You may have read my blog post on why you shouldn’t drink coffee first thing in the morning, which begs the question, what should be your first beverage of the day
For me, it’s a mug of hot water with lemon, and I recommend incorporating this beverage into your morning routine for the reasons stated below.
Drinking hot water with lemon in the morning is a practice embraced by many, including those who practice Traditional Chinese Medicine – or those who just grew up around wise women drinking hot water in lieu of anything else – for its perceived health benefits.
- Hydration: Starting your day with a glass of hot lemon water can help hydrate your body after hours of not consuming any fluids during sleep. Proper hydration is essential for maintaining bodily functions, including digestion, circulation, and temperature regulation.
- Vitamin C Boost: Lemons are a good source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps protect cells from damaging free radicals. Vitamin C also plays a crucial role in collagen production, supports the immune system, and enhances iron absorption from plant-based foods.
- Digestive Health: Lemon water, particularly when warm, can help jump-start your digestive system in the morning. The combination of warm water and lemon can help increase peristalsis (the movements of the intestines to propel contents forward) and stimulate stomach acid production, which aids in the digestion of food. Since your stomach is warm
- Alkalizing Effect: Despite being acidic outside the body, lemons are considered to have an alkalizing effect once metabolized. Some believe that maintaining a more alkaline (or less acidic) environment in the body can improve health, though this claim is more controversial and not strongly supported by scientific evidence. The body tightly regulates its pH balance, regardless of diet. Some celebrities have been known to swear by an alkaline diet.
- Improves Skin Quality: The vitamin C in lemons can help reduce skin wrinkling, dry skin from aging, and damage from the sun. Hydration from the water plus vitamin C can contribute to more vibrant skin. Personally, I don’t think it hurts to both apply vitamin C to my skin AND consume it. Check out my skincare post to learn about other antioxidants once should consider in skincare.
- Freshens Breath: Lemon water is often touted for its ability to freshen breath due to its pleasant, citrus scent and the acid in lemon that may help kill off bad-breath-causing bacteria in the mouth. However, it’s worth noting that the citric acid can also erode tooth enamel over time, so it’s advised to rinse your mouth with plain water after drinking.
While these benefits are compelling reasons to consider incorporating hot lemon water into your morning routine, it’s also important to be aware of the potential downsides, such as tooth enamel erosion from the citric acid in lemons. Using a straw and rinsing your mouth with water afterwards can help mitigate this risk. As with any dietary habit, individual experiences and benefits can vary.
If hot lemon water just isn’t your thing, consider other caffeine free tea options. A good friend likes to drink herbal tea and considers this her morning treat before she has her matcha for the day.
Consider ritualizing your first morning beverage. I love sitting in my red roly-poly chair in the morning, sipping my hot lemon water in my living room, facing the sliding glass doors and looking out towards the ocean and the neighborhoods leading up to it. I pinch myself and feel grateful for all that I have before getting ready for the daily hustle.
What is your morning beverage ritual?
