How Do you Start Your Day?
Do you have any daily rituals that you swear by? For the past 5 years, I have been starting my day with a cup of hot water and lemon. I find it soothing and relaxing. The first time a nutritionist recommended this, I thought it sounded strange and gross! But, I decided to give it a shot and have been enjoying it ever since. There are so many benefits to this small part of my day that I felt I had to share them!
Check out the article below published by "The Beet," that provides the top 10 reasons for kicking your day off with a little hot water and lemon! Give it a try and let me know how you like it!
1. Hot water in the morning can contribute to weight loss, research finds
Experts suggest drinking hot water in the morning helps to "prep your gut," or aid in clearing the intestines, decrease bloating, and remove excess water weight.
2. Hot water on an empty stomach vs. after a meal helps digestion in different ways
Timing matters: If you drink hot water on an empty stomach it dilates blood vessels in the gut, which makes you feel fuller, according to Dr. Saleh. This boost is most notable when hot water is consumed at the beginning of the day, research shows. Drinking hot water after a meal emulsifies fats, which aids digestion. Drinking hot water before bed may increase satiety, and curb the desire to snack in the middle of the night.
3. Drinking hot water helps to improve circulation and may even relieve muscle pain
Drinking hot water circulates blood through arteries and veins. Hot water is a vasodilator, meaning it opens up the blood vessels. The flow of blood is increased and blood pressure is decreased, helping the muscles to relax, Dr. Saleh writes.
4. Drinking hot water is healthier for your teeth
The next time you go to the dentist, ask your professional if you should brush your teeth with cold water or room temperature or warmer. Your dentist is likely to suggest brushing with warm water because using too-cold water can destroy dental work by causing materials to break loose. This excludes lemon water since the one downside of lemon is the acid can erode tooth enamel. (If you are concerned you can drink it through a straw.)
5. Hot water promotes hydration
Water should always be your main source of hydration, especially if you're an athlete. If you're losing too much sweat, you can add salt or electrolytes into the mixture to help replenish your body's electrolytes, especially when you're working out in the heat. If the water tastes boring or you don't love drinking it for any reason, adding lemon to your bottle will enhance the flavors and naturally make your body want to drink more.
6. Drinking hot water calms the central nervous system and helps your burn energy
When you drink water it signals the nervous system to burn energy, which can actually calm you down, as part of the fight or flight response. By drinking and burning off energy your body gets calmer. People with arthritis should take advantage of drinking hot water to calm their central nervous system and stay active.
7. Drinking lemon water purifies the skin and body
Hot water with lemon hydrates the skin. Vitamin C, a prominent vitamin in lemons naturally boosts collagen, "helping the skin serve as a functional barrier to keep harmful compounds from entering your body," according to a recent article in Healthline.
8. Water with lemon enhances the immune system
It's always a good time to build up your immune system, but now is an especially vital moment in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Lemons and all citrus are high in vitamin C, which is a natural antioxidant that decreases inflammation and improves immune function. As we said above, one lemon delivers 30 grams of vitamin C which is about half of the daily requirement for women and one-third of the requirement for men. Water and the juice of one whole lemon is a great way to get vitamin C naturally first thing in the morning.
9. Hot water with lemon can promote weight loss
Drinking hot water with lemon does not replace meals, of course, but it could lead you to eat fewer calories overall. Drinking water throughout the day can make you feel fuller and be an easy way to limit your calorie intake. According to the National Academies of Science, and the Mayo Clinic, your daily intake of water should be 11.5 cups of water for a woman and 15.5 cups of water for a man. This is hard to achieve, and by adding lemon, you will be likely to drink more because of the enhanced flavor. In addition, hot water raises the body temperature which increases the metabolic rate and burns more calories.
10. Hot water with lemon helps get rid of constipation
In a study by the National Library of Medicine, researches found that the citrus acid in the lemon stimulates the colon, which is key if you suffer from irregular bathroom habits. In a different study, Michael F. Picco, M.D. explains that warm water helps break down food so the body can absorb nutrients and soften stools "which helps prevent constipation."