There’s no better time than first thing in the morning to flush out your body and boost your energy. Think about it: After sleeping for eight hours (hopefully), your stomach is empty and your cells are dehydrated. Lemon juice charges a plain glass of water with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes and trace elements which are better absorbed before you eat breakfast.
This one change to your routine can lead to increased immunity, improved digestion, weight loss, radiant skin and more.
1. Aid Digestion
Of course hydration is crucial for proper digestion. But adding lemon to your water goes a step further because the atomic structure of lemon juice is actually similar to digestive juices. This stimulates your liver into producing bile, which breaks down food and aids in digestion.
2. Lose Weight
Naturally if you’re digesting your food better, it will move through your system more efficiently instead of getting stuck in your system, so to speak. But lemons also contain a polysaccharide known as pectin, which is an appetite suppressant that makes you feel fuller longer.
3. Boost Vitamin C
Lemon juice is packed with vitamin C, which is vital for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body, from wound healing to maintenance of bones and teeth. Since you can’t make it on your own, it must be obtained through food.
4. Support Immunity
Vitamin C is also an antioxidant which fights free radicals that damage cells and tissues. This helps the immune system fight off illness. Additionally, vitamin C stimulates the production of white blood cells which are essential for the functioning of your immune system.
5. Detox
Vitamin C strikes again. Its antiseptic properties stimulate the liver in removing toxins. As mentioned earlier, lemon juice signals the liver to produce more bile and digest more efficiently – this will also have a cleansing effect. Lastly, lemon is a mild diuretic and will help flush toxins out through the urinary tract.
6. Alkalize
Research has proven that disease cannot survive in alkaline environments. You may have heard that citrus is acidic, but this is only partly true. Once it leaves your mouth and enters the digestive system, it can actually raise the pH of your body.
7. Reduce Inflammation
Acidity can cause inflammation and inflammation leads to disease. The alkalizing effect of lemon can therefore help to reduce inflammation. And once again, the antioxidative power of vitamin C to fight free radicals that damage cells and tissue also leads to fewer signals for inflammation.
8. Energize
Instead of coffee in the morning, you may find that the invigorating scent and taste of lemon will jumpstart your day, not to mention the nutritional boost.
9. Enhance Mood
Lemons contain potassium, the deficiency of which has been linked to anxiety and depression. Even just the scent has been used in aromatherapy to lift mood.
10. Rejuvenate Skin
Lemon water can help clear skin because vitamin C is known to help the body produce collagen. It also helps to fight free radicals and flush out toxins that ruin skin.