Jamaican Cookery

A nice, warm glass of water with lemon in the morning helps get your body going when you get out of bed. If you're starting your morning with a hot cup of tea or coffee, you may want to change your morning beverage to a nice cup of warm lemon water

When you have a glass of water, you probably drink it cold. However, drinking warm water, particularly in the morning, has the power to heal your body. Adding lemons to that warm water offers even more great benefits. Lemons are known for their immune boosting, antiviral, and antibacterial powers, not to mention they're packed with important nutrients

Why should you begin drinking warm lemon water each morning? If you're not convinced that you should give up your coffee for a mug of warm lemon water, read this.

Benefit #1--Improves digestion--The combination of lemon juice and warm water improves digestion. The lemon water also helps to stimulate your digestive system, encouraging the liver to produce bile, which needed for digestion. You may also notice that you have a fewer problems with bloating, gas, and heartburn when you drink warm lemon water daily. Most people notice that they no longer have problems with constipation as well.

Benefits #2--Give your immune system a boost
The high amount of vitamin C in the lemon juice helps to give your immune system a boost. Saponins, found in lemons, have antimicrobial properties that may help prevent colds and the flu.

Benefits #3--Flush away toxins
Lemon juice is a mild diuretic, and the combination of lemon juice and warm water helps the body flush away toxins and waste. The citric acid found in lemons helps to maximize enzyme function in the body, stimulating the liver and aiding in detoxification.

Benefits #4--Aids in weight loss
If you want to shed a few pounds, warm lemon water can help. Drinking warm lemon water helps to increase your metabolism rate. It also helps to break down body fat. The pectin fibre in the lemons help decrease food cravings, making it easier for you to avoid cravings throughout your day.

Benefits # 5--One of the main causes of inflammation in the body is uric acid. Uric acid often builds up in the joint, resulting in inflammation and pain. Lemon water helps to remove uric acid, reducing inflammation through the body. By reducing inflammation, you may notice that you deal with less pain as well.

Benefits # 6--Improves skin
Drinking lemon water has the power to clear skin and the addition of the vitamin C from the lemons helps to improve skin as well. Vitamin C helps to reduce problems with blemishes while combating free radicals that can cause skin damage and aging. Start drinking warm lemon water each morning and you'll notice a big change in your skin over time.

How to make your own lemon water
Now that you're aware of all the benefits of drinking warm lemon water, you may be wondering how you should make this healthy drink.
Use purified water and fresh lemons(you should never use bottled lemon juice to make your lemon water)
Make sure your water is warm and not hot.
Squeeze about 1/2 of a lemon into a mug or glass of 8-12 ounces of warm water. Drink in the morning

Note: The acids in lemons can be hard on your teeth. Use fresh water to rinse your mouth right after drinking the warm lemon water also avoid brushing your teeth right after drinking the lemon water