There’s nothing quite like a bit of lemony, sunshiny good cheer to start your day!

That’s what lemon water does for me — it starts off my day in a positive, happy mood, because I know it’s doing my body a world of good.

And yes, I do drink it before I have my Micronized Purple Rice (MPR) powder. I still consider that to be “on an empty stomach,” which is the way we recommend using MPR.

I have my MPR a few minutes afterward, and I believe the two work well together, possibly because they both contain a lot of antioxidants. They both are so good for your body, on so many levels. 

I use an entire small organic lemon, or half a large one, squeezed into a 16-oz. glass of room-temperature, pure filtered water. You might want to use a little less lemon juice if that’s too strong for you.  I often put it in a cup of hot water and drink it like a tea.

Sometimes I’ll add a couple slices of fresh ginger, too (discard after drinking the water). That adds a bit of a spicy taste, and helps with digestive issues as well. Let it set for a few minutes before drinking.

I squeeze the lemon juice into the water through a strainer, so I don’t have to fish out the seeds. I like to add a little bit of the zest, too, since the oils in the rind are beneficial. Just be sure to scrub the lemon thoroughly first, even if it’s organic.

Note that you can use Meyer lemons or other fancy types, when available. I even got some striped lemons recently that were pink on the inside — delicious!

Meyer lemons, in case you’re not familiar with them, are smaller and darker yellow. A cross between regular lemons and mandarin oranges, Meyer lemons are sweeter, milder, and not as acidic as regular lemons.

Speaking of acidity… it’s a good idea to drink your lemon water with a straw, for less contact with your teeth. That protects against erosion of your tooth enamel. Also, don’t brush your teeth right afterward, as that will wear off tooth enamel even more.

With that in mind, here are five health benefits of drinking a big glass of lemon juice every morning:

1. Boost Energy 

After sleeping all night, we tend to be dehydrated. A big glass of pure water helps to rehydrate the body, which gives us more energy. Adding lemon juice improves the taste, reinforcing the habit of drinking it every morning.

The lemon oil that disperses into the air when you cut the lemon is good for mood-boosting, too. Lemon oil is known for lifting mood and helping with depression.

Lemon water contains potassium and magnesium, too, which also help with brain health and dealing with stress.

2. Improve Digestion 

Lemon juice stimulates bile production in the liver, and this jump-starts our digestion for the whole day. With adequate bile production, food moves smoothly through our digestive tract, for less bloating and discomfort.

This improved digestion also means the body absorbs nutrients better. Insulin levels are more balanced, and toxins are flushed.

3. Strengthen Immunity 

Lemons contain vitamin C and potassium, both of which help maintain a strong immune system. The tart juice stimulates white blood cell production, which helps to prevent colds and flu as well as more serious diseases.

It is antibacterial and antiviral, too, which is why it’s so often used for soothing sore throats.

Vitamin C is also helpful for those with overloaded adrenals, especially if you are under a lot of stress or drink a lot of coffee.

4. Revitalize Your Skin

 The vitamin C in lemons also helps to increase the amount of collagen in your skin, which helps give your skin elasticity, with fewer wrinkles and a smoother look.

The detoxing action helps brighten your skin, too. It enhances that youthful glow that you get from eating MPR!

5. Increase Metabolism

Weight gain is all too common as we get older, and it’s good to have as many tools in our arsenal as possible to manage our weight. Lemon water is one, and so is Micronized Purple Rice powder. Neither one is specifically for weight loss, but both help a lot.

German researchers even found that drinking a pint of lemon water every morning increased metabolism by about 30 percent. This effect was good for several hours afterward!

Plus, that big glass of lemon water is a good start on drinking enough water throughout the day, which is crucial for weight loss. We recommend drinking half your weight in ounces of water daily… and that 16-ounce glass of lemon water is a great start!

So, are you drinking your lemon water every morning? I’d love to hear what it’s doing for you! 

Let me know in the comments below.