Now a fully competent adult, I can finally admit without guilt that I am NOT a morning person. I thrive at night and sleep is notoriously difficult for me. While working for myself allows me more flexibility than most nine to fivers, I am still not ready to rise and shine without resistance. Cue my morning coffee habit. For the last two decades I have rolled out of bed and hit the brew button, hard. Like a zombie looking for brains I could not come alive until that first warm, rich, sip hit the back of my throat. But then I became a Holistic Health Coach and learned that my morning between the sheets coffee cuddle sesh was harmful to my body and my brain.

During the night your body is anything but at rest. It’s actually working hard to repair itself from the stresses of the day by releasing harmful toxins. A mindless coffee habit puts that stress right back into your waking body causing cortisol levels to spike which leads to hormone imbalance and weight gain. The early morning overproduction of the stress-hormone can even increase insomnia and compromise the immune system. A “but first, coffee” attitude also stimulates acid production & causes inflammation in the gut. So starting your day this way will only lead to anxiety, brain fog and belly bloat undoing all the sleep benefits from the night before.

Drinking water before a cup of joe, jumpstarts our metabolism aiding in better digestion and absorption of nutrients and helps to flush out those toxins while balancing the immune system. As VH1's three time male model of the year, Derek Zoolander once said, “moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty.”

But what if I told you that adding 4 easy to find ingredients to that glass of water could completely shift your body’s frequency? Cue “Mermaid Water” the morning elixir that leaves me feeling so damn good that everyone I care about starts their day with the recipe.

My “Mermaid Water” is a concoction of good for you ingredients that when combined embody the revitalization that water brings as symbolized in the the mythical mermaid. The signature verdant shade of my morning elixir comes from chlorophyll, the life-force in plants that traps sunlight and converts carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose. These two compounds are necessary for every cell in your body so why not add them to your routine and feel the plant-powered results with a few revitalizing extras? Plus coffee and chlorophyll are like yin and yang. Coffee is acidic and chlorophyll is alkaline. Chlorophyll followed by coffee: the perfect pH match!

Behind the why: recipe Benefits

chlorophyll

• Detoxifies the liver

• Fights infection

• Reduces bloat

• Speeds up wound healing

• Maintains weight

• Gives you glowing skin

• natural deodorant

Aloe vera

• Regulates digestion& balances stomach acids

• Soothes sore muscles

• SupPorts antioxidant & immune health

LEmon

• Alkalizes ph levels

• Supports digestion

• Has Vitamin C and potassium

• Reduces blood pressure

• Stimulates collagen production

Sea Salt

• Helps digest and absorb nutrients

• Antibacterial

• Pulls toxins from the body

• Hydrates

• Reduces stress hormones

• Improves sleep