So onto my beauty tip favourite!
Here I go again with me lemons! Apologies if you are allergic to lemons or simply just don't like them!
This has got to be one of the oldest most effective beauty tips in the book! Such a simple thing goes a very very long way.
Drinking clean warm lemon water in the morning has numerous health benefits, and I swear by it! Apart from the mornings where I really cannot function without a cup of tea, I generally drink a glass of warm lemon water every morning and I have been able to see real differences! Check back to my previous post Easy Peezy Lemon Squeezy for all the health benefits of lemons.
What should you do:
You should always use purified water for this drink, and the water should be lukewarm, not boiling hot or freezing cold. Boiling hot water is very difficult to drink (and is not advised) and cold water is not as effective, since the body uses more energy to process cold water than warm.
Boil some water, pour out a glass and let this sit to cool until warm. I usually then add 1/2 lemon's lemon juice. Try to avoid using bottled lemon juice as this often contains some preservatives, however it's not a bad thing if thats all you have. Drink the lemon water before eating a meal, during or after. I usually eat my breakfast and then drink my lemon water. After drinking, I wash that down with a little bit of cold drinking water before brushing my teeth (to loosen the citric acid from my teeth to avoid enamel erosion).
What should you do:
You should always use purified water for this drink, and the water should be lukewarm, not boiling hot or freezing cold. Boiling hot water is very difficult to drink (and is not advised) and cold water is not as effective, since the body uses more energy to process cold water than warm.
Boil some water, pour out a glass and let this sit to cool until warm. I usually then add 1/2 lemon's lemon juice. Try to avoid using bottled lemon juice as this often contains some preservatives, however it's not a bad thing if thats all you have. Drink the lemon water before eating a meal, during or after. I usually eat my breakfast and then drink my lemon water. After drinking, I wash that down with a little bit of cold drinking water before brushing my teeth (to loosen the citric acid from my teeth to avoid enamel erosion).
Benefits to drinking lemon water
1. It hydrates you!
This is definitely one of the most important benefits of drinking lemon water. This has particular benefits in the morning when our body is generally dehydrated, and is one of the reasons people often feel sluggish in the morning. Not only does the warm water hydrate you, but the lemon juice aids in supporting the lymph system by replacing fluids that are lost in the body.
2. It can aid in weight loss
Those trying to lose weight would benefit greatly from incorporating this nutritional habit into their daily routine. Lemons are high in pectin fibre and these have been shown to reduce hunger cravings, and so adding lemons to your diet is a very healthy way to reduce your calorific intake. Warm lemon water also aids digestion and cleanses your system which can help in weight loss.
3. It clears your skin and keeps it healthy
Now personally I love that there is something I can do to benefit my skin without actually touching it, and it works!! There are numerous ways in which warm lemon water does this. As the mixture is cleansing your system, it is removing unwanted materials out of your body, purging toxins out of your blood, and therefore removing the unwanted materials and toxins that are causing the spots to form on your face! Lemon juice has an alkaline nature too which kills bacteria that can cause some forms of acne. Not only this, but lemon juices contains vitamin C and other antioxidants which helps decrease wrinkle formation and blemishes, and also aids in preventing free radical damage to your skin. The vitamin C also helps to revitalise and brighten your skin.
4. It enhances your mood
Lemons have lots of negatively charged ions and provides your body with more energy before it enters the digestive system. The scent of lemon and the sour taste are also known to increase alertness, brighten your mood, clear your mind and aid in anxiety and depression, not to mention the enhanced hydration can perk you up.
5. It has many digestive benefits
Warm lemon water aids digestion, and it does this by flushing out any unwanted materials from the body. Its acidic nature is similar to those of many digestive aids in the body such as hydrochloric acid and encourages the liver to produce bile; an acid required for digestion. Lemons are high in minerals and vitamins and in the body these can loosen up toxins in the digestive tract in order for them to leave the body! Drinking warm lemon water also helps bowel movements and is really effective in preventing indigestion, constipation, bloating and heartburn.
6. It balances your pH levels
Lemon juice on its own is acidic however when it enters the body its turns alkaline as the citric acid does not create acidity once metabolised. This makes lemons one of the most alkalising foods for the body. Drinking warm lemon water regularly allows for alkalising of the blood and thus helps to remove the overall acidity in the body, particularly from areas like the joints, where acid primarily causes pain and inflammation. Lemon water can help to maintain a balanced state which is an unlikely environment for disease to develop.
7. It boosts your immune system
Vitamin C, a key component of lemons is great for fighting illnesses such as the common cold, as well as having great anti-inflammatory effects. The potassium in lemons has great health benefits, as it stimulates brain and nerve function and controls blood pressure. Vitamin C in the body promotes healing and is essential for the maintenance of healthy bones and connective tissue, as well as also being an essential nutrient in the maintenance of overall good health and the relief of stress.
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These are just a handful of the benefits of drinking warm lemon water. Personally I love drinking it because I feel much more energised and just generally healthier. I sometimes have low iron levels and lemon juice actually aids the absorption of iron into the body, so this is great for me and where I have low energy from low iron, I feel so much better when drinking this! For me it's a great way to start the day.
Try it and see how you feel, or let me know if you do this too!
Love
Nimisha
xoxo