Parvati Magazine | Page 16

NUTRITION RISE AND SHINE With Lemons M ost nutritionists (especially holistic nutritionists) include lemons in their daily practice. For me, my day hasn’t started until I am sipping on a 1 litre mason jar filled with warm water and freshly squeezed lemons. Lemons provide us with an abundance of nutritional value and support. 10 Top Health Benefits of Lemons 1. Lemons are alkalizing for your body; when you eat or drink the juice of a lemon- the ‘acidic’ properties of the lemon enter your body, which stimulates a series of responses that create a more alkaline balance in your digestive system. This also is helpful when it comes to blood sugar regulation! 2. Lemons are a great source of Vitamin C; lemons are one of those fruits that are a fantastic natural source of vitamin C and the flavonoids that are excellent when it comes to fighting flus and infections. 3. Lemons help to cleanse your bowels; Ingesting an acid (lemon juice, apple cider vinegar) stimulates the release of Hydrochloric Acid into your stomach, which begins the process of digestion, stimulates hormone release, ‘wakes up’ your organ systems and in summary- gets things going. By stimulating these natural responses in your body, lemons help to support and increase the bowel cleansing that takes place upon waking, leaving you feeling fresh, light and ready for your day. 4. Lemons promote ‘gastric fire’ in Ayurvedic medicine; in Ayurveda, lemons and limes are an important part of the daily regimen. Depending on your constitution (lemons for vata & limes for pitta), the citrus fruits are vital in regards to creating healthy patterns for your body. 5. Lemons have been reported to have an abundance of anti-cancer properties (antioxidants); not only are lemons high in vitamin C, they also contain a list of antioxidants that have been noted to aid in cancer prevention and cancer treatment .