Two Simple, Daily Musts

Here are two very simple, yet very important daily musts you can add to your morning. They are guaranteed to add an extra boost to your everyday!

1. Lemon water in the morning

You may have heard this one before or maybe this is your first time hearing it, but lemon water really is the best thing for you in the morning. It’s the best thing because lemon is both sour and astringent. These qualities help to destroy bad bacteria in the mouth and the intestines. When the sour flavor reaches your liver and gallbladder, it encourages bile formation and improves absorption. This process prepares the body for future assimilation of nutrients. It really is a warm-up for your liver and gallbladder!

The processing of the sour lemon water by your liver and gallbladder also helps to cleanse the organs. It literally flushes both organs, removing toxins that may have accumulated. Since everything we ingest is processed through our liver, giving it a good cleanse every morning is a must! When we cleanse our liver, we also cleanse our blood and blood vessels, which encourages better circulation. Pretty cool, huh?

Another great benefit of lemon water is that it helps to break up mucus and phlegm. As fall approaches, many of us may experience colds and flu symptoms. If this happens to you, drink lemon water throughout the day to help your body break-up and purge excess mucus. Remember to also to add lemon to other cold and flu banishing teas! That will really give your body an extra boost!

If you’re looking for an alternative to lemon water, try grapefruit juice. Although not as strong as lemon water, it is also sour and astringent and therefore will stimulate, warm-up and flush your liver and gallbladder. Feel free to switch it up from day-to-day between lemon water and grapefruit juice in the morning. Your body and mind will be saying, “mmm yum! Thank you!”

*Please note: if you are taking a statin pharmaceutical, do not drink grapefruit juice. Stick with lemon water. 

Go on now; give your liver and gallbladder a little warm-up and flush first thing in the morning!

Here’s how:

A fourth to a half of a lemon (depending on your preference) is all you need for an 8-ounce glass of water. Squeeze the lemon into the water and drink. It is best to use room temperature or warm water. Cold water will give your organs a shrill. Feel free to increase your lemon dosage up to 1-2 whole lemons as your body adjusts to the taste.

If you’re looking for an extra nourishing boost, check out my post, “Do you get thirsty? If so, try this thirst quenching elixir.”

2. Stretch / Touch your toes

What’s the first action you take in the morning? Do you slap the alarm, groan and roll over for two more minutes of sleep? Do you wake up naturally, groan and roll out of bed? Whichever way you wake up, take 5-10 minutes to stretch! That’s really all the time you need. A little bit of a stretch goes a long way.

Think about it; when we sleep our body goes into a natural state of relaxation. We become yin. Our muscles, ligaments, and even the space between our vertebrae shorten. If we pop out of bed without even the slightest stretch, we’re more prone to discomfort, pain and even injury throughout the remainder of our day.

In Eastern medicine, light stretching lubricates our muscles and joints, lengthens our physical body, creates better posture and even helps to create a calm, positive attitude. Stretching is our body’s way of hitting the jackpot!

Stretch any way you like when getting out of bed. Most importantly, stretch in ways that benefit your body. You can ask yourself, “where do I need to create length?” or “what in my body needs more space and to feel more open?” Take your time. If you’d like, set a timer for 5-10 minutes or stop watch and allow yourself to really enjoy each stretch. Inhale and exhale at least twice in each stretch. Remember, move into and through each stretch with ease, then create length and space.

Every stretch you do is right for you. If you can’t stretch as far as your partner, your friend or a video, that’s ok! You’ll get there eventually. Just keep stretching and be patient. Your morning stretch is all about waking your body gently and creating space in areas that were once shortened for many hours.

Below are a few links containing descriptions of my favorite stretches. I’ll be creating a few tutorials in the future!

Oprah.com: Dr. Ozs Morning Stretches

Prevention: 5 Stretches You Should Do Every Morning

Paleo Hacks Blog: Morning Stretching Routine

Disclaimer: This information is intended for general reference only. It is not a replacement for professional health advice. The content in this post intentionally does not provide dosage information or possible interactions with prescription drugs or other medications. Please contact a certified health practitioner such as a physician of Oriental Medicine or Herbalist before considering use. To schedule an appointment with Malerie, visit the services page.