I wanted to mention a little tip for quick energy in the morning.
I started drinking hot water with lemon a few weeks ago when I had this awful sore throat and cough and other nastiness going on. It stuck with me after I got better and wanted to share with you all the amazing benefits of this little wonder drink.
It might sound simple but hot water with lemon can help with so many different things. It is a wonderful thing to start off your day and so easy and inexpensive.
I buy lemons in bulk- since they are going into my drink I try to get organic when possible- and chop them up. I keep a container of chopped lemons in the fridge so this is super fast to put together.
I am a heavy coffee drinker and I am not a morning person. I usually stumble around stupidly until I get the coffee in my system but the last few weeks I have actually been starting the day with hot water and lemon instead.
I have to say I really feel so good since I made this little switch. As with many of you, the morning tends to be a bit of a sprint around here… roll out of bed, get ready, get the kids ready, get the kids dressed and out the door and on your way to get your day started. This is every morning around here and then on the weekends I get up super early to hit the gym. So we never have those lovely leisurely mornings and I need to hit full speed pretty quickly.
Now I haven’t given up coffee mind you- but I thought some of you might consider making this tiny little switch too.
But why the heck would I suggest you delay the pleasure of your morning coffee for a cup of water?
Well hot water with lemon can reduce puffiness in your face first of all. That is a nice benefit first thing in the morning.
The lemon fragrance is also known to improve your mood so there is perk #2 for the morning.
Lemon can serve as a diuretic which I am not going to elaborate on but it will help flush out your system and can help get rid of water weight (added perk= prettier skin!)
So it really is the perfect way to start the day. I have noticed I just feel better when I start off with hot water and lemon. I make hot water, squeeze in the lemon juice and usually leave the rind right in my water.
Sadly, I am a coffee lover so I do follow this up with my morning cup but I have found it also curbs my appetite in the morning. I still have breakfast but I am not starving in the morning and making bad choices on what to eat.
And I don’t just have this first thing in the morning. I have taken to drinking hot water with lemon a few times during the day and often right before bed. It is especially nice after eating because it does aid with digestion. If you ever feel a little uncomfortable from eating too much or nausea or any other tummy discomfort you might try this and see if it helps!
Try this out in the afternoon when you are craving something sweet and sugary. Often the body is just slightly dehydrated and you may find the lemon gives you a bit of energy. I will grab for a hot water and lemon before I grab for that last cup of coffee.
PS: Make sure to dump that lemon slice down the garbage disposal for a quick little odor eliminator.
And since we are speaking of lemons, did you know you can make your own Buttermilk? This is great in a pinch if you need it and you don’t have any on hand.
*NOTE: I am not a dietitian or medical professional so this is not medical advice. Also you might talk to your dentist because lemon can create issues with the enamel on your teeth.
fm says
I used to do this lemon drink for a while–and then started developing joint pains…wondering if lemons weaken your joints? Any thoughts?
Charlene says
Sorry fm I don’t know anything about joint pain. Does your medical insurance offer a nurse hotline? I call those sometimes when I have questions.
Julie Thompson says
I’m a Registered dietitian and so I thought I might be of some help answering fm’s question. Lemon is a great antioxidant that helps with inflammation and so it is actually known to be beneficial for people with osteoarthritis. However, lemon is also high in Vit C which in high doses has been shown to worsen osteoarthritis of the knee, so it is recommended for people with this condition to not go overboard with lemon. One to two lemons a day should be just fine for most people. Charlene I think it’s great that you are including some health tips to your blog. I’m really grateful for your blog it has been a blessing.
Charlene says
Yeah thanks Julie! I feel so good this year because I have put my health first but I know most people probably aren’t that interested 😛 I also have lost 2 sizes so far which is awesome. You just chime in though if I say something stupid ;)… I have a recipe for Farro that I am going to be posting soon- I hope you like it!
Kim says
Charlene, thanks for the tips! I’m a student dental hygienist so I love how you mentioned the blurb about how lemons can ruin your enamel. To lessen this process, just take a sip of water or rinse your mouth with water to help neutralize the pH in your mouth. Wait 30 minutes before brushing 🙂
Charlene says
Ok great tip Kim! I read that you can use a straw to lessen the process but that seemed odd to me. Cold water yes but hot water with a straw?
Thabal says
How long do you wait between lemon water and coffee? I wanted to try this, but husband weird-ed me out by saying that lemon and milk will curdle. (I drink coffee with milk) Also, I read the post twice, but i could not pick up if you specified the amount of lemon juice.
Thanks for these helpful tips!
Charlene says
Thabal,
I don’t think I am following you. Let me try to be super clear because there shouldn’t be any occasion to mix lemon and milk. I wake up in the morning and start the coffee maker. As I am waiting on that I heat up water in the microwave in a cup. I take a lemon slice out of the tupperware container in the fridge and squeeze it gently into my cup. Then I dunk the remaining rind in (only because it is an organic lemon and thoroughly washed). I drink that. The only thing in that cup is hot water and the lemon. There is no milk.
Once I have finished drinking that, I place the cup aside for another cup later in the day and I get a fresh cup out and have my normal coffee.
Does that help? I don’t have a measurement for lemon- I just cut slices and squeeze the juice from that. I guess maybe half a teaspoon or so?
Thabal says
Hi Charlene, thanks for the quick reply. Sorry if I was not clear. I wanted to ask, if you wait 1/2 an hour or you just carry on with the day. Thanks for the measurement.
Kim says
Thanks for the tips guys! Was just googling to see the benifets of lemon and warmed water and come across this!
I started this yesterday and drank it through a straw but found it still made at least one of my tooths highly sensitive!
But will definitely rinse with water straight after drinking it in future!
Apon wakening this morning hubby presented me with my usual coffee (also a heavy coffee drinker) so of course I downed to cups!
But will definitely have to start replacing this with the lemon drink!
I found after I drank it yesterday I didn’t crave my usual coffee and it was only after lunch when I had my first cup!
My question is, would it be more beneficial to drink this before bed at night being that its the last thing you have before your body fasts before breakfast for better cleansing?
Or for me at least! I have to take medication every morning and need to wait at least 30 minutes before I can have breakfast!
Thanks again, I appreciate any tips 🙂
Lynne Frizzell says
I was just reading on other sites about 2tbsp.lemon juice and warm water first thing in the a.m. Helps regulate your digestive system and helps constipation.
To disinfect your used cutting board, pour on pure lemon juice and rinse and dry well before storing.
To silence hacking cough or sore throat, 2 Tbsp. Lemon juice with 1/2tsp. Honey (May be repeated after 1/2 hour.
Also, cut lemons in the fridge should be kept in a loosely covered container and last 2-3 days, one day on the counter.
A punctured lemon for squeezing can last one week in the fridge
You will get more juice, if you roll the room temperature lemon first.
Lynne Frizzell
Rachel says
What is the exact recipe you use to make this in the morning? How much water? How many lemons? Please let me know! Excited to try.
Dee says
I also read that this cleanses your liver. Bonus!
Jennilee says
I loved this article and I can’t agree more! I started drinking hot water w/ lemon about 2 weeks ago and i’ve seen all of these changes and I have an extra boost of energy!! Great article!
Charlene says
Oh so glad Jennilee! Not everything needs to be complicated right? Just a simple change to feel great 🙂
Brenda says
I have been doing this for quite some time and it really helps to flush out excess sodium in your body. I by organic lemon juice and use 1 oz of juice to 2 oz of water.
Adrienne says
A little off subject maybe. Here in Las Vegas with the extremely hot summers I was wanting something to help with puffiness, water retention etc. I tried ice water with lemon and fresh mint. Seems my body needed something in this as I started craving it. Extremely refreshing and so simple.
Charlene says
Adrienne,
I agree I crave it all the time too. Finally a good craving 🙂
Amber says
Love lemon! I use a drop of lemon essential oil in my water or hot tea every othernight. And is just delightful!
Charlene says
Hi Amber- yes that is awesome too because you get such concentrated flavor. One drop is supposed to be like 12 lemons or something :). You do need to use the right oils though- Young Living or Doterra is probably what most people might have.
Karla says
Can you use lemon bottled lemon juice?
Karla says
Can you use bottled lemon juice?
Charlene says
Karla- well you can but fresh lemon or therapeutic grade oils are the best option 🙂
Marian says
I drink water with lemon throughout the day!l Love it cannot drink it any other way. I think it helps a lot of things!
Sarah says
Lemon water is great for many reasons, however those of you who only drink lemon water (hot or cold), keep this in mind… I was told people need to drink plain water on occasion to give the liver a break. Confirmation from a dietician or other medical professional?
chris says
I buy lemons in bulk, juice them and fill up ice cube trays. Then when I wake, I just use one in my water in the morning. You will get the same benefit from the lemon water whether it is hot, warm or cool. I started doing this a couple of years ago when following the 30 Day Shred Diet from Dr. Ian Smith.
Dee says
I find lemon juice to be so sour. would it still be helpful if I added some sweeter to offset the lemons sourness?
Charlene says
Hi Dee- the taste of lemon is very mild 🙂 It isn’t like straight lemon juice. I would definitely not add a sweetener. The idea is to get away from sugars and put good things into your body. Try just a slice of lemon for a short time in your glass. You can remove the lemon after a few minutes and perhaps over time build up to drinking a glass of water with a slice of lemon and enjoying it as refreshing.
Linda Strickland Kimball says
Lemons, though acidic, change to alkaline when ingested. Helps to raise the PH of the body. High PH helps to deter disease.
Karen says
Linda just wanted to clarify that acidic compounds do not turn into bases or alkaline in the body. A compound that is an acid will remain an acid as long as it keeps its molecular structure however digestion breaks down compounds. Nor will an acid change the overall pH of the body. It may make the urine more acidic. The body keeps a tight control of pH (7.35-7.45), and going too far up or down can be fatal. We don’t need to worry about the lemons changing our bodies’ pH. If you are prone to gastric ulcers, the addition of an acid could cause concern.
Rene says
i love you ideas and hope to use these in my regular routine
Becky says
Do the young living oils( lemon) harm tooth enamel?
Charlene says
Becky- not that I am aware of. In fact some people use the orange oil with toothpaste. I am not a dentist and I would talk to your dentist though for a good answer 🙂
Brandi says
Can you use limes instead? Just asking because i have a lime tree full of limes in my backyard:)
Charlene says
Hi Brandi- I love limes in water just to be hydrated and for a little zip during the day. There is something specifically about lemon though that has all the extra benefits. So you can’t go wrong either way but for the puffiness and bloating and all that, lemon for sure 🙂
Stella says
I don’t know if this is right site to ask this,?I have dancing leg syndrome and it drives me crazy every night, sometimes I don’t get to sleep until it stops that’s between 6-7 in AM, any ideas I could do?
Kim says
Is warm water better than cold? I always drink lemon ice water & wondering if there’s a beneficial difference
Charlene says
Hi Kim,
I am not an expert and you might pose this question to your Doctor or Nutritionist but from what I have read the body has to work extra hard to regulate ice cold beverages. That means it isn’t working to extract nutrients from what you are drinking it is trying to regulate the temperature of the beverage so it isn’t so hard on your system.
Here is an article that goes into more detail:
http://www.curejoy.com/content/never-drink-ice-water/