Lemon Water and 4 Steps for a healthy alternative to the ‘first thing’ cuppa

How many of us crave for that early morning cup of tea or coffee as soon as possible after the eyelids open? What’s the attraction?…It’s probably that the early morning mouth is so dry it desperately needs a liquid. The first thought is to put the kettle on and have a quick brew, and that caffeine appears to help the mind get into gear and it gives you a kick start for the day.

Now, I’m not suggesting that you give up your cuppa, but maybe just delay it a little. Why?- Because if there’s an alternative that potentially gives you heaps more health benefits and you will still have that feeling of mind and body burst that caffeine can seem to give you – Then why not give it a try?…

I have actually applied the following to my own lifestyle and it’s my “find” of 2014! – Certainly pushes back my first tea by a couple of hours. So I’m continuing into 2015 with this light start to the day.

1. OK, so first thing, grab that glass, go up to the watercooler (more and more homes now have one), and pour a glass of room temperature water and down it in one. It may seem odd at first when you are used to that caffeine ‘hit’ but it shouldn’t give you the “Yuk” feeling that, say me asking you to drink a double whisky, or diet coke would, and of course a glass of plain water is the perfect solution for the dry mouth syndrome!

Once you’ve had that first watercooler drink, the mouth won’t be dry and you may not be quite as desperate for that cuppa.

2. So, to try delaying that caffeine kick even longer and push those health boundaries a little further. Refill the glass from the watercooler, grab a lemon from the fruit bowl, cut it in half and squeeze half of the lemon juice (if you weigh over 150lbs, squeeze the whole lemon) into the water and plonk the remaining lemon in too. Put it in the microwave and just heat it gently on the Max setting for 45 seconds (make sure you don’t overheat as it will ruin the vitamin C). (A slice of fresh root ginger with a squeeze of lime is great too).

3. Drink this slowly and let that lemon cleanse the innards!

4. After you have finished, rinse the mouth with a little water to dilute the citric acid, as this is the only area that you want the lemon lingering, as it’s not great for teeth.

For this reason, make this a once-a-day drink…certainly not something to sip throughout the day.

There are loads of benefits of Lemon Water:

1. It contains good things, including Vitamin C, B-Complex Vitamins, Iron, Magnesium and Potassium which all adds to the trace minerals that are already present in the water if you’re using a Natural Mineral Water or Spring Water. I find it aids digestion and makes one feel cleansed!

2. It can help freshen the breath.

3. The antioxidants in a lemon as part of a healthy diet can contribute to decreasing blemishes and maintain your skin’s radiance.

4. Lemons contain Vitamin C which can help ward off colds.

And lastly, it gives a fantastic energy boost, for me at least! – You may just find that by following the above health tip, you will be surprised how great you will feel, and how the urge for a cup of tea or coffee subsides. By the time a couple of hours go by you will be then ready for your first cuppa of the day, and it will taste even better knowing you’ve had a lemon detox beforehand!