Drink Lemon Water Daily
Do you like lemons?
Here is some lemon history: according to DNA evidence, the first lemon trees appeared about eight million years ago on the foothills of the Himalayas. All citrus fruits, including Amalaki, limes, oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, mandarins, and others were genetically derived from these original lemon trees of India.
Lemons, one of the world’s first high vitamin C fruits, are rarely consumed in enough quantities to support optimal Vitamin C levels. One way to get your daily dose of Vitamin C is by starting your day with a glass of warm lemon water.
Sour is chronically under-consumed. Clinically sour lemons are used as a digestive aid to boost digestive fire, to boost absorption of herbs, spices, and foods. It is also used as a cleanser for blood Lymph and mouth.
Lemons along with many other citrus fruits are an integral part of the Ayurveda season diet. In fact, in addition to drying the pith and seeds for medicine and cooking with lemons drinking warm lemon water in the morning is part of the daily routine, particularly during late Winter and Spring, when lemons are harvested.
Starting your day with warm lemon water has numerous year-round benefits. Mix a warm 6-8 ounce glass of water with the juice of an organic lemon – add the peel and start your day. To prevent citric acid from affecting tooth enamel, rinse your mouth after drinking.
Lemons Balance Vata (Vata consists mostly of the two elements air and space (also known as ether) and is generally described as cold, light, dry, rough, flowing, and spacious. Autumn represents Vata for its cool, crisp days. Those with the Vata dosha (body type) are usually described as slim, energetic, and creative.)
Studies show the winter-harvested vitamin C in citrus protects volatile fat-soluble vitamins so desperately needed to balance Vata in winter.
Water-soluble vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects against Vata aggravating and damaging oxidative stress or lipid peroxidation, which depletes vitamin E levels.
Without vitamin C, vitamin E can become depleted, unprotected, and terminally damaged, leaving the body without two of its most powerful antioxidants. One stud found vitamin C not only protects vitamin E but will also regenerate it when it becomes damaged or oxidized.
Lemons are Acidic with an Alkaline Effect
Lemons are extremely acidic, with a pH between 2 and 3, so why do so many people swear by their antacid effect? Citric acid increases stomach acidity but also increases mucus and other gastric juices which balance the acidity. Citric acid also stimulated liver bile production, which tells the stomach to release acid contents quickly thereby helping occasional heartburn.
Lemons also have a negative PRAL score (potential renal acid level) suggested that while lemons are acidic when ingested when they reach the kidneys, they have a very low acid impact on the urinary tract system. This is likely due to their high calcium, potassium, and magnesium content. Meats and other proteins show a positive PRAL score suggesting their acidity is not mitigated by the body as easily as the low pH of lemons.
Lemons Kickstart Digestion + Promote Healthy Blood Sugar
Lemons have been used for thousands of years o increase digestive Agni in the form of HCI (Hydrochloric Acid). In one study, lemon juice completely blocked the breakdown of starches by the enzyme amylase by increasing acidity (Agni) in the stomach. The researcher concludes lemon juice not only boosts stomach acid production but could slow the uptake of starches or sugars into the blood, hereby supporting healthy blood sugar.
Lemons Can Prevent Kidney Stones
Citric Acid in lemons can help prevent stone formation by two mechanisms. First, it binds the urinary calcium, thereby reducing the supersaturation of urine. In addition, it binds with calcium oxalate crystals and prevents crystal growth. Low citric acid or a vitamin C deficiency, is one of the most common metabolic disturbances in patients with calcium stones affecting ~60% of these patients.
Patients with low urinary citrate should be encouraged to increase consumption of foods high in citric acids, such as lemon and lime juice. Consuming just 4 oz of lemon juice per day has shown to significantly increase urine citrate levels without increasing oxalate levels.
Lemon Water May Be Good For the Heart
Citrus flavonoids in lemons have been shown to scavenge free radicals, improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, modulate lipid metabolism, and support healthy weight loss, all while supporting healthy function and elasticity of the endothelium (arterial lining). Studies show heart patients who increase citrus flavonoid intake have improved cardiovascular outcomes.
Lemons Help Absorb Iron from Plants
Iron from meat contains a more easily absorbable form of iron called heme iron. Plant-based iron is more heme-free and difficult to digest, which is why vegetarians have to monitor their iron levels.
The acidic and ascorbic acid found in vitamin C has been well studied to support the absorption of plant-based iron into the bloodstream, supporting a healthy response to iron deficiency anemia.
For Weight Loss, Eat the Pith Too!
Studies show certain polyphenols in the pith or white skin of the lemon to support healthy weight loss in mice. Mice were divided into three groups and, for 12 weeks, fed either a low-fat diet (LF), high-fat diet (HF), or a high-fat diet supplemented with 0.5% with lemon polyphenols (LP) extracted from lemon peel. Bodyweight gain: fat pad accumulation, and development of hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance were significantly suppress by lemon polyphenols.
For all of these benefits, consider starting your day with warm lemon water and let us know what you notice.
