There's nothing quite like a bit of lemony, sunshiny good cheer to start your day!

That's what lemon water does for me -- it starts off my day in a positive, happy mood, because I know it's doing my body a world of good.

And yes, I do drink it before I have my Micronized Purple Rice (MPR) powder. I still consider that to be "on an empty stomach," which is the way we recommend using MPR.

I have my MPR a few minutes afterward, and I believe the two work well together, possibly because they both contain a lot of antioxidants. They both are so good for your body, on so many levels.

I use an entire small organic lemon, or half a large one, squeezed into a 16-oz. glass of room-temperature, pure filtered water. You might want to use a little less lemon juice if that's too strong for you. I often put it in a cup of hot water and drink it like a tea.

Sometimes I'll add a couple slices of fresh ginger, too (discard after drinking the water). That adds a bit of a spicy taste, and helps with digestive issues as well. Let it set for a few minutes before drinking.

I squeeze the lemon juice into the water through a strainer, so I don't have to fish out the seeds. I like to add a little bit of the zest, too, since the oils in the rind are beneficial. Just be sure to scrub the lemon thoroughly first, even if it's organic.

Note that you can use Meyer lemons or other fancy types, when available. I even got some striped lemons recently that were pink on the inside -- delicious!

Meyer lemons, in case you're not familiar with them, are smaller and darker yellow. A cross between regular lemons and mandarin oranges, Meyer lemons are sweeter, milder, and not as acidic as regular lemons.

Speaking of acidity... it's a good idea to drink your lemon water with a straw, for less contact with your teeth. That protects against erosion of your tooth enamel. Also, don't brush your teeth right afterward, as that will wear off tooth enamel even more.

With that in mind, today on the blog, I'm giving you 5 health benefits of drinking a big glass of lemon juice every morning.

To read the blog, CLICK HERE or on the picture below.