Lemon Water | November Challenge

“Every time you eat or drink, you are either feeding disease or fighting it.” Heather Morgan

I’m a fan of hot or cold water with slices of lemon in it, it’s refreshing and it’s easy as long as you have remembered to buy fresh lemons. I have on many occasions started my own little routine of drinking warm water with added slices of lemon first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, but all my good intentions are usually gone within three to four days when I have either run out of lemons or I’m just sat drinking my first cup of tea when I remember I forgotten the lemon water, doh!

I saw on Instagram that MyHeathlyDXB, a Dubai based nutrition website were promoting the November Lemon Water Challenge, encouraging people to sign up and commit to adding a glass of lukewarm water with fresh squeezed lemon juice to their morning routine for thirty days. It’s quick, easy and cheap and as well as alkalising your body offers numerous other additional health benefits (see below) which all appealed to me. I’m always much more motivated if I’ve pledged to do something (see She Squats Bro and She Squatted Bro posts) otherwise I’m lacklustre and lose interest pretty quickly, you know the type I’m the one that has to pay for exercise classes in advance to ensure I attend. I’ve stocked up on organic lemons from Ripe Market and Waitrose and I’m ready to go, for me this challenge is a no-brainer.

Here’s some of the benefits:

Younger Looking Skin – YES please, no more wrinkles.

Improved Digestion – YES please, good for heartburn too if you suffer.

Natural Detox – No brainer, I need all those toxins flushed out.

Weight Management – Always a bonus especially when eating out so much.

Helps to Prevent Infection – lemons are a rich source of Vitamin C which helps the immune system to ward off colds and flu.

Helps reduce pain and inflammation in joints and knees as it dissolves uric acid – help my poorly knee and old joints.

Potassium content in lemons helps nourish brain and nerve cells – let’s face it my brain cells need all the help they can get these days

Here’s the nutritional bit;

A glass of lemon juice contains less than twenty-five calories, is a rich source of nutrients like calcium, potassium, vitamin C and pectin fibre which is good for colon health. It also has medicinal values and antibacterial properties and contains traces of iron and vitamin A, as well as balancing the bodies pH levels. Lemon, a fruit popular for its therapeutic properties, helps maintain your immune system and protects you from the clutches of most types of infections. It also plays the role of a blood purifier. Lemon is a fabulous antiseptic and lime-water juice also works wonders for people having heart problems, owing to its high potassium content (source:www.food matters.tv).

Are the benefits of drinking lukewarm lemon water in the morning just a myth? Who knows, I’m sure many sceptics would dismiss the notion that drinking warn lemon water in the morning is advantageous, but really what’s the disadvantage? When life (or Waitrose) gives you lemons, make lukewarm lemon water. Join me on this healthy journey (don’t worry if you have not started already just overlap into December it won’t matter), you may not recognise me by the end of the month with my rejuvenated and glowing skin and all.

Love healthy food, want guidance on how to make healthy food choices and develop lifelong eating habits? Visit the MyHealthyDXB website.