocols, being used in many different ways. It is important that you get a good raw ACV that contains the ‘mother.’ ACV is also very cheap, so it is an inexpensive way to aid our health.
3. Add half a lemon, and squeeze the juice out of it. I squeeze it and sometimes leave the lemon peel in the cup. I use half a lemon, even if my lemons are small. Most guidance recommends a full lemon, but I find this to be an unnecessary hassle and cost. Use organic lemons if possible. If they are truly organic, you don’t have to worry about cleaning them. I just rinse mine, but you can use some baking soda in water if you want to clean them better. If we have truly organic food, we do not want to clean it, because we actually want to get the natural microbes from the soil and plants.
4. Add some Himalayan pink salt. Add as much as you can take without making it taste horrible. The salt can really make it taste a lot better.
5. Add some ceylon cinnamon. Cinnamon is a healthy spice, but it should be ceylon, as the other types of cinnamon contain some unhealthy compounds. Enjoy as much of this cinnamon as you like in your lemon water.
6. Optional: Add a touch of cayenne pepper for an added boost. This is very healthy, but don’t ruin the taste!
7. Optional: Add a some honey, but make sure it is a good honey. This can also be beneficial and makes the lemon water very delicious in my opinion.
8. Don’t be afraid to add other spices to flavor it as you wish!
- Sip the lemon water like tea. Do not guzzle it. If you don’t mind the taste, swish it around and/or hold it in your mouth a bit. It is great for oral health too. Allow yourself at least 5 or 10 minutes to drink it. I usually take about 15 or 20 minutes (but it doesn’t taste as good once it gets cold).
- Rinse your mouth well after you finish drinking your lemon water. Anytime you eat fruit or other acidic foods, you should rinse well to protect your teeth. The lemon water cleans them, but it also softens the enamel, so you do NOT want to brush after that. Give your mouth a good rinse.
- Wait 5 minutes before eating anything else. If you took your time drinking it, then it doesn’t really matter. But you want your body to have some time to absorb the lemon water and get your digestive system in high gear. I do my exercise after drinking it. Then I eat breakfast (bone tea, kefir, etc.).
Enjoy!
