Healthy Living

• Benefits of Drinking Warm Water with Lemon 1st Thing in the Morning: Improves Liver Function:  Fresh lemon juice is full of enzymes, it is astringent (squeezing/wringing out action) and helps your liver finish the job it did filtering out dead cells, bacteria, synthetic hormones (absorbed from materials, food and water sources) in the hours of 1 am - 3 am.  The wringing out action helps the liver release any residue which prompts the gallbladder to release bile (or if yours is removed, the common bile duct will release the residue) which prompts the colon to release waste in about 20 minutes.  If you take prescription drugs or a lot of supplements, lemon water can help clear out irritants and keep your liver functioning better. 

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• Clears out oxalic acid from your tissues.  Oxalic acid is a natural pesticide found especially in spinach, swiss chard and rhubarb.  Many other fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts contain oxalic acid as well.  A build up of this acid can accumulate in the body and form oxalic kidney stones, deposits on joints as well as styes along the eyelash line.  They are hard, irritating formations that may create discomfort or more serious problems.  Some people tend to make these accumulations more than others, but in general everyone is affected whether mildly, moderately or severely.  Staying hydrated throughout the day helps the body clear out oxalates, and fresh lemon squeezed into your water neutralizes them and clears them out even better.   

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• Alkaline effect:  Lemon is acidic, but when it is digested in the stomach, it becomes alkaline. This helps balance the ph of the body, which may be on the acidic side depending on foods/beverages consumed.  Coffee, black, green and white teas as well as processed foods create an acidic body ph.  There is research that shows having a balanced, slightly alkaline body ph helps prevent cancer as well as improves our absorption of nutrients from food and supplements.   

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• This part is key:  I do not recommend drinking water with lemon throughout the day and especially not with meals.  The stomach needs to be acidic to break down food so nutrients can be unlocked and absorbed.  Also, the lemon juice is acidic when in the mouth, and will damage the enamel of your teeth.  

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• So here is my recommendation:  Before you brush your teeth (the biofilm that developed overnight gives your enamel a little protection from the acid), heat 8-12 ounces of water to slightly warm (you will absorb it better).  Squeeze a wedge of lemon into the warm water and drink it all at once.  Then swish with a little plain water to remove the acid from your teeth, or even better, put a pinch of baking soda (which is very alkaline) into a little water, swish it in your mouth and spit it out.  That’s it!  Continue with your regular morning routine.  After doing this every morning for 2 weeks, see how you feel.  Joints, digestion, skin…do you feel lighter, have more energy?  

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