Having citrus juice with some added salt first thing in the morning is one of the best things you can do for your health. The type of citrus fruit you consume depends on the goal:

If the goal is to gain muscle mass, drink a glass of orange juice with a quarter teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). This is my “morning mimosa” when trying to put on size. It boosts energy like no tomorrow! Eating breakfast shortly afterward that has a high amount of protein (meat) and fiber (nuts) will help sustain that energy all morning long and power you through your workout.

Sodium bicarbonate has a host of health benefits and tends to mix quite well with orange juice. This little cocktail is not only tasty, but it’s one of the best ways to hydrate the system. Each gram of carbohydrate carries three grams of water with it (“hydrate” is part of the word carbohydrate for a reason), and taking salt with a high-carbohydrate source like orange juice helps to shuttle more water into your cells. Sodium bicarbonate works great for this purpose, just look for one that is free of aluminum and gluten.

If the goal is to lose body fat, squeeze fresh lemon or lime into a tall glass of filtered water and add a quarter teaspoon of sea salt. This is a great way to alkalize the body and restore some of the water you lost during sleep. (You can lose as much as a liter of water during sleep through respiration alone.) Lemons and limes are very low in sugar and will help alkalize the water, while the sea salt provides a wide spectrum of minerals to facilitate absorption.

If you consume filtered water without salt, that water will go in one end and out the other! That’s why you urinate a lot if you drink “naked” water. A delicate balance of electrolytes exists in the body for proper function and an excessive intake of water can dilute these minerals, so your body releases the water to protect you. In other words, you don’t absorb the water! In fact. drinking too much water without salt can actually dehydrate you and be fatal in extreme cases.

Bottom Line: Drinking citrus juice with salt first thing in the morning is a great way to boost your health and performance.