17 June 2023 , 13:55
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If you start your day with a glass of orange juice or a cup of tea, it could be time to switch up your morning routine.
A nutritionist has claimed there's a "magic" drink everyone ought to enjoy first thing: lemon and warm water.
While the two-ingredient recommendation won't come as a surprise to health gurus - it's long been recommended as a hydration booster - not everyone knows just what a difference it can make.
According to Aislinn Cambridge, nutritional therapist and Pure Results 'Minister 4 Happiness', the drink boasts a number of health benefits. So it is well worth trying out, even if you don't normally opt for a warm drink first thing.
To enjoy the drink simply squeeze half a lemon into warm water (Getty Images/Westend61)The expert told RSVP Live: "There is one thing that absolutely everyone should be doing from the minute they wake up in the morning and that is drink water, it hydrates your body and lowers blood pressure.
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"If you want to have energy and feel good, a warm cup of water with half a lemon squeezed into it. It's like magic."
But it's not just lemon water that can help to make you feel ready to start the day, as Aislinn also said that taking proper care of yourself before bed can help you feel better in the morning.
The nutritionist said you leave at least three hours between your last big meal and the time you go to sleep so that your body can fully digest your food ahead of resting for the night.
She added: "If you're eating a meal and attempting to sleep an hour or two later it will cause havoc because your body can't digest nor rest and recover, the two cancel each other out.
"Both your sleep and your digestion will be affected and when combined it will have a severe impact on your mood. I recommend leaving at least three to four hours after a big meal."
Aislinn also says to stay away from artificial sweeteners whenever you have a craving for sugar because these can actually have a worse effect on your body than natural sugars.
She explained: "Some feel it's better to reach for 'sugar-free' options when they're trying to eat healthily, but they're actually worse.
"So-called 'diet' drinks contain an ingredient called aspartame which our bodies do not know how to process and it has a negative effect on our gut and is far more harmful, inflammatory and corrosive than actual sugar."