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
Jo Cameron's Life Without Pain; A Story of Rare Genetic Mutations
When Jo Cameron underwent a double hand surgery procedure, which would have left most people in excruciating pain, she left the hospital happy, vivacious, and in no pain whatsoever. At the time, Cameron was 65 years old and should have been even more susceptible to the surgery’s painful aftermath. Recognizing this anomalous behavior, doctors decided to investigate and found Cameron’s DNA contained two genetic mutations that made her unable to feel pain either physically or emotionally.
A Happy Genetic Mutation
Like anyone else, Cameron has been scraped, burned, and bruised throughout her life. But these physical injuries had little effect on her. After two surgeries, which left doctors baffled by her recovery — she needed only two aspirin the day after a hip-replacement surgery to deal with the pain — she was referred to a team of specialists at University College London’s Molecular Nociception Group (UCL).
Following a thorough DNA study, scientists at UCL published an unusual case report in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, revealing their findings of two genetic mutations:
Genetic Mutation #1:
This mutation affects the FAAH gene, which produces the enzyme responsible for breaking down anandamide — a neurotransmitter that’s been dubbed “the bliss molecule” (appropriately named after the Sanskrit word for bliss, "ananda") for its ability to bind to THC receptors, affecting mood, appetite, pain, and memory. When the FAAH genes break down anandamide, we experience physical and mental pain. But with a mutation like Cameron’s, the bliss molecule is allowed to preside, bringing out anandamide’s positive effects.
Surprisingly, this genetic mutation is not as uncommon as one may think, as about 20 percent of Americans are said to possess it. However, this percent of the populace doesn’t have Cameron’s second mutation, which compounds the effect and prevents her from experiencing any pain at all.
Genetic Mutation #2:
The discovery of this rare genetic mutation, named the FAAH-OUT gene, was said to be scientifically groundbreaking, as it was found to be a previously unidentified gene. As may be guessed from its name, the FAAH-OUT gene has a bearing on the FAAH gene, essentially turning down its activity. Working in concert, these two genetic mutations enabled Cameron to live her life unable to feel pain.
“I knew that I was happy-go-lucky, but it didn’t dawn on me that I was different. I thought it was just me. I didn’t know anything strange was going on until I was 65,” she told the The Guardian,
