The Humble Lemon

The Humble Lemon in Your Self-Care

If lemons signify sour difficulty, then making lemonade is always the cure, as popular culture says. Perhaps you have heard the merits of drinking warm lemon water upon waking. I’ve been doing this, most of my days, for the last 30 years. I feel the merits of a refreshed digestive tract, a warm wake up to my inner body and a tone set to my day with this singular action. From the standpoint of lifestyle, choosing an anchor to begin your day becomes the trigger for all other choices through the day. If your AM anchor is filled with life affirming vitamin C and properties that support the vitality and health of body; then sticking with the feeling it provides as you mindfully drink this AM refresher can shape your choices going forward each day. Let’s remember to leave out all additional sugars from lemonade making for this practice. Simply appreciate the humble lemon’s benefit in both pleasant flavor and uplifting scent to the mind. Also, we must consider the potential problem’s it can cause if used under circumstances that could encourage pathology. How can a morning warm lemon water be used incorrectly?

The problematic lemon holds the potential for erosion of dental enamel if consumed too frequently (or undiluted). In a morning’s warm lemon water we can abate this concern by remembering it is diluted in warm water and not held in the mouth so as not to expose the teeth to prolonged contact with the natural acids found in lemon juice. Lemon juice is high in tyramine. If you are sensitive to tyramine, drinking lemon juice can trigger migraine headaches. (webmd) Know your body, learn to self-study and you will diminish any adverse outcomes.

Now back to the humble lemon. Lemons are high in vitamin C, fiber, and various beneficial plant compounds. These nutrients are responsible for several health benefits. In fact, lemons may support heart health, weight control, and digestive health (Healthline, 2019). Note that to gain the benefit of citrus fiber related to decrease in cholesterol, one must eat said fiber, therefore, scrap some fiber out of your hollowed lemon shell and drink it down too!

1. Research shows that eating fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C reduces your risk of heart disease and stroke.
2. Plant compounds found in lemons — namely hesperidin and diosmin — have also been found to lower cholesterol.
3. Lemons contain vitamin C and citric acid, which help you absorb non-heme iron from plants. This may prevent anemia.

From a classical yogic perspective, each small intake of quality food is equitable to medicine. Regarding lifestyle suitable for health which facilitates a healthful yogic practice students are encouraged to pick just 1 aspect to focus on to encourage all other lifestyle aspects to strengthen. Therefore, when starting a personal wellness program you can consider starting with AM warm lemon water (1/2 juice of fresh lemon in 1C fresh warm water) and be encouraged and motivated with how this morning choice informs the rest of your daily choices.

Continuing data from modern science is showing the benefits of using lemon juice. In summary, lemon juice may aid weight management and reduce your risk of heart disease, anemia, kidney stones, digestive issues, and cancer. With this as one component of an overall individual plan you can build a system that protects the heart, reduces cholesterol, and contributes to weight stability.

My own 30-year experience with intake of juice from ½ lemon in 1C warm water has shown me a body that has solid immunity, effortless weight management and a sense of internal cleanliness and vitality. Is it from the humble lemon? I know the times in life that “got busy” “got distracted” from using this simple morning routine showed me less focused on my general well-being. For me, it is a trigger to all good habits; when I have set it aside for weeks I return because I feel a difference. I wholeheartedly recommend trying morning lemon waters if you have no contraindications to it or feel no negative effects from it.

If you would like to learn more about the 5 aspects of a healthy lifestyle that empowers you to simple and effective change please check out my course ANTIHYPERTENSIVE LIFESTYLE.  Next session begins June 20, 2022 and makes a stellar father's day gift for dad's who need a little help in learning to take important steps in their self-care and create a sustainable and motivated wellness routine. Learn who else can benefit from this course by opting in for more information HERE. We never sell info nor spam you. Opting in opens our conversation together for your well-being.