I think I overdid it for dinner the other night. My husband ordered in from a fantastic local Italian place and I did not hold back on finishing up! I usually donβt stuff my face like that, but it was so delicious and it was a special occasion (the latter point really makes no sense in the argument, other than a personal excuse for having gone overboard!). Suffice it to say, my tummy did not feel well the next day. At times like this, I always turn to my dad.
My dad grew up on a farm in the poor working class town of Obrero in Cali Colombia. He often shares wonderful stories from his childhood growing up on a sugarcane farm, near rivers and lush and diverse natural flora. It made him the man he is today. Always full of useful healthy tips he is still 100% the campesino (farmer, country person) he was growing up. He still owns a big collection of machetes and knives, all in their indigenous original leather casing that heβs held on to since he was a boy.
So it goes without saying that I turned to my dad for some type of insightful remedy or natural fix. The medicine aisle at my local pharmacy is only my very last resort and I find I rarely need it. For this particular overindulgent βfood hangoverβ he recommended lemon water. That is, take 1/4th of the juice from one lemon and pour it into a cup of tepid/warm filtered water. This remedy can be safely taken daily to help with digestion.
My dad says room temperature/tepid is best for aiding digestion. I never doubted him but, ever the analyst, I researched it myself and the science confirms that warm/tepid water helps break down food in your stomach faster while keeping your digestion going at a steady pace. Lemon also contains Vitamin C (that great stuff that boosts your immune system), flushes out harmful toxins in your body and cleanses the liver. For a refreshing twist you can squeeze fresh lemon juice into mint or ginger tea, both which have health benefits and can help settle the stomach after a heavy meal.
When I have time, I prepare a batch the night before and keep it on my nightstand or in my kitchen, covered. I suggest drinking it first thing in the morning, about an hour before eating solid foods and even before brushing your teeth. Just remember to drink it through a straw as overexposure to the acidity can impact the enamel on your teeth - and make sure to brush your teeth after!
One squeezed lemon contains:
β 10.6 calories
β 18.6 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C, or 21% DV
β 9.6 micrograms (mcg) of folate, or 2% DV
β 49.4 mg of potassium, or 1% DV
β 0.01 mg of vitamin B-1, or 1% DV
β 0.01 mg of vitamin B-2, or 1% DV
β 0.06 mg of vitamin B-5, or 1% DV
Oh, and in case you are wondering...while the juice of half an orange contains as much daily value of vitamin C (24% to be exact), it contains twice as many calories and three times as much sugar! So when life gives you πππ, just make lemon water ποΏ½
