Drinking lemon water first thing in the morning has been shown to increase hydration, resulting in a brighter complexion, a way to naturally detox the body and improve digestion. Get the recipe for my favorite hot lemon ginger detox tonic to jumpstart your morning routine inspired by my recent trip to Le Pain Quotidien in NYC!
I don’t know about you, but most mornings when I wake up my mouth feels dry and my body feels completely depleted of water. To make matters worse, I often reach for the coffee pot before anything else, which really, is not hydrating at all.
A few months ago, I started drinking hot lemon water as a way to hydrate my body first thing in the morning after hearing and reading about the many health benefits that this simple morning routine has to offer.
What are the health benefits of lemon and ginger detox tonic?
- Clearer, brighter skin. Have you ever noticed that when your body is properly hydrated, your skin is brighter and almost has a dewy (in a good way) glow? While you are getting your recommended 7-9 hours of shut eye every night, your body is still working hard to function properly and maintain optimal health.
Knowing this, it’s important to hydrate yourself first thing in the morning to reenergize your body and mind. The vitamin C found in lemons also helps produce collagen, creating that youthful and glowing look we are all after! - Improved digestion. When our bodies are properly hydrated, it helps things continue to move along as they should be (if you know what I mean!). The acidity in the lemon juice also stimulates bile production, which helps foods move smoothly through the digestive system and allows nutrients to be absorbed more easily.
- A natural way to flush out toxins. You might not know it, because, well, you’re sleeping, but your liver is hard at work during rest to eliminate toxins built up in the body that are found in our foods and environment.
Drinking enough water throughout the day (so why not start first thing in the morning?!) helps the liver do its job and the stimulating effects of the lemon juice naturally flushes out these unwanted toxins.
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- Mood and metabolism booster. Proper hydration = happy mind. End of story. But seriously, did you know that your brain is made up of about 75% water? When we are properly hydrated, our brain can function at its best which keeps potential crankiness at bay.
Lemon contains pectin which is a type of fiber, helping our bodies feel fuller longer which can aid in weight loss and keep metabolism revved up!
So can you see why drinking this first thing in the morning can be a game changer for your health?
My morning ritual of drinking hot lemon water lasted for a while, but I recently got out of routine and honestly, tired of it, (even though I knew the host of reasons why I should be drinking it).
That is, until I visited Le Pain Quotidien during a recent trip to NYC and had their Hot Lemon, Ginger and Honey Tea.
Oh my.
I had found a new love for all things hot and lemon-y and this even had ginger and honey, adding even more healthy goodness to my cup! Every sip was equally tart from the lemon, sweet from the honey and spicy from the ginger. It was delicious and I couldn’t wait to try and recreate this at home.
Well, I think I nailed it and here I am, sharing it with you all! Whether hot lemon water is a part of your routine or not, I highly recommend adding this to your morning. Not only does this Hot Lemon Ginger Detox Tonic have amazing health benefits, it is equally delicious, soothing and energizing!
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So maybe tomorrow morning, instead of immediately reaching for the coffee pot, try making this tonic. Don’t worry, you can have your coffee afterwards! I even make multiple batches at a time to have on hand so that all I have to do is reheat it when I wake up or when I’m feeling the need for a little energizing boost in my day.
Hot Lemon Ginger Detox Tonic
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Jumpstart your morning routine, improve your hydration and help your body naturally detox with my favorite hot lemon ginger detox recipe.
Ingredients
Instructions
- With a box grater, grate the ginger on the side with the largest holes.
- In a small saucepan, add the water, grated ginger, lemon juice and honey. Bring to a simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Pour the lemon ginger tonic into a blender and blend on low until frothy. Pour into your favorite mug and enjoy!
Notes
- For a recipe shortcut, you could add the ginger knob, honey and lemon to a blender, along with hot water. Blend until frothy.
- You could make a big batch of this and store in the fridge for a couple of days. Reheat one serving at a time on the stovetop when ready to serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 cups
- Calories: 71
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: cleanse, detox, health benefits, hot lemon water, lemon ginger detox tonic, morning routine
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53 Responses
Love the benefits of lemon! I need to do this more instead of coffee. I’ll try it , minus the ginger though…i prefer that in food than in my drink 🙂
It would be delicious with the lemon and honey in it 🙂
I LOVE ginger! Lemon + ginger is my favorite combination….bring on the spiciness
Yes! I actually hate spicy foods but the ginger has a different kind of spiciness… plus, I know it’s good for me, so I’ll drink it!
Ooooh I have the same mug as you!! And it’s a mood booster? Could me in! I’m a huge coffee drinker but really should switch to tea sometimes. There’s no need for me to drink coffee at 5pm at night. LOL.
Whoohoo! Yes, you and me both. I’ve definitely been guilty of drinking it too late in the evening, but it just tastes SO GOOD!
I’m the same way, I wake up feeling so dehydrated every morning! This looks really good, I’m a big fan of ginger tea!
Then I bet you would love this drink!
I’d have to leave the ginger out as well. But I’m going to try this tomorrow morning.
It would still be delicious with the lemon and honey!
I am totally pinning and saving this because Lemon is a must have for my husband and I to help to flush our toxins… it’s very important in our diet and we drink lemon detox drinks and lemon water all the time. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome! Love to hear that you are a fan of all things lemon. Thanks for the pin love!
I love this! I am a big believer in using hot lemon water to aid digestion, especially first thing in the morning. I made a ginger detox tea that I usually drink in the evenings, but it never crossed my mind to add it to my morning routine. haha. Brilliant! I really love your beautiful pictures and detailed health details. Great post!
Thank you, Aarika! I’ve never had this in the evening, but I’ll have to give it a try! I love the way it starts my mornings off.
This sounds like such an interesting way to start the day! I will be trying this!
Hope you love it, Leah!
I was just talking to my friend about lemon water and maybe doing a detox. I think maybe we could start with this! I’m going to share it with her.
This would be a great starting point! Have you seen my 5-Day FitLiving Eats cleanse? It’s a whole foods, plant-based detox from processed foods and is designed to get you back to a clean way of eating!
Oooo can’t wait to try this! I love lemons and they have so many health benefits! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hope you love it, Cara!
I love the sound of this detox tonic. I start my day with a glass of water and lemon but now that it’s moving into the colder months this might be my new go-to. Thanks!
Where do you live? We are heading into the warmer months! This drink is good hot or cold 🙂
I’ve been hearing a lot about this detox lately! I really need to give it a try!
I hope you love it, Rachel! It’s a great way to start the day.
Ginger + Lemon is my favorite combo! I’m definitely trying this over the weekend!
Hope you love it, Liz!
I like to drink warm lemon water every morning when I wake up. Lately I have been making turmeric tea with ginger.
Oh, yum! I have yet to make turmeric tea. Next on my list!
Lemons have so many uses and benefits. Going to try this lemon detox.
Hope you love it, Candy!
This sounds great! I love the ingredients!
Thanks, Linda!
This is so perfect for a stressful day! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Yes! Enjoy, Chloe!
I am trying this tomorrow! I am with you, I got sooo bored of plain warm lemon water that I just stopped drinking it. And, while I know that’s not good, I just couldnt do it anymore. This is such a great replacement! I cannot wait to try.
Amen! I hope you love this new twist on it 🙂
I’m a huge fan of the honey, lemon and ginger combination. I make this concoction as a cough syrup for my toddler and I use it to put in my tea as well. Such great benefits and a great alternative to regular lemon water (which I also love)!
What a great idea! It’s a powerful trio, for sure!
What a great way to start the day, thanks for sharing this recipe. I’ve always been a fan of lemon water but this is a great twist 😉
– Cydney x
Enjoy, Cydney!
Sounds great! I never tried this before.
I hope you love it!
I love this drinking this in the morning! it’s the perfect way to start the day 🙂
★★★★★
Hi Sarah – I am so glad this has become a part of your morning routine! It’s such a zesty way to wake up. Enjoy!
Hi Carly, I love this! I’ve been sipping it every morning while I do yoga. I have a question – what are your thoughts on swapping the lemon juice with grapefruit juice? Are there better benefits to using lemons? Which nutrients would I be giving up and which would I gain? I’ve tried making it with both and prefer the grapefruit. Plus I have a grapefruit tree in my yard so I never have to run to the store when I run out. Thanks for all your great recipes!
★★★★★
Hi Sherry, I’m so glad you love this recipe! It’s a good one, especially during these cooler months. I’ve never tried it with grapefruit before, but I bet it is delicious! Both lemons and grapefruit have vitamin C, so you are still getting a healthy dose of nutrients. I say go for it!
I only have ground ginger. How much of that can I use to substitute?
Hi Sammie, great question! While I do suggest using fresh ginger in this recipe (it’s what makes it taste so fresh and yummy), you could use ground ginger in its place. The typical recommendation is to use 1/2 the amount called for if substituting dried spices for fresh.
Can you Lise weight with this recipe?
Hi Juanita, this recipe does support a healthy lifestyle and diet. If your goal is weight loss, I would encourage you to enjoy a diet that is full of whole, minimally processed foods that is balanced with protein, fiber and healthy fats from plant-based sources. There is no one food that is the “magic pill”! Best of luck to you in your journey towards optimal health.
Thank you so much for ana de armas deep water coat sharing such a great and knowledgeable blog.
can I just do ginger and lemon. why is there 19 carbs?
Yes, absolutely. Just be prepared for it tasting a little tart and spicy! The honey helps mellow out these flavors a bit. The carbs are coming from the honey and a few from the lemon juice. Enjoy!