Lemon Water Detox
I remember growing up, and my mother used to give me honey and lemon for a cold, so naturally whenever the cold or flu hit, I used the same. But instead of using the natural stuff, bought little packets that you mixed with water that claimed to have the same effect. Trust me; they didn’t. In fact, they only tasted remotely like the mixture mom gave, but did cash in on all the publicity that honey and lemon had been getting.
After reading so many articles about the benefits of honey and lemon, I decided to go for the real thing and challenge all the articles I’ve read. I had to use the real deal—organic, raw honey and real lemons, not the packets I’ve found in the drugstore. I knew that a few weeks wouldn’t show any definitive results, but a year should give me enough time to evaluate the benefit of drinking warm water mixed with honey and lemon.
After a full twelve months of drinking the mixture daily, I am almost a spokesperson for the combo. It worked and improved my health in a number of ways.
① It kept the common cold and the flu from catching me.
You could say you catch a cold, but really, you run away from it and it catches you. Not so, after I drank this mixture for a year. Even though I’m prone to sinus problems, post nasal drip and sore throats, using having several bouts throughout the year, particularly in the winter, I was germ-free this year. No virus or bug caught me, even though many of my friends were sick for several days with colds and flu.
Just like an exercise regimen or eating healthy, sometimes I had relapses and forgot to drink my “magic” elixir. “My bad.” It didn’t take too many misses before I started feeling as though I was getting a bug, so I went back on my regimen and started feeling good again. My stomach may have felt a bit queasy, or I had a bit of a sinus headache, but that all went away without further incident. My lack of follow through didn’t bite me since I caught the problem in time.
As long as I stuck to my glass of water with honey and lemon, I stayed healthy. I’m so convinced that this is almost magic, I carry both honey and lemon with me if I think I’ll be away from home overnight. I almost feel like old Aunt Jessie that always had a hankie rolled in her sleeve. Even though she was prepared for a runny nose, I’m always ready to prevent it from occurring.
② My second benefit is my freedom from the coffee master.
I’ve always been a coffee hound and didn’t function the first thing in the morning until after I had my wake-up cup. That’s not true anymore. The mixture of water, honey and lemon packs some power that wakes me up and gets me going. It doesn’t leave me with the jitters, caffeine withdrawal, cravings or headaches, but instead packs me with energy without the peaks and valleys caused by the coffee.
People like being with me in the morning now, since I can immediately carry on a conversation, instead of just grunting at them. I have to laugh; sometimes I’m so awake, and my mind is so alert after my concoction, I irritate my family with my perkiness and incessant philosophizing, singing questions at them about the origins of humanity or other in-depth topics the first thing in the morning.
③ My family is healthier now, too.
At first my family sneered at me and wouldn’t even try a sip of my honey, lemon and water drink. Sure they listened as I praised the benefits, nodded their heads and then slithered out of the room to avoid hearing any more. That was until they saw that I never got any of the flu symptoms they had or even a sniffle or two.
I learned a long time ago that if you wait long enough, opportunity strikes. It sounds cruel, but I did not bring up the subject of the drink until a family member was down and out with a super-bug he had caught somewhere. Just one or two doses of the magic serum helped them feel better and recover quicker.
I never say, “I told you so,” but let them tell me how good they feel. I got so many praises from recovering victims; I feel vindicated….and a bit superior, too. Even though I’d never admit it. It helped relieve head colds and that awful and embarrassing stomach flu that keeps you chained to the porcelain goddess.
Even though I noted it made me feel good to be right, I also was pleased I could help my family get and stay healthier.
How to Make the Magic Brew
Start with a fresh organic lemon and “raw”, organic honey. It’s extremely important to use organic honey, since some of the honey you find on store shelves is nothing more than sugar water that’s thicker and contains a bit of honey.
- Juice half the lemon.
- Mix the heaping teaspoon of raw honey in first so it melts, then add lemon into a mug of boiled water.
- Stir well and let it cool a bet and drink it right away.
It will refresh you as soon as you have the first sip and hydrates your system after a night’s rest.
You can adjust the amount of lemon you use to make it more palatable. Some of my family prefer it has a strong lemon flavor, so they use more lemon, and others who want a sweeter taste, use less.
Why It Works Magic!
The lemon juice is high in vitamin C and contains other nutrients. It also contains phytochemicals—chemicals only found in plants that help ward off serious illness. Honey is a superfood that has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Some people consider it liquid gold for health!
The combination provides so many benefits. Here’s just a few that you will receive when you drink this mixture on a regular basis.
① You’ll notice fewer or no urinary tract infections.
The mixture is a diuretic that helps cleanse your urinary tract, making it more difficult for an infection to occur. The antibacterial properties of both lemon and honey help build your immune system and keep germs at bay.
② Your digestive system will benefit.
Both the honey and lemon aid in digest from start to finish. The lemons aid in the production of bile that breaks down more complex foods and allows you to absorb the nutrients easier. The honey also helps in digestion.
In fact, tea with honey and lemon has long been used as a digestive aid. It also helps your other elimination system, your colon, by stimulating it in the morning—-just like coffee used to—and helping you go easier, eliminating any problem with constipation. It helps you lose weight too!
④ Gives your complexion a glowing lift.
The mixture not only aids in purifying your blood and boosting your immune system, it also boosts the growth of collagen, too. Continued use of the drink gives you a glow that only comes from good health. The water hydrates your system, while the honey and lemon helps make it stronger. You’ll have a more youthful appearance after using it a few weeks.
If you like a light lemonade, you will love this drink. I know I do, and sometimes I even drink it twice a day, even though it is not necessary. It is particularly refreshing in the summer when hot coffee just doesn’t sound good and is a great pick-me-up on those days when you are had way too little sleep.
⑤ Water with lemon helps with weight loss.
Lemons contain pectin fiber, which helps suppress hunger cravings. Studies have proven people with a better alkaline diet have lost weight faster.
⑥ Water with lemon can help lower blood pressure.
A daily intake of one lemon can reduce high blood pressure by 10%.
Water with lemon creates an alkalizing effect in the body. Even if you drink it immediately before a meal, it can help your body maintain a higher level of pH. The higher the pH, the more your body can fight diseases.
Tips and Precautions:
Make sure you only use raw, organic honey and lemons. The lemons should be as fresh as possible, which is difficult to judge if you live in the north, since you can’t tell when they were picked—or even put on the grocers shelf. If you have an infant, it’s important NOT to give them this drink.
Giving infants honey in any form can be dangerous, but we old folks benefit from it. I’ve noticed the magic drink has also improved my memory, which helps me to remember to take it each morning—offering continued benefits each day.
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