Lemon water

The juice of a fresh-squeezed lemon in water has many medicinal values, as well as its benefits for cleansing the body, stimulating the liver, and improving digestion and elimination.
Lemon water can help boost digestion and energy when consumed first thing in the morning.

Medicinal Values

• It helps prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria and the decomposition of tissue

• It assists in “cleansing the system of impurities” and will help prevent disease

• It is effective at dissolving uric acid (often the cause of pain and inflammation in joints) and other poisons in the body.

• It can help reduce symptoms of malaria, rheumatism, gout, rickets and tuberculosis.

Liver Benefits

• Provide a natural strengthening agent to liver enzymes when they are too dilute.

• Help fix oxygen and calcium levels in the liver, which ultimately affects blood oxygen levels.

Digestive Aid

One of the most important benefits of drinking lemon water regularly is its effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Lemon water assists in the process of digestion and elimination.

Lemon juice is similar in atomic structure to saliva, hydrochloric acid, bile and the stomach’s other digestive juices.

The digestive qualities of lemon juice help to relieve symptoms of indigestion, such as heartburn, belching and bloating. For the relief of heartburn, Kloss recommends taking a teaspoon of lemon juice in half a glass of water.

Lemon water will also help to eliminate waste through the bowels more efficiently, thus preventing or alleviating constipation, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal disorders.

Antibacterial and Antiviral Properties

Bacteria and viruses that cause cold and flu symptoms thrive in an acidic environment in the body, due to excess stress and unhealthy foods and lifestyle.

Drinking lemon water has an alkalizing effect on the body. Increasing body alkalinity is one of the key benefits of drinking lemon water.

In addition, because of its antibacterial properties, lemon water will help control unhealthy bacteria.

For a sore throat, it recommends gargling frequently with lemon juice, diluted half and half with pure water. Gargling with straight lemon juice would be more effective if tolerable.

However, frequent use of straight lemon juice can ruin tooth enamel.

Thus it’s a good idea to rinse the mouth with pure water after gargling with straight lemon juice.



Other Benefits of Lemon Water

• Helps purify the blood and will also control a tendency to bleed
• Assists in lowering high blood pressure
• Reduces the amount of phlegm in the body
• Relieves symptoms of asthma, allergies and other respiratory problems
• Nourishes brain and nerve cells due to its potassium content
• Helps dissolves gallstones, calcium deposits, kidney stones, and pancreatic stones
• In pregnancy, it will help build strong bones in the child.

Cautions
1. Drinking lemon water can diminish tooth enamel.

2. If you have ulcers or a known citrus allergy, you should not drink lemon water.

3. Pregnant women should only drink lemon water in moderation and should consult a doctor      first.

Recipe for lemon water

Ingredients:

• 24+ ounces of warm (not boiling) water
• ½-1 organic lemon
• ½ inch piece of fresh ginger root (optional)

Instructions:

1.  Zest the organic lemon first and store in the freezer or dehydrate for easy use in recipes.
2. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze one half or the whole lemon into the water.
3. Peel and slice the ginger root (if using) and add to the water.

Notes:
After drinking, swish with some plain filtered water for 30 seconds to make sure the acid from the lemon juice doesn't remain on teeth.

How Much and How Often to Drink It
If you weigh less than 150 pounds and are in good health, squeeze half a fresh lemon (about one ounce) in 8 to 12 ounces of filtered water and drink it first thing in the morning for the best cleansing benefits. If this is too strong, dilute it to taste.

If you weigh over 150 pounds, you could drink the same amount of lemon water twice a day. Or you could squeeze a whole lemon (two ounces) into 24 to 32 ounces of clean water and drink this throughout the morning.

Our bodies can only metabolize about 12 ounces of water at a time. Thus, if you are drinking more than 12 ounces of lemon water, you would want to spread it out over a period of a few hours. You will still get most of the enzymatic properties of the lemon water if it is stored in a sealed container, preferably glass or stainless steel, and kept cold.
If you drink more than the recommended amount above, it is best to add it gradually over time since the lemon juice will accelerate body detoxification.

Too much lemon water too quickly can cause uncomfortable detoxification symptoms such as headaches, bowel changes, or fatigue.

It is also best to drink lemon water about 30 minutes before a meal to help your body get the most energy and nutrients from the food you eat.

Use Fresh Lemons and Filtered Water
In order to glean the full health benefits, choose fresh-picked lemons (preferably organic and locally grown).

Pasteurized and packaged lemon juice will not be nearly as effective as a health remedy. The little squeeze bottles are so easy and convenient, I know, but it just does not offer the same health benefits.

If health is your primary interest, the type of water you use to mix with the lemon is highly important.

Make sure the water is filtered of contaminants but still contains the naturally occurring minerals in water.

Is It Best to Drink Lemon Water Hot or Cold?

Neither hot or cold, actually. Drinking it warm or at room temperature is the best choice.

Warm or room temperature:

Water that is warm or room temperature will provide the most health benefits and allow for the full enzymatic and energetic properties of the lemon. If you like a hot drink in the morning, warm lemon water is the best choice.

Boiling hot:

Even though drinking hot lemon water is very soothing, especially in cold weather, the heat will destroy some of the enzymatic properties of the fresh lemon juice.

Ice cold:

Avoid drinking lemon in water that is ice cold whenever possible because it may hinder the digestive benefits of the lemon. In addition, even though your body will heat up the ice cold lemon water, it requires more energy and more work for the body.

However, drinking fresh lemon juice at any temperature is better than not drinking it at all!



source:  www.waterbenefitshealth.com