Zest in a cup
I want to share something super simple that has been improving my life in subtle but powerful ways.
It’s the practice of drinking warm lemon water every morning. What could be more zesty than a lemon?
You may have come across this tip, as it’s one of those internet fads that seems to be all the rage now. I first read about it in 2005 in Natural Choices for Women’s Health by Dr. Laurie Steelsmith. It’s become part of my annual spring “detox” that I have been doing for at least a decade in one form or another. I took the last two years off due to pregnancy and new-motherhood, and now I’m remembering how amazing it feels to embrace spring with a fresh start after a long stodgy winter.
Here’s what’s changing for me: more regular and complete bowel movements (As an acupuncturist, I talk about poop a lot), cleaner skin, less phlegm, more energy, clearer thinking, more enthusiasm and optimism for life, happier in general.
I got curious this time about why it’s so helpful. As I waded through the many posts on the internet, I culled the information that best explains the benefits I experience.
Benefits:
1. Hydration: We get dry overnight due to lack of water intake while we sleep. A glass in the morning hydrates the cells and wakes them up for optional functioning of excretory methods via the bowels (yup, poop again), kidneys, and skin,
2. Digestion: The warm water kickstarts digestion in the morning. Cold water requires the body to spend extra energy warming itself back up. In East Asian medicine, warm temperatures are said to create optimal digestion, especially when taken in the morning.
3. Liver: Lemons stimulate liver function according to Dr. Alexander Beddoe in Biological Ionization in Human Nutrition (see liversupport.com/love-your-liver-with-lemon-water for more info and studies on lemon’s effect on liver enzymes). The sour flavor is associated with the Liver system in East Asian medicine. Lemon peel contains D-limonene, which stimulates phase I and II detox cycles of the liver.
4. Nutritional benefits: Lemon contains Vitamin C, valuable for healthy immune and adrenal function, and glutathione recycling, which is vital in phase II liver detoxification. Lemon also contains electrolytes such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium (great for brain function).
5. Aromatherapy: The smell of the volatile oils in lemon wakes up the brain and makes you feel alert and fresh. Nice ways to feel in the morning!
Here’s how I do it.
I do this first thing in the morning.
· Use organic lemons when possible, as some of the benefits are in the skin.
· Boil some water.
· Wash the lemon, cut in quarters.
· Squeeze one quarter into a cup and drop the squeezed quarter in too.
· Fill it half full with hot water.
· Top up with cool water so you can drink it right away.
Some sources say to use ½ a lemon, but that seems pretty sour to me. In my experience, if you use good quality lemons, ¼ is good enough to see results. Try it daily for 2 weeks minimum.