I'm sure you've all heard of the benefits of drinking lemon water every morning as the subject seems to have become very popular within the last year. For myself however, I like to kick it up a notch and add some honey into the mix.

When I was a child, my dad used to make me hot lemon and honey water whenever I was sick or had a sore throat (the kid-friendly version of a hot-toddy!) I loved the drink so much that as I grew older, I integrated it into my daily ritual. Before I was even aware of any of the benefits this drink had to offer, it became a staple in my diet.

I'm not a nutritionist, so I won't pretend to know all the benefits of drinking lemon water (if you're interested I suggest you look into things further). But based on the research I've done, I'm happy to share 10 healthy reasons why I've added a cup of warm lemon and honey water into my morning routine.

5 Benefits of Drinking Warm Lemon Water

1// Boosts your immune system. Since lemons have a high vitamin-C content they help your body fight off colds. Lemon also has a high potassium content which helps with the functioning of your nervous system. Mental health illnesses such as depression or anxiety can be caused by not having enough potassium in the blood, so adding lemon to your daily routine can help to combat this.

2// Aids in digestion. Lemon helps your liver to produce bile which your body requires in order to break down and digest food. This stimulates your digestive system and helps with feelings of indigestion, bloating, and constipation, as the lemon flushes out toxins from your body.

3// Clean, clear skin. The vitamin-C we receive from lemons is an important factor in getting healthy looking skin. By flushing toxins from your body, the lemon cleanses you from the inside out, which aids in the production of new blood cells to help freshen your skin.

4// Balances your body's pH levels to reduce pain. The alkalizing effect of lemons can help you maintain a higher pH level by removing acidity from the body. Diseases are more likely to occur in an acidic environment, so a higher pH level will help your body fight off diseases and also helps to reduce joint and muscle pain.

5// Freshens breath and improves oral health. The acidity of lemon cleanses your mouth by killing off bacteria and washing away decaying food. It also helps prevent gingivitis.

So Why Add The Honey?

1// Taste. Well for starters, honey is delicious! It sweetens the drink up which I find much more enjoyable and it gives the drink a soothing feeling that makes me feel nice and cozy as I start my day. Besides, I much rather start my morning on a sweet note than a sour one.

2// Fight off infection. Like lemons, honey is also a superfood, meaning it is jam-packed with essential nutrients, making it not only tasty, but healthy. Honey has antibacterial properties which will help your body fight off infection (hence why I drink this whenever I have a sore throat). When it's mixed with lemon and water (which both work to flush out your body) the mix cleanses your urinary tract. So if you're not a fan of cranberry juice (I'm addicted) then this is another way to help keep UTIs at bay.

3// Enhance your mood. Honey is also a natural energy booster, so for people like me who have a hard time waking up in the morning, adding some honey to your morning lemon water will put you in a better mood and help you feel less lethargic and more energized.

4// More clear skin. The alkaline effect of both lemon and honey also helps to kill bacteria in your body that can cause acne, giving you a much clearer complexion.

5// Helps you lose weight. Also like lemons, honey creates an alkaline effect in your stomach, which can help fight hunger cravings. Studies show that people with a more alkaline diet are more likely to lose weight faster.

How To Make The Drink

- Fill a glass with purified warm water (I like to boil the water completely and then let it cool to a drinkable temperature. It's important not to use cold water as cold beverages are harder for our bodies to process and we use up a lot more energy trying to process cold drinks)

- Squeeze in the juice of half a lemon (organic is better)

- Stir in 1 tsp. honey ( I prefer creamed, raw honey as unpasteurized honey retains all the nutrients and so is much healthier for you)

- Enjoy!



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