Top 5 Benefits of Drinking Lemon and Water
Having lemon and water first thing in the morning has become a staple in my life. It’s such a quick and easy thing to add to your morning ritual with awesome benefits so it’s a no brainer. The key to this is consistency to notice results.
Here are my top 5 reasons to drink lemon and warm water first thing when you wake up every day.
1. Better digestion
The citric acid in lemons can help to stimulate the production of Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) which helps to digest proteins in your stomach by converting pepsinogen (an inactive enzyme) into pepsin (the active enzyme). HCl is also important to eliminate bacteria, viruses or parasites that may enter the stomach through your food. HCl can also help to stimulate bile production in the liver, which the gallbladder then secretes to help breakdown fats into fatty acids. Increased enzyme and bile production will lead to better food digestion. Increased HCl production can also help ease bloating, indigestion and heartburn.2.
2. Better bowel movements
Improved digestion, can result in better bowel movements. Just drinking warm water alone first thing in the morning can help relieve constipation by rehydrating the body and help to “move things along”. It’s through our stool where cholesterol is removed from the body as well as excess estrogen and bacteria.
3. Better liver function
The liver plays an important role in terms of digestion but liver cells also detoxify the body of drugs, alcohol, and hormones. The liver also produces vital substances such as cholesterol and lipoproteins and plays an important role in metabolism. Over time the liver can become overloaded from toxins in our food, environment, medications, alcohol, etc. Drinking lemon and water daily can help the liver’s enzyme production- which ultimately helps the liver to do what it’s supposed to do- detoxify.
4. Better skin
Clearer and brighter skin can result from improved bowel movements and improved liver function, both of which impact the body’s hormone levels. When the liver is functioning optimally, excess hormones such as estrogen can be eliminated from the body. This is important because a build-up of estrogen can lead to hormonal imbalances and subsequently acne can result. Vitamin C in the lemons is an antioxidant that can also help promote collagen production. Collagen is a protein that strengthens our skin and helps to maintain it’s elasticity.
5. Better immune system
Lemons are an excellent source of vitamin C which is one of the main antioxidants found in the body and can support a healthy immune system. Antioxidants such as Vitamin C help to protect the body from oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Lemons are also a great source of flavonoids. Flavonoids are a group of phytonutrients that can help reduce inflammation, protect cells from free radicals and boost the effectiveness of Vitamin C.
How to prepare and take your lemon and water drink:
Take 1 cup of warm water, filtered water. (Water should be warm to match body temperature which will assist in the assimilation into the body).
Squeeze the juice of half of 1 fresh organic lemon or you can add 1-2 drops of Young Living pure lemon oil (please do not add other essential oil brands as they may not be food grade).
You can also add a dash of cayenne pepper to increase your digestive fire.
Sip it slowly, over the course of 5 minutes to aid in absorption.
Sip to through a straw to avoid sensitivity to your teeth (glass straws are great!).
After drinking your lemon water, wait about 15 mins before having your breakfast.
Try this and see what changes you notice in 6 months and in 1 year from now!