The Benefits of Lemon Water in the Morning

Many years ago, a friend’s mom told me that she never starts her day without a warm glass of lemon water. She said it makes her feel great and really starts the day off on the right foot. I should add that this woman is a natural health nut and really looks as great as I’m sure she must feel! She also taught me never to drink something cold first thing in the morning, as the cold temperature can shock your body.

Years passed, I moved away, and I never really thought about the lemon water again… Until this past summer when I decided to try it for at least a week to see what was so great about it. And I’m happy to report that it’s definitely all it’s made out to be!

I did some research to find out the health benefits from a more scientific perspective, and was very impressed with what I found:

• Aids digestion – The warm water helps stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, and the lemon helps loosen any toxins in the digestive tract.
• Detoxifies the skin and body – As a natural diuretic, lemons help flush the body of any toxins by increasing the rate of urination. Their high vitamin C content also removes impurities from the blood, leading to clearer, more radiant skin.
• Boosts immunity – Lemons are high in both vitamin C, which is great for fighting colds, and potassium, which stimulates brain and nerve function and controls blood pressure.
• Helps curb the coffee habit – The first few days of drinking my lemon water, I also had my regular morning cup of coffee, only to find my self with some slight jitters by mid-morning! So, I realized that the lemon water is a healthier replacement.
• Helps with weight loss – Lemons are high in pectin fiber, which helps keep the body fuller, longer. They’re also a mild diuretic and very alkaline; alkaline bodies have been shown to lost weight faster.

Some Guidelines Before You Start

Water Temperature: Your water should be lukewarm to mildly hot, so try to keep it right around body temperature. Cold water will shock your body, and boiling water will kill the beneficial enzymes present in the lemon.

Protect Your Teeth: Because of the acidity of the lemon, it’s best to drink your lemon water through a straw to protect your teeth. I love using my reusable glass straw for this!

Fresh vs. Bottled Lemon: This one’s a no-brainer, but fresh squeezed lemon is better than the bottled stuff. I just fill up my glass with water, squeeze a lemon wedge over the water, then drop the wedge into the glass, stabbing it a few times with my straw to release more of the juice and the fibrous pulp into the water.

Resources:
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/lemon-health-benefits.html
http://lajollamom.com/2011/01/drink-warm-lemon-water-in-the-morning/
http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.ca/2011/10/5-reasons-to-drink-lemon-water-in.html

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About the Author:

Sarah is a former school teacher turned stay-at-home wife and mother. She is the author of Nature’s Nurture – a blog about everything simple, natural, and homemade – in which she documents the changes she’s making to slowly convert her home into a more natural, sustainable, toxic-free environment for her family. Nature’s Nurture also serves as a resource for others looking for simple ways to take small steps towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle. You can follow along at her blog, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.