Easy peasy
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My mornings are hectic.
Life of a mom, right?
So mymorning routineneeds to be simple, quick and no-fuss.
Verywell Mind / Getty Images
The kids are screaming bloody murder.
Is it really worth the hype?
It seems easy enough, so I decided to try it myself.
But first, I needed to consult some experts.
Even a body water loss of 1 to 2% can negatively affect cognitive performance.
Water is vital forbrain functionbecause it transports nutrients and eliminates toxins and inflammatory substances.
Dehydration may contribute to mental health disorders.
Vitamin C
Among all the citrus fruits, lemons contain the highest vitamin C content.Dr.
Therefore, seems as if the benefits of lemon water are based on peoples individual experiences.
Im excited to see how it goes for me.
She explains that the acidic nature of lemons can contribute to tooth enamel erosion over time.
Using a straw and rinsing with water afterward can help minimize risk.
My plan was to drop a wedge or two into my warm water every morning.
Heres how it went:
Day 1
Its 7 a.m. on a Thursday.
I woke up once last night to use the bathroom and took a while before going back to sleep.
I take a small sip, and its a bit too hot, so I add some room-temperature water.
I pause for a moment to breathe in the aroma of the steam from my cup.
The smell of lemon wakes me up.
The warm water makes the lemon extra acidic, and it slightly burns my throat.
My teeth feel a bit gritty, so I drink some plain water to rinse them.
I eat a banana and toast for breakfast before heading to my office to write.
For lunch, I have leftover fried rice and an orange.
I do my Pilates workout around 2 pm and get the kids from school.
Overall, my energy levels dont feel any different.
Day 2
I had a decent nights sleep.
Its Friday, and the morning is a bit relaxed.
I woke up earlier, and my son was still sleeping when I headed downstairs to the kitchen.
I took time to prepare my lemon water.
Im ravenous at lunch.
I made myself an egg and cheese sandwich around 11 a.m. On Fridays, the kids have dance class, and I usually read my book while I wait.
But this time, I felt like going for a short walk.
Im looking forward to reading a couple of chapters in my book.
Day 3
Sleep wasnt great because my son came in and interrupted my night.
He kept tossing and turning whenever I was about to fall asleep.
I get to sleep in for 15 minutes because its not a school day.
My energy levels are lower in the morning, and Im feeling cranky.
I make my lemon water and quickly down the thing without thinking.
After breakfast, we head to the library to return books and go on a scavenger hunt.
We come home, and I heat leftover noodles for our lunches.
Then we head over to my parents' for dinner.
They made roast chicken and pasta.
My husband and I almost passed out while watching “The Penguin.”
Day 4
Its a slow start to Sunday.
Everyone sleeps in, and we get up at 8:30 a.m.
I drink my lemon water mindfully.
The smell reinvigorates the back of my throat and my taste buds.
After breakfast, the kids hop on their bikes, and we head to the park.
I bring my book while they make loops through the playground and weave around trees.
After an hour, we headed back home.
It was chilly, so I made dumpling soup for lunch.
It warmed my stomach.
I usually share a large one with my husband, but today, I ate a whole one.
For dinner, I make chili, garlic toast, and air fryer cheese fries.
We have ice cream for dessert.
By bedtime, my stomach is quite full.
Day 5
Its Monday, and we wake up late.
I start editing an article when I realize I had forgotten to drink my lemon water.
I do a leg workout around 2 p.m. and get the kids from school.
I take the kids to their swimming lessons and read a couple of chapters from my book.
I havent eaten anything since lunch, and my stomach is growling.
I cant wait to dive into the leftovers when we get home.
Imhangryand exhausted, but after finishing a bowl of chilli, my mood and energy levels stabilize.
Day 6
My nights sleep was terrible.
I had to use the bathroom twice and probably got about five hours of actual rest.
I dont feel like getting out of bed, but the kids are up.
I pour my warm cup of lemon water, and the sourness wakes my body up.
I sip the rest of my lemon water while working.
Im pretty tired in the afternoon, so I make green tea.
I manage to complete a few sets of chest and back exercises before picking up the kids from school.
Its super rainy today; the whole family is feeling out of sorts.
The kids are at each others throats, and I want the day to end.
Day 7
Its Wednesday, and the kids get off school early today.
My husband and I were exhausted from the night before.
We didnt head to bed until after midnight.
The morning routine was uneventful, except I should not have had my lemon water with breakfast.
The yogurt and oats did not mix well.
My stomach felt odd, and I had some funny-tasting burps before lunch.
By the afternoon, my tummy settles.
I have some peanut butter and crackers before getting the kids from school.
Takeaways
I did not notice a major change in my digestion.
My bowel movements stayed the same, once a day in the morning after breakfast.
The lemon water may have helped me digest the heavier foods.
I dont find drinking plain water challenging.
For me, it was something to look forward to after waking up.
The lemon smell can be reinvigorating and refreshing if you take the time to sip it mindfully.
Although my mornings are hectic, I tried to slow down to enjoy the lemon water.
But there were a couple of days where I felt like it was checking a box.
Garcia-Benson shares that the tartness and scent of lemon may provide a slightly stimulating effect.
A study looked at the effect of inhaling lemon fragrance on the brain using MRI scans.
Should You Drink Lemon Water To Boost Your Energy?
I did not feel any significant changes in my energy after drinking lemon water in the morning.
The times I had an energy boost was when I had tea that containedcaffeine.
However, your experience may be different.
Hydration supports overall physiological function, including mood, energy, and alertness.
However, she advises that people should not use lemon water as a cure-all.
There are other natural ways toboost your energy and wellness.
Moving your body regularly can help wake your body up and reducefeelings of fatigue.
Riebl SK, Davy BM.The Hydration Equation: Update on Water Balance and Cognitive Performance.ACSMs health & fitness journal.
2024;10(8):e29125.
