Why I Start My Day with Warm Water and Lemon
I had no idea how beneficial this was for me growing up but every day, like clockwork, mom would pour out a cup of hot water and squeeze some fresh lemon into the cup. Of course I always complained but now, 20-something years later, I am grateful that she persisted in getting me to drink the sour liquid every morning.
So why do I think drinking this is a big deal? In a nutshell:
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It raises your PH levels so from acidic to a more alkaline internal environment. Disease cannot live in an alkaline environment as it needs acidity to thrive. When we sleep, our bodies become acidic so the simple act of drinking water and lemon in the morning balances the body.
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Empowers your immune and nervous system. Lemons are rich in potassium and vitamin C stimulating your neuro-impulses and strengthening white blood cells.
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Improves digestion by removing toxins from the digestive system and promotes bile production in the liver.
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Aids in weight loss again due to keeping the body in an alkaline environment. Lemon is also a craving buster.
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Purifies the body by eliminating toxins, clears the liver and the skin.
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Calms you with a high level of Vitamin C first thing in the morning.
About the Author
Your Body Is a Superorganism Thanks to These Microbes
Dr. Bruce Lipton, Ph.D., a pioneer in the field of epigenetics who worked as a stem-cell biologist has effectively bridged the gap between mind, body, and spirit. Of particular note is his approach to the immune system, a widely appreciated (yet poorly understood) function of the body.
We Are Made of Microorganisms
As humans, we each possess a microbiome, a community of microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses) that inhabit the body. Our bodies are home to about 100 trillion of these microbes, and their role in protecting us from disease cannot be overstated: They are not just necessary, but crucial, to human life on a great many levels.
Microbiome research is an emerging field in which researchers investigate how the bacteria that live in and on our bodies affect our health and states of mind. Beneficial microbes in the gut have much to do with how efficiently we can extract calories from different kinds of food, how likely we can escape colon cancer or heart disease, and even how we metabolize different kinds of drugs.
And, as Lipton teaches, these microbes regulate a wide array of aspects related to both mind and body—from the removal of toxins to gut feelings, and from sleep patterns to appetite. In fact, because of their role in the production of certain hormones such as serotonin, a deficiency in the microbiome literally affects happiness levels and may contribute to anxiety and depression.
