LEMON WATER
Starting the day with a cup of warm water and the juice of half a lemon has become immensely popular in the healthy-food culture of today. The benefits touted for following this regime are impressive, as this combination will apparently: boost your immune system, balance your pH, help with weight loss, aid in digestion, clear up your skin, act as a diuretic, and hydrate your lymph system.
When I was growing up, food science was about convenience, not health. In the 1970’s, lemon water meant a slice of lemon in your water if you went to a fancy restaurant. I think its use was confined to elevating the consumer’s perception of the facility’s pedigree and was not given because it was good for us. In general, popular belief was that lemons came in a bottle, as a decoration, or a flavoring. They were not something you looked for in the produce section.
Today, several of my friends drink lemon water in the morning and feel strongly about its advantages so I decided to try it too. This week, I have started each day with a quart of purified cold water infused with a half a lemon. I try to drink it while I’m waiting for my coffee water to heat up. Apparently, you have to give it time to work.
I’ve noticed that I really like the taste and that it does wake me up. I’m not sure if it’s the cold water or the lemon juice responsible for my alertness, but I do feel I could extend the period of time between drinking it and ingesting my coffee. As to the wonderful published effects, I suppose time will tell. I’m not really sure how you measure any of those benefits, but I’m willing to believe something healthful is happening.
My new morning lemon water ritual results in me feeling virtuous and clean. It also makes me laugh as I reflect on the effect of lemons in my life as a kid.
I’m pretty sure a lemon in its natural state never graced our household – and my friends’ homes were no different. We had lemony-drinks like Kool Aid, Fizzies Instant Sparkling Drink Tablets, Funny Face – Lefty Lemon, Jolly Good Lemonade-Flavored Drink in a can, and Lipton Iced Tea with Lemon. There were food items made with lemon juice – which came from a bottle or a plastic lemon – like lemon bars and lemon meringue pie. Some items, like Jell-O and toothpicks just came flavored with lemon. But no real lemon citrus in the house.
Unless it was used as a garnish. Ice molds were commonly used to decorate punch bowls in the seventies. Slices of lemon were frequently spotted in those. Also, as an adornment for salmon loaf and aspics – which I recommend reviewing photos of and then giving thanks on your knees that these “meals” are no longer a cultural favorite.
However, my favorite youthful lemon memories do not come from anything purchased at a grocery store, but rather the drugstore – Love’s Fresh Lemon Cologne and Lemon Up Shampoo and Cream Rinse.
Back then, literally, EVERYONE wore Love’s Lemon cologne or used the powder. (Love’s Baby Soft was also tremendously popular.) And who can forget Lemon Up shampoo and conditioner with their unique lemon-shaped plastic caps and snappy 70’s-style slogan, “Make Peace with Grease!” Perfect.
In the seventies, our parents weren’t thinking about the potential good effects of lemon on our livers, adrenals, lymph, or digestive systems. There was no “nutrition” back then. All I can say is that it was very fortunate for me that Flintstone Vitamins were invented in my youth and that I was required to down one of these every morning with my PopTart, Sugar Smacks, and Tang.
I’m very thankful that society has now given thought to my biology and its need for actual lemon citrus in my mid-life. I will continue with my morning lemon water consumption and rave about its effects to my children. I may even start to consume it using the preferred method – with warm water (not hot – it breaks down the overall effect!). I just hope it can neutralize the effects of the fake lemon products from my youth.