The truth about lemon water
You might be wondering why my first post is about lemons. Well, the story behind it is simply a phone call.
A few weeks ago, one of my best friends called me. She wanted to know how I felt about drinking lemon water first thing in the morning. After a few months with this habit, she developed gastritis. Thus began a long conversation on the subject.
I remember lemons being part of our daily routine, thinking back to my childhood. I was lucky enough to grow up in a family where all kinds of herbal remedies were a tradition. My mother was my first teacher. I remember it like it was yesterday. My experience with lemons began with the morning tea my mother prepared for us. As a ritual, she always added 1 or 2 slices of lemon to our morning tea. Yay, I loved that taste. I asked my mom why she consistently put lemon in our tea one day. That was the moment my first lesson about lemons began.
As far as I can remember, my mother’s answers were:
Lemons contain a lot of vitamin C, which makes you strong.
Lemons help with digestion, so your tummy will be happy. Lemons are essential for your liver, kind of a friend that helps it flush the “dirty stuff” out of your body.
Lemons keep the cold away from you.
My mother is 75 years young, and warm lemon water is still part of her daily routine, as an exact ritual, but never on an empty stomach. Every day, an hour or two before lunch, she drinks her warm lemon water.
The health benefits of lemon water
I never thought lemons would play an essential role in my future daily routine as a child. We love lemon ice cream, lemonade, lemon pie, etc. But do we realize how much our bodies love and need lemons?
First of all, Alternative Medicine and Convention Medicine do not have the same opinion about the health benefits of lemons.
In alternative medicine, warm lemon water is considered a remedy for indigestion, heartburn, flatulence, colds, flu, etc.
As a natural medicine girl, I stick to Traditional Chinese and other forms of alternative medicine.
For sure, lemon water as a habit can support overall health. High in vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, and other micronutrients, lemons are always on hand to help you stay healthy.
My 4 favorite benefits of lemon water
1. Liver detoxification due to d-limonene
I also use lemons for their peel. Let me explain. Lemon peels contain D-limonene, a powerful antioxidant that helps detoxify the liver. A healthy liver is vital for hormone balance. Studies have shown that limonene has anti-cancer properties. Alternative medicine believes that D-limonene may prevent cancer, boost the immune system, and reduce stress and anxiety. D-limonene is found in the essential oils of citrus fruits such as grapefruit, tangerine, and lemon. I prefer the zest of lemons because it’s easier to find organic lemons than other organic citrus fruits. And it’s cheaper, too.
2. Reduce the effects of stress
We all know that lemons contain a lot of vitamin C. A study found that vitamin C helps reduce the effects of stress on people. Stress is the “silent killer.” Frequent exposure to high levels of stress depletes the body’s physical resources. Two lemons a day provide me with all the vitamin C I need for the entire day.
3. Protect our body from kidney stones
One of the most important reasons I drink lemon water is that lemons prevent kidney stones. Some foods can cause kidney stones, especially those high in oxalates, such as kale, spinach, cocoa powder, beets, okra, raspberries, sweet potatoes, etc. Lemons and limes contain a lot of natural citrates, which help prevent stones. Citrate is an important ingredient that prevents kidney stones from getting bigger. Make your sugar-free lemonade by mixing lime or lemon juice with water and a sugar substitute like coconut sugar, maple syrup, etc. Lemon water is an affordable way to prevent kidney stones, especially if you eat a diet high in oxalates.
4. Helps with collagen production
Studies have shown that vitamin C plays a crucial role in collagen production. Twenty years ago, I was a mountain bike girl. After a while, I started having significant problems with my left knee. An acupuncturist recommended I take vitamin C daily along with other supplements. What’s the catch? Studies have shown that vitamin C speeds up the healing of bone, tendon, and ligament injuries. This happens because vitamin C promotes collagen production and healing soft tissues like ligaments, tendons, skin, etc. Collagen makes your skin glow. As we age, the body produces less collagen, resulting in wrinkles, stiff joints, etc. During menopause, collagen production also decreases.
Lemons zest and hormones balance
You may be wondering what the connection is between these two things. Well, lemons detoxify the liver due to D-limonene, which is found in the peel of the citrus fruit. The clue is that a HEALTHY LIVERS IS VITAL FOR HORMONE BALANCE. As women, we are bombarded daily with many chemicals from makeup, creams, shampoos, conditioners, hair dyes, dishwashing detergents, household cleaners, etc. Some of these toxins can mimic the hormones in our bodies and lead to further hormonal imbalance. Excess estrogen is filtered out of the body by the liver. A sluggish liver cannot eliminate the excess estrogen, re-entering the body. A healthy liver eliminates the toxic waste we take in from the air, water, environment, food, etc., such as heavy metals, chemicals, additives, etc. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, acidic foods nourish the liver.
In summary, lemon peels contain D-limonene, which detoxifies the liver and helps eliminate excess estrogen.
Essential tips on lemon water
- Studies have shown that lemon peel contains the highest antioxidants, more than the lemon juice itself.
- Lemon peel is prized for its richness in essential oils. Citrus essential oils contain D-limonene, which detoxifies our liver. To get the full benefits of lemon, you should also use the peel. Grate the zest and add it to your lemon water, smoothie, tea, yogurt, etc. Lemon water is my favorite. It is a fresh and flavorful drink.
- Use only organic lemons because citrus fruits contain several pesticide residues concentrated on the outer peel.
- Always wash the lemons with hot water before squeezing.
- Use a lemon squeezer to get as much juice as possible.
- Use a straw when drinking lemon water to protect your tooth enamel. Rinse your mouth immediately after drinking. I use a paper straw. More and more supermarkets are replacing plastic straws with paper straws.
- Eliminating plastic is suitable for your hormone balance.
- Lemon ice cubes are a very refreshing idea for summer. I used to juice a few lemons, keep them in ice cube trays, and freeze them. I then add that to my fresh drink, such as fruit-infused water. A touch of ginger adds a nice spicy flavor.
If you have a sensitive stomach, I do not recommend lemon water first thing in the morning. Such a long-term habit could cause gastritis. I drink warm lemon water in the late morning after my breakfast.
HUGS for now,
Gabby
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