As soon as you wake up, drink a fresh glass of water, colored salt and fresh-pressed lemon/lime juice. Drinking this improves 3 major body systems in one sweeping gesture; it positively impacts digestion, adrenal function and detoxification pathways.
Digestion
Lemon and lime juice have a chemical structure very similar to HCl, hence facilitating gastric function. They will not only improve acidity levels in the stomach but stimulate its innate production, as well. Upon leaving the stomach, lime juice also triggers bile release. Sea salt acts as a companion to the process.
Side note: HCl levels are critical for vitamin absorption, mineral assimilation and protein digestion. Additionally, adequate level of stomach acids are integral to the destruction of pathogens that hitch along for a ride with food.
Hormone Regulation
Next, we have the adrenals. These are tiny glands that produce more than 50 different hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine, norepinehrine, aldosterone, etc. They modulate all sorts of bodily functions (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, hydration levels, blood sugar, sex hormones).
The adrenals rely heavily on sodium for proper function. Unfortunately, many misguided individuals keep restricting their salt intake way beyond what is healthy. The government “salt scare” recommendations have done a disservice to many, and Western medicine has ingrained the idea further; a lot of people are sodium deficient in some capacity.
Opt for colorful salts such as Himalayan salt, Celtic salt, and Hawaiian salt. Colors ensure rich mineral content in the salts. On the other hand, table salt (i.e., Morton) offers no mineral value.
Liver Health
Lime, and citrus fruit in general, have been shown to be liver protective. In addition, lime’s high content in vitamin C (much higher than oranges) also supports glutathione production. Glutathione is a peptide that plays a pivotal role in liver detoxification.
Take Action
Create your drink tomorrow morning using this guideline:
- 1 lemon or 2 limes
- 1/4 teaspoon colored salt
- 12-16 fl. oz. warm, filtered water
Squeeze the lemons/limes into a glass. Be sure to use fresh limes or lemons; the bottled versions use unripe fruits which do not display the full array of nutrients (and don’t taste as good). Pour in filtered, warm water (cold water can be stressful first thing in the morning). Sprinkle in the salt and stir. Don’t worry about the saltiness of the mixture, the lime/lemon juice will mitigate the taste.
