Breaking Down Digestion with Lemon Juice
Breaking down digestion with Lemon Water
I’m sure most of you know (especially those of you in the wellness community) that lemon water aids with bloat, digestion, skin, etc. but why? I like to always look for the “why” behind these statements to make sure it’s not just a trend...and because the body is just so dang intriguing and amazing I want to know it all!
Let’s begin with the first 2 stages of digestion: the first stage is when food enters your mouth and mixes with saliva. It’s important to chew your food thoroughly and mindfully to give your saliva time to begin the process of breaking down your food via amylase (the digestive enzyme that breaks down sugars) and lingual lipase (the digestive enzyme that breaks down fat). Simply, you absorb your food’s simple sugars and your blood sugar rises.
The second stage of digestion is when the hydrochloric acid in your stomach takes over to begin the breakdown of protein in the stomach. This acid denatures the protein, destroys any bacteria/virus in the food and converts the digestive enzyme pepsinogen into its active form - pepsin.
You can think of this stage as the “sour” stage because your food becomes sour in your stomach. The reason the stomach becomes incredibly acidic is to destroy any pathogens in your food. You may be thinking - what does any of this have to do with lemon water?
Well, sour foods (cue the lemons baby) increase stomach acid, improve digestion, and reduce flatulence. This is why the old trend of hot lemon water first thing in the morning does actually help bloat! Not to mention lemons (and any sour foods like limes, grapefruit, apple cider vinegar, etc.) also nourish your organs, blood, and other bodily tissues.
Think of a lemon. Just imagine biting into it’s sour juiciness and notice what it does to your mouth. It helps you salivate! I’m literally salivating just thinking about biting into one hah! Since digestion begins in the mouth, the more lubricated your mouth is, the easier your body can digest food. Pretty dang cool if you ask me!
Along with digestion, here are 15 additional benefits:
Drinking lemon juice with warm water every morning helps in maintaining the pH balance of the body.
With its powerful antibacterial properties, lemon juice helps fight infections
Acts as a detoxifying agent.
Helps with maintaining digestive health.
Along with vitamin C, lemons are also a rich source of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium etc.
Helps fight common cold by protecting the body from immune system deficiencies
Lemon water is also a popular remedy for many kinds of skin problems ranging from acne, rashes and wrinkles to dark spots.
Promotes digestion and increases the metabolic rate.
Effective at cleansing the liver as it promotes the liver to flush out toxins
Lemon’s anti-inflammatory properties help in fighting respiratory tract infections, sore throat and inflammation of tonsils.
Helps keep the body hydrate as it provides electrolytes to the body.
Helps reduce joint and muscle pain.
Good for your dental health as it helps with toothache and prevents gingivitis, but too much can wear down the enamel on your teeth. Everything in moderation!
Helps with digestion and hence, helps regulate natural bowel movement.
Do you like to add anything extra to your warm lemon water? Maybe cayenne? Or a shot of aloe with apple cider vinegar?