Here is a great analogy: If the events of your day are like beads on a necklace, your morning and evening routine are the knots that keep the beads on the string.
If you have great habits that you practice consistently first thing when you get up and when preparing for bed, you will feel more balanced, in control and accomplished. These rituals are the things that cement the rest of your experiences in place and help you learn, grow and thrive.
What you do as soon as you wake up can make or break the rest of your day! Why not kick things off with an easy first step to set up the day for health and energy?
These simple drink recipes will get your body and mind movin’ and groovin’ so you feel great and can blaze on through your schedule or to-do list.
Want to boost your immune system, fire up your digestion and have tons of energy? Try one of these easy recipes as your first port of call.
We recommend preparing the ingredients the night before so that you will have an easier time completing the ritual, no matter what. Because we all know that “evening you” can be a lot more motivated and clear-minded than “morning you,” right?
On to the recipes!
Warm lemon water
Drinking lemon water is one of the best ways to start your day. It increases gastric juices to help clean out the digestive system and rev up the metabolism. It provides the liver with raw materials to make enzymes and support detoxification. As if that’s not enough, it contains heaps of vitamins and antioxidants to keep cells and tissues healthy and help skin stay clear and bright.
All you need to do is boil a cup of filtered water, then let the water cool to a comfortable temperature and mix in the juice of half a fresh lemon, and sip away!
Raw coconut vinegar in water
Raw vinegar has similar alkalizing and cleansing benefits to lemon juice, plus the added boost of probiotics! If you’ve been an apple cider vinegar fan, be sure to add raw coconut vinegar to your repertoire.
Making this drink couldn’t be easier: just fill a glass with filtered water (slightly cool or room temperature is best) and add a tablespoon of raw coconut vinegar. That’s it!
Raw apple cider vinegar and raw honey
This powerhouse combo is an immune-boosting miracle. The probiotics in the raw apple cider vinegar and the enzymes in the raw honey are sure to fend off allergies and seasonal bugs. Just remember to buy the raw versions of each product; the pasteurized versions do not have these benefits!
To make the drink, mix one tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar and one teaspoon of raw honey into a glass of warm (not hot) water.
Bulletproof coffee
What the heck is bulletproof coffee, you say? It’s a term coined by “The Bulletproof Executive” Dave Asprey, a well-known researcher and biohacker, to describe high-quality organic coffee that has been blended with healthy fats, such as grass-fed butter and coconut oil, or MCT oil (medium-chain triglycerides).
The fats help increase the antioxidant action of the coffee and give the body a more “balanced” energy than just coffee on its own. The fats fill you up and keep you from getting hungry too soon before lunchtime.
To make bulletproof coffee, brew up some good organic joe, then pop it in the blender with a tablespoon of grass-fed butter and a teaspoon of coconut or MCT oil. If you like, add some cinnamon, vanilla extract or raw cocoa powder for flavor.
Green juice
Want clear skin, bright eyes and a supercharged body? Start your day with a green juice! Your body will love the flood of antioxidants and vitamins!
There are any number of recipes to use, but ensure there is at least a double-handful of greens in there, and more vegetables than fruit. Try blending a handful of fresh parsley or coriander, a handful of spinach, half a cup of cucumber, half a lemon, half a green apple, and half a cup of blueberries.
Green tea
This morning favorite is packed with antioxidants and polyphenols, which will save your cells from free radical damage and keep you looking younger.
Brew up a healthy cup of organic green tea using a teabag or loose-leaf tea and freshly boiled, filtered water.
Turmeric elixir
Another great option is to start your day with one of nature’s most potent anti-inflammatory plants. Balance out the earthy flavor of turmeric with coconut water and honey.
Mix together two teaspoons of turmeric powder, one tablespoon of ginger powder, the juice of three fresh lemons, a dash of cayenne pepper and four cups of coconut water. Add a little raw honey to make this spicy brew more palatable.
Ginger tea
If you want to improve digestion, relieve chronic pain and keep your immune system working optimally, ginger tea is a great choice.
Simply grate a thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger root, squeeze the juice from the pulp into a cup, and add hot water. If it’s too zingy, add a little honey when the tea has cooled.
Kefir
For a quick dose of energy in the morning, try kefir! This traditional cultured milk drink is packed with probiotics and provides protein and fat to keep you energized.
Find a good-quality kefir at your local health-food store or market, or make your own by buying kefir grains and adding them to the milk of your choice. If dairy is not your thing, try making almond milk kefir. Even just one tablespoon of this drink provides millions of beneficial bacteria to boost digestion and immunity. Drink up to half a cup in the morning for an easy dose of energy.
Use these simple drink recipes to start your morning off right and set yourself up for a great day, every day!
—Liivi Hess
Liivi is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and is training to become a doula. She inspires women to find peace and personal power by taking control of health and fertility naturally. Liivi‘s passion is ancestral nutrition and primal lifestyle design. She and her partner Will live between Toronto, Canada and Queenstown, New Zealand.
Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1785201
http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S002202990002759X
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924857905000543
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814605003262
http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/znc.2002.57.issue-9-10/znc-2002-9-1013/znc-2002-9-1013.xml
http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/8617188
