How to Start the Morning With Lemon Water

Drinking a glass of warm water mixed with fresh lemon juice is an eye-opening way to start your day. Lemon water hydrates your body and gives your system a helpful boost of vitamin C first thing in the morning. It also aids digestion, assists in weight loss and gives you energy as well. This early cocktail is quick and easy to make, and it gives you a head start on your daily intake of fruit and veggies.

Things You'll Need

• Drinking water
• Kettle or Microwave
• One lemon
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Lemon juicer (optional)
• Strainer (optional)
• Cup that holds slightly more than eight ounces of liquid

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Instructions

Preparing the Lemon Water

• 1

  Wash the lemon, either by using a commercial, eco-friendly cleaner like Fit or just by using cool water and a vegetable brush. This keeps any stray contaminants from sneaking into the juice when you squeeze the lemon. After the lemon is clean, pat it dry with a paper towel.

• 2

  Heat eight ounces of water to a warm, drinkable temperature by either using a tea kettle or by heating water in a microwave-safe cup for twenty seconds in the microwave. Experiment to find the temperature best suited to you.

• 3

  Place the lemon on a clean cutting board and slice the lemon in half across the widest part of the fruit. This will give you two halves; set one aside.

• 4

  Remove the juice from one lemon half by either using an old-fashioned, manual juicer or just by holding the lemon over the cup and squeezing. If you squeeze the lemon by hand, you may want to place a strainer over the cup to catch any seeds. A typical lemon half will produce one or two teaspoons of juice. For a little extra zing, you can drop the squeezed, de-seeded lemon half into your cup.

• 5

  Drink the lemon water. You can add a drop or two of honey if the lemon taste is too strong for you. After a short wait of fifteen to thirty minutes, go ahead and enjoy your regular, healthy breakfast. Save the other half of the lemon for later use in tea or recipes.