Why I start every morning with lemon water…
While most people are at home waking up and enjoying their favorite brew of coffee, I am enjoying a nice glass of filtered water with fresh squeezed lemon. I started this morning ritual a couple of years ago as recommended to me by my acupuncturist. I have since then enjoyed the benefits which include feeling more awake, less congested (I tend towards nasal/lung congestion), and overall feeling more balanced. It’s crazy to think that something as small as drinking some lemon water in the a.m. would make any difference. But when we look further into it there is scientific evidence as to why.
Turns out that the energy we get from our food comes from the atoms and molecules of energy in your food. And this isn’t the reiki kinda energy that some people can see or feel (which I totally believe in!), this is a real measurable energy that comes from a reaction when cationic food enters the digestive tract and encounters digestive enzymes (anionic). If I already lost you with the science talk, let’s break it down a bit. In A.F. Beddoe’s book “Biological Ionization in Human Nutrition”, he explains that an ion is a part of a molecule that carries an electrical charge. Ions which carry a positive charge are called “cations”. Lemons are considered to be anionic. This means that they have more electrons (negatively charged ions) of energy as compared to cations (positively charged ions) in their atomic structure. Saliva, hydrochloric acid, bile, and the stomach’s digestive juices are all anionic. Lemon is one of the only foods on the planet that has more anions than cations in its atomic structure.
When considering the electromagnetic properties of food Dr. Beddoe points out that all foods are considered cationic with the exception of fresh, raw lemon juice. Some have suggested that the reason fresh lemon juice is similar to digestive enzymes is due to the low amount of sulfur in lemons. It should be noted that pasteurized and packaged lemon juice is cationic and, therefore, ineffective as a health remedy.
So that’s the western health perspective of why it’s so good for you. In ayurveda, they also believe that warm water with lemon juice in the a.m. helps to loosen ama (toxins) from the digestive tract. In TCM, since the lemon is sour it belongs to the wood element or Liver/Gallbladder. When not ingested in excess, the sourness of the lemon can help to balance and cleanse the liver. This is great considering that the liver does most of the dirty work in the body. It processes EVERYTHING we put into it…including drugs, medications, food, additives, pollutants in our food, water, and air. Since in our modern lives we are bombarded with all those on a daily basis, it is no surprise that most people suffer from a congested liver. Congestion of the Liver can produce physical and emotional symptoms. The following are some symptoms of Liver congestion:
Physical Signs
Intermittent or migrating pain
Muscle spasms and cramps, muscle tension, can’t relax
Dizziness, vertigo
Internal or external tremors or shaking, trembling
Pulsating headache, especially in the temples or behind the eyes
Ringing in the ears
Dryness in the upper body (eyes, mouth, sinuses, skin)
Difficulty sleeping, wakes between 1 and 3 AM, or cannot fall asleep until the wee hours
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Menstrual disorders, PMS
Chronic indigestion
Belching or gas after meals, especially after oily or greasy foods
Emotional Signs
Depression and manic-depression
Feeling overwhelmed and overly sensitive; easily cries or angers
Irritable, agitated, angry, emotionally volatile
Nervousness, agitation, restlessness
Inability to keep commitments
Feeling of uneasiness, or “wound up”
Unsettled; the “eternal traveler”
Lack of motivation, stuck in a rut
Lacks patience
Poor judgement
Difficulty making decisions
Addictions and emotional attachments
Loss of sense of adventure and seeking new experiences
I use 8 oz of room temp filtered water with half a squeezed fresh lemon.
Here’s to starting the morning off right!!!
The Bike & the Baby 
3 Responses to “Why I start every morning with lemon water…”
Hi Nancy!
It was so good to hear from you!! Congratulations on your baby! I loved the information regarding lemon water. I have a glass of warm water every morning and plan on adding half a lemon’s juice to it now! I sure do miss you and your awesome yoga classes!!
It’s snowing in Tahoe!!
Lots of Love,
~Cynthia
Cynthia! Sorry it took me so long to reply to you. I miss you too! I might be coming to Tahoe this summer. If I do, you can meet my little man. xo
Cynthia…I don’t have your email anymore. I am in Tahoe for 2 weeks. I am also teaching a Yoga/5 elements workshop tomorrow afternoon. I’d love to see you and introduce you to Sage. xo