Many
people believe in the health benefits of a glass of hot water and lemon juice
first thing in the morning.
Before
the advent of modern medicine people often had to make do with home remedies to
stay healthy. Some of these were weird and wonderful like the notion that
wrapping dirty socks around your neck would cure a sore throat. Others, however,
were actually quite effective like applying black tea to sunburn. (The tannins
soothe the skin, reduce peeling and encourage a healthy tan.)
One of
the most enduring home remedies is the lemon and hot water cure. Most people
drink the juice of half a lemon in a glass of warm water, sometimes adding a
teaspoon or two of honey. This is usually done on an empty stomach first thing
in the morning.
Weight
loss
According
to The Lemon Juice Diet by Theresa Cheung: “The best way to lose weight and
keep it off is to eliminate toxins from the body and keep your liver and
digestive system healthy. In particular, poor digestion hinders weight loss by
stopping the body getting the nutrients it needs to burn fat and by causing a
build up of toxins in the bloodstream that slows down metabolism. That’s where
lemon juice and peel comes to the rescue. Adding these ingredients to our diet
will help to improve our digestive system and encourage our liver to function
at its best.”
It is,
however, wise to keep in mind that a balanced diet remains the cornerstone of
reaching and maintaining one's ideal weight, says Health24's Dr Owen Wiese.
Lemons
in the kitchen
Lemons
probably originated in India and were brought to the West by Roman traders two
thousand years ago. The zest of lemon in the kitchen brings out the flavour of
just about any food, and we’re all familiar with the slice of lemon served with
seafood.
Lemons
and limes became famous in the seventeen hundreds when it was found that they
cured sailors of scurvy. Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C and became
known for causing bleeding gums and loosening teeth among seafarers.
Many
benefits
Here
are some of the many benefits of lemon juice and hot water:
- It is a digestive aid and helps the body to eliminate toxins.
- A glass of lemon juice and water contains hardly any calories.
- It stimulates your immune system.
- Lemons have an alkalising effect on the body.
- Lemons are a great source of vitamin C which helps the body to build collagen and fight diseases like the common cold.
- They also contain significant amounts of potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and citric acid.
- Lemon juice prevents the growth of bacteria.
- It helps to eliminate uric acid, thereby reducing inflammation and pain in joints.
- Lemon juice helps to strengthen the liver.
- Although it is acidic it can help to relieve heartburn.
- It can help to prevent the formation of wrinkles and acne.
- Lemon juice can help prevent eye problems.
- It can also help the stomach produce digestive juices.
- Lemon juice can, however, damage the enamel on teeth. It is therefore better to drink it through a straw and/or rinse your mouth after enjoying a glass of this healthy beverage.
Scientific
proof
If
you're not entirely convinced of the health benefits of lemon juice and hot
water and want scientific proof, read Evaluation of the Phytonutrients and
Vitamins Content of Citrus Fruits.
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