Turmeric and lemon are without a doubt two of the most valuable and easy-to-source natural foods. Though they have been around for ages, the West is finally discovering their healing potential. If you are drinking your daily glass of lukewarm lemon (or lime) water first thing in the morning, then you are already doing your body a big favor.
Lemons or limes are loaded with antioxidants, fibers, and many essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C and B, calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium. Next to adding a host of healthy plant nutrients, lemons also kick-start digestion, boost the immune system, fight inflammation, and cleanse, hydrate, and energize the body.
Tips For Becoming A Morning Person
Not a morning person yet? Or do you think “why the heck do I need a morning routine?” Allow me to explain why mornings are so important, even though you might prefer the night!
Are you having a hard time waking up before 7 am? Are you often feeling so exhausted that you cannot help but repeatedly press the snooze button on your alarm?
Many people have experienced the same thing and they have attributed it to the fact that they are not a morning person. Though some people prefer to be a night owl, being a morning person comes with a host of benefits since our bodies were originally designed to be a morning person.
According to some experts, morning persons are thinner, healthier, more energized, safer drivers, more proactive, happier, exercise more consistently, perform better at school or work, and have lower blood sugar levels.
Though I was not much of a morning person before, moving to Cambodia has turned me into one and I’m loving it. No more snoozing. I feel rested every morning and naturally wake up once the first rays of sun enter my room around 5.30-6 am.
Mornings are so peaceful here and the temperatures are still bearable. I love seeing the world wake up around me and treasure these quiet and refreshing moments of the day. Plus, sunrises are just magical here. See pics below – they are all taken on my way to work!
Did you know that anyone can become a morning person?
Here are 2 easy tips to help you out.
1. Set a schedule
The rise of technology has brought television, Netflix, social media, games, and a lot of innovations that can distract you from sleeping early. To help you sleep early, you need to set a schedule and follow it.
A schedule will prevent you from staying up late. Time passes swiftly when you are doing something that you enjoy like playing games and watching television. Setting a schedule will enable you to balance all the activities that you need to accomplish before bedtime. It will also serve as a reminder for you to sleep early.
Sleep early to get the recommended 7 to 9 hours of shut-eye. By getting enough sleep, you are guaranteed not to push that snooze button on your alarm. Why? Because getting the recommended hours of sleep gives you the energy you need to face the morning.
And here’s a bonus: according to some studies, sleeping early reduces stress and boosts your immune system, thereby keeping you healthy!
10-day whole food reset plan: A SIMPLE CLEANSE OF BODY AND MIND
A healthy body reset to lose weight, eliminate toxins, and kick-start your new way of life. No cranky starving process on a dash of lemon juice and a single bean, but a 10-day transformation to rev your weight loss engine and live a healthier life.
2. Make it a habit
Make sure to stick to your routine. Even if you find it hard to press the stop button on the remote because you’re enjoying the movie too much or not wanting to stop that computer/video game because you need to surpass your last high score. Find the willpower to do so. You must commit to your schedule. Once you are used to the routine, you will find it easier to wake up in the morning.
After a few weeks of setting and sticking to your new routine, you will not even need to think about waking up early. Some studies say that it only takes 21 days of repeated action to form a habit. Once you pass the 3-week mark you will feel that waking up early comes naturally to you.
Lemon Turmeric Water Recipe
Though I have many small little routines that make up my morning, it all starts with a glass of lemon water right after I step out of bed and have fed the cat.
You might laugh at that, but this little bundle of fur (see pic below) is my absolute joy and morning priority.
Something is off when I don’t see her little face first thing when I step out of bed or open the door. Early mornings are her favorite time of the day too, so usually she’s up before me lol.
The second most important morning routine is squeezing some lemon in a glass of lukewarm water and sitting down somewhere quiet, usually outside, to slowly wake up.
I have been drinking lemon water (or now lime water since lemons are hard to come by in Cambodia), for years. Recently, however, I started adding turmeric and sometimes cinnamon to spice things up.
I don’t add them every day though. Most days I just feel like having lemon/lime water, but then other days I welcome the different taste to keep my morning ritual interesting and fun.
In addition to reaping the benefits of citrus fruits, turmeric has turned this already wonderful drink into a nutrient-dense, cleansing, disease-fighting, energy bomb.
Lemon Turmeric Water Recipe
We just love lemon turmeric water first thing in the morning for a stronger cleansing and health-boosting effect.
Ingredients
- 1 glass of lukewarm water, nut milk works too to improve the taste
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ organic lemon (or 1 lime), juice only
- Pinch of black pepper (to increase turmeric’s bioavailability)
- Pinch of cinnamon (optional: for extra anti-diabetic effect and enhanced flavor)
Instructions
- To make lemon turmeric water, add lemon juice, black pepper, turmeric, and cinnamon (optional) to a glass of lukewarm water (or nut milk).
- Stir constantly while drinking to avoid all turmeric to sink to the bottom of the glass.
Notes
- For the best energizing and cleansing effect, drink first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
- I love the taste of turmeric. However, if you are not a huge fan you might want to add a little maple syrup or raw honey to the mix.
Recommended Products
The Best Morning Routine For A Happy, Healthy Life
Now that you know what my absolute priorities are in the morning – cat and lemon water – I will share with you a few other small morning routines we like.
Mornings can be hectic and most of us tend to rush into the day. However, giving your body and mind the time to wake up is one of the best ways to keep you healthy and happy.
A good morning makes a good day!
Multiple studies have shown that healthy, beautiful, and successful people do certain things first thing in the morning. And it’s not checking your phone, email, Facebook, or the weather.
Discover 10 Morning Routines For A Happy, Healthy Life
1. Wake up early
As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” And right he was. Studies show that the most successful people are early risers.
Morning people tend to be more active, get better grades, sleep better, and feel happier.
2. Be thankful and leave the past behind
A new day, a new start. Instead of starting to complain about all the problems in your life, be grateful for the new day. Leave the past behind and look forward.
A new day is a new opportunity to start over and do things differently. Start your day with positive thoughts and you’ll be amazed how this will lift your spirit and make you happier all day long.
3. Start your day with lemon water
Before eating or drinking anything else, start your day with a glass of lukewarm lemon water. It kick-starts digestion and finalizes detoxification.
And why not try to add some turmeric too? See recipe above!
4. Nourish
Breakfast is a meal like any other and not the most important one like many nutritionists like to claim. But to give you a head start on the day it is important to nourish your body right from the start.
If you are anything like me and not a big morning eater, have a green smoothie. They are packed with health-promoting nutrients and are easy to make or take with you to work.
5. Yoga
This doesn’t mean you have to spend an hour or so on it. A small 10 to 15-minute wake-up yoga session, such as a few rounds of sun salutations, will do the trick.
It helps clear the mind, balances the mind-body connections, takes the stress away, tones the body, and creates a state of peace to start the day.
6. Exercise
Not a yoga person, do a few stretches or go jogging. It energizes the body, improves stamina, and clears the mind.
7. Green tea
Instead of starting the day with a cup of coffee try green tea instead. Green tea is packed with antioxidants and nutrients linked to a happy, healthy life.
Small confession: I still enjoy one cup of coffee somewhere during the morning. Which is fine, but if you can go without. It is even better!
8. Dry brush your skin
Before hitting the shower, dry brush your skin. It only takes a few minutes but improves circulation, toxin elimination, and removes dead skin cells.
9. Oil pull with coconut oil to improve oral health
Another thing I started doing recently is oil pulling. The moment I hit the shower before going to work I pop a spoonful of coconut oil in my mouth and swish it around while taking a shower. It whitens teeth, eliminates bacteria, removes plaque, and improves gum health.
10. Focus on what’s important
Focus and make sure to keep distractions at bay. Do the most daunting thing on your to-do list for the day immediately. Accomplishing goals makes you feel good and being proactive and focused enables you to do more in less time.
While all of the above may seem a lot of work, they are all small habits that won’t take up much of your time but will hugely help you to live a happier, healthier, and fuller life.
Are you a morning person? What are your favorite morning routines? Let us know in the comments below!
Amy Goodrich is a certified holistic nutritional therapist and former plant biologist. Her mission: inspiring people to adopt a more natural lifestyle to prevent/cure illness. Through her blog, Amy shares her own experiences with managing her husband's autoimmune disease through the power of whole foods. EatLove.Live covers strategies for doing so, with posts about how to gradually change your lifestyle. Amy is obsessed with cats, travel, and delicious plant-based foods that nourish and heal the body from the inside out.