3 Reasons to Drink Lemon Water Every Morning (Plus a Hack to Make It Really Easy!)
Starting your day with a glass of lemon water is a simple, meaningful way to honor both your body and mind. Not only does it have great health benefits (hello glowy skin; oh hi happy digestive system), but it becomes almost ritualistic, like a more nutritious cup o' joe.
If you've read the Designing Happiness series you know how important creating a morning routine is, and there is a reason drinking lemon water is a recommendation.
You can read about some of the benefits of drinking warm lemon water here, but it contains many immune boosting nutrients like Vitamin C, helps keep your skin looking fresh, and can help to kick start your digestion in the morning. While there is a bit of controversy over whether or not lemon water can help to balance the pH levels in your body, the general consensus is it still offers many of the other above-mentioned perks.
The "Recipe"
Ok, there's not really a recipe here, as it's as simple as the juice of 1/2 a lemon in ~ 8 oz warm water.
Literally just cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice* before pouring it into your glass each morning. (Or if you're looking for a quick and easy way to build this into your routine, read on for a genius lemon water hack!)
Tip: Be sure to drink your lemon water through a straw to help prevent damaging your tooth enamel. Rainbow straws are best of all.
Why warm water?
Because warm (not hot and not cold) is the ideal lemon water temperature for the magic vitamins and minerals to be most potent.
Top 3 Reasons to Drink Lemon Water Every Morning
It makes you feel good.
It makes you look good.
It tastes (& smells) good.
1. It Makes You Feel Good
From aiding digestion to boosting your immune system, lemons in general have a lot of great health benefits.
Since we get dehydrated during the night, starting with a glass of warm lemon water right when we wake up is a great way to not only replenish H20, but it helps prime our stomachs for optimal digestion by allowing us to digest food more easily and preventing the buildup of toxins. (Which also freshens breath, so double win!)
Just remember that for the digestion part you want the water more on the tart side, so resist the urge to add too much water that will dilute it!
2. It Makes You Look Good
While it's true water (not just the lemon variety) can help with weight loss, my favorite outward benefit of drinking lemon water on the daily is the effect it has on skin.
By drinking lemon water regularly, there is a noticeable "glow" that occurs since lemons detoxify, aid in collagen production, boost immunity through Vitamin C, and help as a type of anti-bacterial. (Goodbye acne, toxins, and bacteria!)
3. It Tastes (& Smells) Good
Perhaps the most subjective of the positive reasons to drink lemon water, I'll go on record as saying I think the lemons are delicious! While each person's tastes are different, the tangy, tart flavor is quite energizing.
Citrus scents are also known to have an energizing effect, so it can even help you to feel more awake before you even take your first sip!
Lemon Water Hack
Lemon Cubes
While cutting up and squeezing half a lemon isn't exactly difficult, when you're bouncing around in the morning trying to get ready, it can become a tiny bit of a hassle — just enough that it's easy to skip.
After religiously drinking lemon water for years, I found with a new schedule it was harder for me to get back in the habit, and most days it just felt like too much work to make a small mess.
Enter: lemon cubes.
Lemon Cubes
That's right — in one shot I'll cut up a bunch of lemons, squeeze the juice and add it to an ice cube tray*, let freeze, then keep the cubes in a bag in the freezer.
Each morning I simply pop a cube into my glass, let the tap water run hot, and add it to the glass. The hot water melts the cube, and cools it to a perfect warm temperature.
Lemon Cubes
Genius, right?!
Community Discussion
So tell us — do you drink warm lemon water every morning? Are you going to start? What's the biggest benefit, for you personally?
Although some also like to add Apple Cider Vinegar to their morning routine, I personally find lemon water to be a bit gentler on my stomach.
*Medical Disclaimer: Remember I am not a medical professional, and the content above is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.