Could Lemon Water help you achieve your health goals?

The benefits of adding lemon water to your morning ritual are far reaching to say the least. Below are 5 reasons why this practice is becoming so popular in the wellness industry as well as among celebrities such as Beyonce, Jennifer Aniston, Miranda Kerr, Gisele Bündchen and Aesirr’s secret wellness fav- Gwyneth Paltrow.

Hydration. Seems pretty obvious, however being adequately hydrated is paramount for the effective functioning of so many bodily systems. Consider morning hydration as a non-negotiable for your health. Hydrating yourself in the morning is especially important since you would have likely had nothing to drink for the 8 hours prior in which you were asleep. Hydration is the cornerstone to the benefits that follow below.

Lymphatic system support. The lymphatic system, aka your bodys ‘sewerage system’ is constantly undertaking vital immune processes in order to keep you healthy. If ever you wake up in the morning feeling stiff or sore, or you experience cold hands and feet, if you are often tired and experiencing brain fog, then chances are your lymphatic system is likely needing more support. Other signs that your lymphatic system may be sluggish is if your fingers sometimes become swollen or you experience random bloating that you cannot really link to food that you've consumed. Drinking lemon water in the morning helps to flush the lymphatic system which is very important in keeping us healthy.

Immune system support. Lemon is high in Vitamin C, which is great for our immune system as it assists with the production and function of white blood cells. Additionally, Vitamin C has proven benefits for heart health, collagen production and the absorption of iron. Iron is necessary for optimal health and yet it is becoming a common nutrient deficiency facing many people in today's society. Iron deficiency can result in physical weakness and fatigue, brain fog and brittle nails. These symptoms are especially common in autoimmune patients and often a lack of iron is the culprit. Although there are only low levels of iron in lemons, lemons assist our bodies in actually absorbing iron from the foods we consume. This can boost your immune system, help prevent anaemia and even lower the risk of cancer. We live in a time where greater immune support is becoming more necessary in our daily lives and this simple daily ritual can help tremendously.

Anti-ageing benefits. Although the hydration that lemon water provides is great for skin moisture and plumpness, it is actually the Vitamin C sourced in citrus fruits like lemons which are a powerhouse of antioxidants. Daily exposure to environmental toxins (traffic fumes, alcohol, cigarette smoke and toxins in certain cosmetics) increases the free radical damage we experience. In turn, this causes our skin to dry out and wrinkle which negatively impacts its youthful appearance. Quite simply, if your skin loses moisture, it will become dry and prone to wrinkles. Even more troubling though is the fact that free radicals have been linked to a range of illnesses and diseases. Antioxidants consumed through food will help to protect the cells in our body from the damage that free radicals cause. Increasing our consumption of antioxidant rich foods, such as lemons, will help reduce free radicals impacting our skin quality and elasticity. There is no doubt that free radicals accelerate the ageing process however the idea is to ensure we counteract this with increasing our antioxidant intake through vitamin rich foods in order to slow the ageing of our skin. An additional point to consider is that as we age, the levels of Vitamin C in our skin decreases, further causing dry skin and the appearance of wrinkles, and thus furthering the need to consciously increase our consumption of this amazing vitamin.

Weight loss support. This low calorie morning ritual can also aid in weight loss. Drinking lemon water in the morning will boost and stimulate your metabolism, which sets you up for a day burning calories. Additionally, drinking lemon water helps to flush your gastrointestinal tract and expel waste from your body. Our bodies are often holding onto faecal waste in our colon even after going to the bathroom (sometimes even 2 kilograms of it can reside) and a morning flush of warm water and lemon can assist with expelling this and relieving dehydration induced constipation. Not only will this help with weight loss but when your body dispels this waste you’ll likely experience greater energy, focus, clearer skin and less gas and bloating.

How to:

As part of a healthy and healing morning ritual, squeeze ¼ a lemon into a large glass and fill it with approximately 750ml of lukewarm filtered water and drink. Ideally, consume it relatively quickly in order to flush out built up toxins and stagnant energy that has accumulated in your body overnight.

Tips:

• Use organic lemons

• Use filtered water

• Drink in a glass or ceramic mug (no plastic)

• Add a sprig of rosemary if you want this morning beverage to help awaken your senses.

• If you suffer from acid reflux, gerd or have a sluggish gallbladder, perhaps consider adding some honey to your lemon water to help you digest it.

In order to unlock the full potential that this morning ritual can provide, try to reduce your exposure to hormone disrupting chemicals such as pesticides, plastics, chlorine, heavy metals and bacterial contaminants which can be found unfiltered tap water, plastic cups and fruit that is not certified organic.