Lemon Water Health Benefits

1. Weight Loss – Routine drinking lemon water opens the way to lose weight faster. Lemon is high in pectin fiber, which helps to fight hunger cravings. 

2. Aid digestion - Warm lemon water is very cleansing and purifying to the liver and gallbladder. When your digestion is functioning well, you are not likely to experience heartburn or suffer from constipation.  In fact, lemon juice helps with all forms of elimination.  It also functions as a diuretic, releasing toxins via a faster rate of urination. Citrus flavonoids are believed responsible for lemon’s traditional use as a digestive tonic.

3. Clear skin- Vitamin C and other antioxidants in lemons combat free radical damage. Free radical damage — especially as caused by UV exposure and environmental toxins — is responsible for many symptoms of aging. Antioxidant intake can help offset this damage, minimizing wrinkles. Traditionally used as a liver stimulant, lemon water is also believed to help purge toxins from the blood, helping to keep skin clear of blemishes.

4. Alkalize the body- Although the tartness of a lemon may make them seem acidic, lemons are actually one of the most alkalizing foods for the body. Lemons contain both citric and ascorbic acid, weak acids easily metabolized from the body allowing the mineral content of lemons to help alkalize the blood.

5. Support immune function-Lemons are high in antioxidant vitamin C, known for its supportive role in healthy immune function. Warm lemon water helps to reduce the symptoms of a chest infection or cough and can also promote improved breathing for people with asthma and allergies.

6. Detoxifies - Lemon water is also thought to decrease the amount of mucus and phlegm produced in the body, helps to cleanse our Liver, Gallbladder and digestive tract. Lemon water is a simple and surprisingly healthy internal cleanser to start your day with. It also hydrates your body and Lymphatic system.

Lemon water is a simple and surprisingly healthy internal cleanser to kick off each day!

7. Respiratiory Benefits- When you smell lemons, doesn’t it feel like you can breathe easier?  There’s a reason the lemon scent seems to open up your nasal and respiratory paths–it does! It decrease the amount of mucus and phlegm produced in the body.

We tend to reach for those warm beverages in the morning like coffee and tea, but try starting your day with some warm lemon water first to kick-start digestion. The water can also be at room temperation, but it should be purified. Simply squeeze half a fresh lemon into a mug of warm water.

You may also take with you to sip throughout the day. Fresh lemons take plain old water up a notch.

Adopting just this one practice of drinking a cup of warm water with lemon in the morning is a great way to start the day the day. Lime may also be used instead of lemon.

Try to avoid having sugar, honey (unless it’s local or raw honey), maple syrup or other sweeteners with your lemon water as the simple sugars will reduce the benefits.

~Thanks to Fernanda Santiago

Having Allergy Symptoms and Can't Figure Out the Source?

Could Hidden Sulphites Be Causing Those Strange Symptoms?

 Why are Sulfites Added to Foods? 

Sulfites are added to foods for various reasons. These include:

• - Reduction of spoilage by bacteria 
• - Slows the browning of fruit, vegetables and seafood
• - Inhibits of growth of bacteria during fermentation of wines
• - Conditioning of dough in frozen pie and pizza crust
• - Bleaching effect for maraschino cherries and hominy
• 
  

In the past, sulfites were added to fresh foods in restaurants and grocery stores to prevent browning. An increase in reactions led the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban the use of sulfites in fresh foods in 1986, particularly on fresh lettuce in salad bars. The FDA now requires that any food containing more than 10 parts per million (ppm) concentration of sulfites to be declared on the label. Foods that contain less than 10 ppm of sulfites have not been shown to cause symptoms, even in people allergic to sulfites.  Death has been know to happen with 20 ppm to people with a severe allergy.  Another concern is build up: if you have more than one of these products during your day, you are exceeding 10ppm.  This is not an allergy or intolerance that goes away within a few hours -  generally it takes 24 hours to one week for your body to be rid of the toxin.

Common Sulfate Allergy Symptoms:

• Headache
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Sinus congestion
• Tightness of the throat
• Hives
• Can trigger asthma  attacks in asthmatics
• 
  

Possible Symptoms and Diseases Related to Sulfites:

• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Bed wetting
• Bloating
• Brain fog
• Candida and other fungal infections
• Diabetes
• Depression
• Ear infections
• Heart palpitations
• Indigestion
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Immune deficiencies
• Joint pain
• Lethargy
• Muscle weakness/loss
• Nose bleeds
• Skin conditions
• Tooth pain and sore gums
• Vaginal yeast infections
• 
  

Which Foods Contain Sulfites?

Greater than 100 ppm of sulfites (very high levels, strict avoidance advised in people with sulfite allergy)

• dried fruits (excluding dark raisins and prunes)
• bottled lemon juice (non-frozen)
• bottled lime juice (non-frozen)
• wine
• molasses
• sauerkraut (and its juice)
• grape juices (white, white sparkling, pink sparkling, red sparkling)
• pickled cocktail onions
• 
  

Between 50 and 99.9 ppm of sulfites (moderate to high levels of sulfite, avoidance advised in people with sulfite allergy)

• dried potatoes
• wine vinegar
• gravies/sauces
• fruit toppings
• Maraschino cherries
• 
  

Between 10 and 49.9 ppm of sulfites (low to moderate levels of sulfite, may cause symptoms in people with severe sulfite allergy)

• pectin
• fresh shrimp
• corn syrup
• pickled peppers
• pickles/relish
• corn starch
• hominy
• frozen potatoes
• maple syrup
• imported jams and jellies
• fresh mushrooms
• imported sausages and meats
• cordials (alcoholic)
• dehydrated vegetables
• various cheeses
• corn bread/muffin mix
• canned/jarred clams
• clam chowder
• avocado dip/guacamole
• imported fruit juices and soft drinks
• ciders and cider vinegars

Less than 10 ppm of sulfites (very low sulfite levels, generally do not pose a risk, even for people with sulfite allergy)

• malt vinegar
• canned potatoes
• beer
• dry soup mix
• soft drinks
• frozen pizza and pie dough
• beet sugar
• gelatin
• coconut
• fresh fruit salad
• domestic jams and jellies
• crackers
• cookies
• grapes
• high fructose corn syrup
• 
  

Alternate/hidden Names:

• alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer and cider
• vinegar and wine vinegar
• wine
• baked goods with dried fruits
• bottled lemon/lime juices
• canned/frozen fruits, vegetables
• cereal, cornmeal, cornstarch, crackers
• condiments: horseradish, ketchup, mustard, pickles, relish and sauerkraut
• dehydrated potatoes, and frozen French fries
• dried fruits and vegetables, e.g. apricots, raisins, sweet potato
• dried herbs, spices
• deli meats, hot dogs and sausages
• dressings, sauces, soups
• fresh grapes
• fruit syrups, gelatin, jams, jellies, preserves, molasses and pectin
• fruit and vegetable juices
• starches, (e.g. corn starch, potato starch)
• sugar syrups: glucose, syrup dextrose, corn syrup, table syrup
• tomato pastes, purées
• fish, crustaceans and shellfish
• granola bars, especially with dried fruit
• Noodle and rice mixes
• Snack foods
• Soy products
• E 220, E 221, E 222, E 223, E 224, E 225, E 226, E 227, E 228 (European designations)
• potassium bisulphite or metabisulphite
• sodium bisulphite
• dithionite
• sulfite or sufites
• sulphur dioxide
• sulphiting agents
• sulphurous acid

~Thanks to Kerry Fleckenstein