Here at Catered Fit, we strive to provide you with easy ways to improve well-being. You may be accustomed to launching your day with coffee or tea. However, there’s a luscious beverage worth preceding that first brew. Here are six ways you’ll benefit from drinking lemon water.
1. You’ll feel vitalized.
A serving of lemon water floods your body with energizing nutrients. Among them are vitamins C and B, bioflavonoids, magnesium, calcium, potassium, copper, and iron. The high mineral content is alkalizing for your body. Maintaining an alkaline pH helps your organs function optimally.
As lemon moves through your system, it neutralizes toxic molecules called free radicals that cause fatigue. Lemon water builds stamina.
2. You’ll sport a sunnier mood.
Lemon’s scent is uplifting. There’s a scientific reason for this. Inhaling its fragrance increases norepinephrine, a chemical messenger promoting happiness. This was the finding of studies conducted at Ohio State University.
Lemon’s aroma calms your mind while enhancing mental function. Potassium in lemon nourishes nerve cells. A morning dose of lemon water quickly evaporates brain fog.
3. Bid dragon breath good-bye.
So far, we’ve established that drinking lemon water makes you delightful company, with effervescent energy and a cheerful mood. Add fresh breath to your upbeat presence, and your social appeal becomes irresistible!
Lemon neutralizes mouth odor. Citric acid stimulates salivary flow, flushing out bacteria that cause halitosis. Lemon’s antiseptic action protects against gum disease.
4. You’ll enjoy better digestion.
Lemon juice nudges your liver to produce bile, an acid needed to break down and absorb fats. Bile promotes the assimilation of fat-soluble vitamins, such as A, D, E, and K. Lemon also aids digestion by activating the release of gastric juices.
Lemon water can tame heartburn and belching. It stimulates bowel movements, thwarting constipation. Better nutrient absorption deters bloat.
5. Your skin health will improve.
Free radicals speed the skin’s aging process. They destroy collagen, a protein that forms the structural framework for connective tissue. However, antioxidants stop free radicals from harming skin. Vitamin C triggers collagen synthesis, turning back the clock. It also reverses sun damage and maintains skin elasticity.
A 2007 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that foods high in vitamin C prevent wrinkles. Just one tablespoon of lemon juice provides nearly 40 percent of your daily value! The alkaline nature of vitamin C kills acne-causing bacteria. Additionally, lemon purges toxins from the body that contribute to pimples.
6. You’ll stave off illness and disease.
Lemon kills the viruses and bacteria responsible for respiratory infections. By improving iron absorption, vitamin C strengthens immunity. It also prompts the production of glutathione, an antioxidant that supports the liver in its cleansing role. Bioflavonoids block pathogens from penetrating cell walls.
The alkalizing effect of lemon counterbalances acidosis, a state of low blood pH that invites disease. Viruses and harmful bacteria thrive in an acidic body. Conversely, alkalinity supports beneficial bacteria, shielding your immune system against invaders.
Choosing Lemons
When shopping for lemons, select heavy fruit with a pleasing fragrance. Look for bright yellow skin, without wrinkles. Meyer varieties are sweeter than Lisbon and Eureka types.
Organic lemons are both healthier and tastier than chemically-grown fruit. Just be careful to avoid mold, indicated by white and green spores. Thin-skinned lemons yield the most juice. They’re ripe when barely soft to the touch.
Making Your Tonic
Drink your elixir first thing in the morning, before eating. To concoct your tonic, squeeze the juice of half a lemon into 8 ounces of warm water. Thoroughly stir and drink through a straw to protect tooth enamel from erosion. Then, rinse your mouth.
Ideally, you should wait 30 minutes before having breakfast. This delay enables lemon to fully perform its magic.
TIP – Warm water is preferable since it promotes enzymatic function. Hot water destroys lemon’s nutrients and enzymes. Cold water hinders its digestive action.
Multiply the Perks
To augment the power of your lemon cleanse, consider drinking Tropikale, one of our cold-pressed juices. During the day, it helps sustain energy. Lemon is a key ingredient, along with apple, spinach, celery, and kale. You can learn more about Tropikale and her nine nutritious sisters here.
Your Daily Prize
When life hands you a lemon, the best response is to juice it! A morning serving of lemon water will make you energized, chipper, and focused. Your mouth will feel clean, skin will glow, and your tummy will be at peace. You’ll also keep illness and disease at bay. Make lemon water a part of your daily routine. You’ll reap the rewards in spades.