I always want to share great new information when I learn it, but I do some research first. I also want to personally try the product / tip so I can offer informed facts before I post about it, and this is no exception.

Back in the winter I read an article by Charles Poliquin (who is one of the world’s best and well-known strength coaches) about this one thing he has all his clients do each and every day.  At the time I thought, well, that’s easy enough to do… but didn’t do it.

Recently, a sports nutrition expert advised me to try this same tip, and I actually started doing it on a regular basis – and have felt better!

Disclaimer – this might be a little TMI for some of you, so if you choose to skip this paragraph, just head down to the picture.

How have I felt better?  I’ve been frustrated for the last few weeks because I’ve felt bloated and gassy (sorry, I warned you). It’s an odd feeling – to feel bloated internally, but to never actually BE bloated. You just feel uncomfortable, like your digestive system isn’t working as it should. Even more frustrating because my foods haven’t changed, so there’s no obvious reason for this effect. It’s been two weeks of doing this healthy tip, and I feel 90% better – which is a pretty good impact for how simple it is.

If you’re going to make one small change to your day – do this: start your morning with a drink of lemon / lime water with a pinch of coloured salt (not white table salt). That’s it! Simple right? The recommended breakdown is:

• one cup of water (room temp)
• 1/4 tsp salt (I do two twists of the grinder… it’s pretty exact.)
• “squeeze” of lemon / lime (use your discretion for flavor and acidity tolerance. I do literally one squeeze of the bottle.)

This one simple drink first thing in the morning packs a lot of health benefits… just think of it as lemonade!

The salt (I use pink Himalayan salt – it’s what we use all the time, and is easily found at Costco) is good for the adrenal glands. These glands regulate the hormones involved in energy levels and stress management (cortisol). Cortisol is needed, so we should strive to optimize it, and the salt will help it peak in the morning – when we want it higher. Additionally, the salt also helps intestinal health with its anti-microbial properties.

The lemon or lime juice impacts our pH level with it’s alkaline effect. Our pH levels need the alkaline boost in the morning, which helps energy production in the cells.

This simple drink can help boost your energy production and regulate your cortisol levels – both huge advantages if you’re doing a lot of heavy training or exercise. It’s been found to even play a role in decreasing abdominal fat… and at this point, I’ll take any advantage I can get – no matter how small it is. The other basic bonus – it gets you to drink a glass of water right first thing in the morning, starting your hydration off on a good foot.

Tip – if you find the acidity bothers your teeth, rinse your mouth with plain water after drinking.

So, give it a try. If you’re a little bit of a zombie in the morning and will likely forget this (me!), set a glass out on the counter as a reminder, or leave a note on your fridge. Soon enough, it’ll be part of your routine and you won’t need the reminder. It’s cheap and easy – what do you have to lose??  Cheers!

If you want to learn more about Charles Poliquin, check out his website. He’s got great training and nutrition articles.