“Florida”…the real fountain of youth!
Not many people in Florida take advantage of living in a citrus state. We are so blessed to have bountiful crops of organic lemons at our doorstep.
Lemons are a true powerhouse! They are an excellent source of vitamin C, which is one of the most important antioxidants in nature. It plays a number of roles in the body. Besides functioning as an antioxidant, it helps to destroy free radicals in your body, that might otherwise cause damage to your cells.
An easy and effective way to get your daily dose of Vitamin C is by drinking lemon water every morning.
Even Ayurveda recommends this morning ritual. Drinking lemon water first thing in the morning is one important ritual that provides tremendous benefits to your overall health.
One lemon contains about 30.7 mg of Vitamin C, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The recommended daily amount is 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men.
Here are 6 (and there are many more) reasons to drink lemon water every morning and how to do it:
1. A boost for your immune system and your energy level
Lemon juice is rich in Vitamin C, it has antibacterial and antiviral properties. It gives you an instant boost of energy, and helps to strengthen your immune system to fight cold and flu and soothe a sore throat.
2. It improves digestion
Lemon juice helps to flush out toxins from the digestive tract. It can help ease indigestion, heartburn, and bloating. It also aids to move your bowels in the morning, hydrate your colon, and stimulate bile production.
3. It assists weight loss
Although lemon water on its own is no weight loss miracle, it can help you achieve faster and long term results. Lemon water is satiating, helping you overcome the urge to snack in between meals.
4. It boosts brain power
The high levels of potassium and magnesium in lemon water are beneficial for brain and nerve health. Lemon water can give you the boost you might need to fight depression and stress.
5. It balances pH levels
Lemons are one of the most alkalizing foods for your body. Even though they are acidic on their own, inside our bodies they’re alkaline. Drinking lemon water daily can help to remove overall acidity from your body, including uric acid in the joints, which is one of the primary causes of pain and inflammation.
6. It helps to clear your skin and promotes healing
Vitamin C being an antioxidant helps to decrease wrinkles and blemishes and it helps to combat free radical damage. It promotes wound healing, and is an essential nutrient in the maintenance of healthy bones, connective tissue, and cartilage. As mentioned earlier, since vitamin C displays anti-inflammatory properties, it is an essential nutrient for your skin and helps to maintain it in good health, especially during recovery from stress and injury.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Drink the juice of one lemon in one cup or glass of warm water, first thing in the morning (on an empty stomach). Your body needs water in the morning, hydrating it first thing is incredibly important.
2. If possible, wait 30 minutes before eating breakfast. This will ensure your body gets the most energy and nutrients from the food you eat. Use fresh lemons (preferably organic) and mineral rich filtered water.
3. Water temperature matters. The trick is: not too hot, not too cold. In this case lukewarm is just right. I put the lemon juice in a glass, add room temperature water to fill the glass about two thirds, then I add some hot water, to receive a lukewarm mixture. Remember that boiling water alone will destroy some of the important properties of the fresh lemon, while icy cold water will hinder its digestive benefits.
After drinking lemon water for a few days, you will see health improvements and before you know you’ll be looking forward to this refreshing elixir first thing in the morning! And the health benefits alone will inspire to keep going.
Warmly,
Annette