I love everything about lemons! I am excited to share with you some of the reasons why.
Lemons have amazing qualities that do great things for your body. Not only do lemons add extra flavour and zest to our food but they also boost digestion and improve overall health! Amazing right??
One of the biggest issues people have these days are digestive issues. When asked what can be done to help with these issues I always recommended starting the day off with warm water and fresh lemon juice first thing upon waking. This doesn’t mean eat your breakfast and go about your morning and then have this beverage. This means first thing in the morning on an empty stomach!! I have added this to my morning routine; I literally roll out of bed, boil water, add lemon and drink while I am getting ready for my day then have breakfast once I am finished. My digestive system is very happy to have this as part of my daily routine!
Now for the fun stuff…. what does something as simple as water and lemon juice really do for you??
- Most people wake up fairly dehydrated, drinking this first thing in the morning allows you to immediately rehydrate your system
- Stimulates healthy bowel movements
- Lemon juice helps promote healthy stomach acid secretion, this results in better digestion
- Cleanses your system- lemon juice helps flush-unwanted material as it increases the rate of urination. This causes the toxins to release at a faster rate which keeps your urinary tract healthy
- Detoxification- lemons help maximize enzyme function which stimulates the liver and aids in detoxification
- Boosts immune system- lemons are high in vitamin C which is great for fighting colds
- Stimulates brain and nerve function due to the high amounts of potassium
- Controls blood pressure
- Antimicrobial- from the saponins in lemons
- Anti-inflammatory effects
- Balances pH levels- lemons are one of the most alkalizing foods for the body (who would have thought something acidic actually alkalizes the body??)
- Clears skin- contains antioxidants which helps decrease wrinkles and blemishes. Also helps fight free radical damage
- Energizes and enhances your mood- contains negative charged ions which provide the body with more energy
- Aids in weight loss- controls cravings due to the high amounts of pectin fiber
- And why warm water? Allows the body to utilize it faster then cold water. When you drink cold water, our stomachs have to work hard to heat it up before it can be digested.
Wow that’s a tonne of benefits!
How to:
- Try to consume a liter or close to- heat water in kettle
- Add around ½ a medium sized lemon
I highly encourage everyone to add this to your morning routine!!
Enjoy!
~Jamie