Wondering how to start your day in the best way possible? Here are 3 easy and affordable mixtures that you can make at home.
This post is all about how to start your day | 3 essential drinks to set you up for success
1. Water with lemon and mint
If you’re not a fan of plain drinking water, a slice of lemon will make water much more appealing. I tend to start the day by drinking a full 8oz of water, and a little lemon flavor makes it feel a little more luxurious.
Lemon water is also a sweet, healthy alternative to a fizzy drink. If you’re trying to ease up on soda, then lemon water is a great alternative.
In terms of nutritional value, lemon juice provides vitamin C, potassium, and can even help prevent painful kidney stones.
Top tip? Throw in the peel! It’s packed with nutrition.
As for my other fav mint leaves, mint can help alleviate bad breath and reduce body inflammation.
2. Water with an immune support tablet
No need to buy anything fancy or expensive, but a little immune support tablet can be a great addition to glass of water first thing in the morning.
Personally, I love Target’s immune support tablets. They’re packed full of vitamin C amongst other things.
Normally, you add one to plain water (make sure to read the instructions), and it dissolve before drinking.
Top tip? Check the ingredients of the tablet. Sometimes, brands will pack them full of added sugar which is counterproductive when you’re trying to bolster your immune system.
3. Homemade coffee
Before you start panicking, I’m not saying you need to go out and buy an expensive coffee machine!
While there’s nothing wrong with buying coffee out (these little luxuries are what make life so lovely!), I recommend investing in basic coffee machine (I have a Mr Coffee from Target) so you can easily make your own homemade brew.
One of the misconceptions about coffee is that it’s allllll bad. But in fact, according to a Harvard study, there are actually (like a lot of things we consume) more pros than cons to drinking coffee. According to the study, 2-5 cups of coffee a day is linked to lower chances of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, live and endometrial cancers, Parkinson’s and depression.
Andrew Huberman suggests waiting to have coffee two hours after you wake up is actually best for you. It reduces that shaky or overstimulated feeling you might get when you drink coffee as soon as you get up!
My top tip? Go for a plain black or add a little whole milk or cream (a couple of tablespoons) to your coffee. While I LOVE a latte or a Starbucks frappaccino, the reality is that these heavier (but super tasty!) drinks are more like desserts than healthy additions to your morning routine. There is nothing wrong with these types of coffee, but they’re better saved when you’re feeling like a sweet treat.
My last thing I want to say…. when I was in the depths of major clinical depression, coffee gave me the energy I couldn’t muster. If you’re struggling with your mental health, please seek help from a therapist or doctor, but know that a cup of coffee can also give you the push you need when depression is hardest first thing in the morning.