I have heard for a long time that drinking lemon juice and warm water first thing in the morning is really good for you. I started doing it about 10 years ago when I did my first cleanse. I go back to it a few times a year like in the Spring when everything starts blooming and the air is full of pollen. This always kicks up my allergies. A cup of fresh-squeezed lemon juice, hot water and a tablespoon of local honey really helps me get through it. My allergies actually calm down quite a bit. I also go back to this routine in the middle of winter when everyone around me seems to have a cold. I know my immune system needs a boost and I drink my mug of lemon “tea” instead of coffee.

When I did a 30-day juice fast (Reboot with Joe!), lemon water was recommended as the first thing to drink upon rising in the morning. See, even Joe thinks this is a good idea.

Here are just some of the many benefits:

Drinking lemon juice first thing in the morning helps to clear the “Ama”, an Ayurvedic term for undigested food particles lingering in your digestive system. It helps to reset your digestive system to begin a new day.

Lemon juice encourages healthy digestion by loosening toxins in your digestive tract, and helps to relieve symptoms of indigestion like heartburn and bloating.

Your immune system gets a boost. Lemons are packed with Vitamin C!

It is good for your joints, especially if you tend to have pain on movement due to inflammation. Drinking lemon juice promotes the removal of uric acid, which is a main cause of inflammation.

Here’s the step-by-step version of how I make my lemon tea. Printable recipe is at the bottom:

Ingredients

2 lemons
1 1/2 cups water
1 tbs good local honey (especially if you have seasonal allergies)
A few slices of ginger (optional)

Procedure

Squeeze lemons into a large mug. I use the largest mug I have which holds about 12 ounces of water.

Heat water in a small pot until just starting to bubble. Pour water into mug and add the honey. Give a good stir, and sip throughout the morning. It is that simple! Add a little more honey if you want it sweeter. You can also add some sliced ginger to your lemon tea which really helps to warm you up and increase metabolism. Plus some people just really like the taste of ginger.

Cut a few slices of ginger and add them to your mug, or place them in the pot with the warming water to help them simmer and impart more flavor. Cool to your preferred temperature and strain out ginger into your mug.

For more information about the benefits of lemon water, check out these articles: