My Favorite Morning Health Tip
By Paula Burton
Want a simple and easy way to jump start your morning? Upon waking, begin the day with a hot (not boiling) cup of water with a squeeze of
fresh lemon. Check out all the amazing benefits of this simple, yet effective, morning routine:
1. Boosts you're immune system
Lemons are high in Vitamin C and potassium. Vitamin C is great for
fighting colds and potassium stimulates brain & nerve function and
helps control blood pressure.
2. Balances pH
Lemons are an incredibly alkaline food, believe it or not. Yes, they are
acidic on their own, but inside our bodies they're alkaline (the citric
acid does not create acidity in the body once metabolized). As you
wellness warriors know, an alkaline body is really the key to good
health.
3. Helps with weight loss
Lemons are high in pectin fiber, which helps fight hunger cravings. It
also has been shown that people who maintain a more alkaline diet lose
weight faster. And, my experience is that when I start the day off
right, it's easier to make the best choices for myself the rest of the
day.
4. Aids digestion
The warm water serves to stimulate the gastrointestinal tract and
peristalsis—the waves of muscle contractions within the intestinal walls
that keep things moving. Lemons and limes are also high in minerals and
vitamins and help loosen ama, or toxins, in the digestive tract.
5. Acts as a gentle, natural diuretic
Lemon juice helps flush out unwanted materials because lemons increase
the rate of urination in the body. Toxins are, therefore, released at a
faster rate which helps keep your urinary tract healthy.
6. Clears skin
The vitamin C helps decrease wrinkles and blemishes. Lemon water purges
toxins from the blood which helps keep skin clear as well.
7. Hydrates the lymph system
This cup of goodness helps start the day on a hydrated note, which helps
prevent dehydration (obviously) and adrenal fatigue. When your body is
dehydrated, or deeply dehydrated (adrenal fatigue) it can't perform all
of it's proper functions, which leads to toxic buildup, stress,
constipation, and the list goes on. Your adrenals happen to be two small
glands that sit on top of your kidneys, and along with your thyroid,
create energy. They also secrete important hormones, including
aldosterone. Aldosterone is a hormone secreted by your adrenals that
regulates water levels and the concentration of minerals, like sodium,
in your body, helping you stay hydrated. Your adrenals are also
responsible for regulating your stress response. So, the bottom line is
that you really don't want to mess with a deep state of dehydration!
Adopting just this one practice of drinking a cup of warm water with
lemon in the morning for a month can radically alter your experience of
the day. Don't be surprised if you begin to view mornings in a new
light.