I want to share one of the best tips for weight loss and daily detox with you! I have been using it for many years and will not start my day without it. It's super simple and you can add it to your daily routine straight away!
Lime Water! It is one of the most beneficial and simplest ways to cleanse your body every morning, activate your digestion and boost immunity.
Your digestion and immunity go hand in hand because a huge proportion of your immune system is actually located in your GI tract! Ayurvedic science has talked about this connection for thousands of years and this is why it considers diet & lifestyle to be fundamental for optimum health and wellbeing.
Lime juice is filled with important nutrients like potassium, vitamin C and iron. Plus it is loaded with antioxidants, which are compounds that help keep you healthy by defending your cells against molecules called free radicals. In addition, most recent research shows that regular consumption of lime water may improve skin texture and reduce and/or prevent wrinkles and who wouldn't like that?! This is because vitamin C is essential for collagen production.
Lime juice may also help prevent kidney stones and lower your risk of heart disease. These are some serious claims I know but they are backed by the latest research. Citrus fruits (including limes) are natural sources of dietary citrate, which can help prevent kidney stones from forming while citrus flavonoids may improve your heart health by reducing oxidative stress, blood lipid levels, and inflammation.
Ayurvedically, consuming lime water is considered purifying because it helps to cleanse the body of toxins caused by indigestion or undigested foods. It ignites Agni, the digestive fire that keeps us strong and healthy. In fact, Agni is one of the most important concepts in Ayurveda as this is what keeps us in balance. Lime water is also used to help keep bowel movements regular which is extremely important for good health.
Whilst lemon is good for calming Vata and detoxifying Pitta, it can also provoke Pitta and Kapha doshas. This is why, during Spring and Summer periods I choose to consume and recommend lime water rather than lemon. Lemons can be too heating and are sour. Their post-digestive effect is also sour, whereas limes are sour, slightly bitter, and cooling and their post-digestive effect on the body is sweet, which is much better for the Pitta types in summer.
Convinced? Here is how to integrate lime water into your daily/morning routine:
Start by having a glass of warm water with a squeeze of lime every morning on empty stomach. Do this before you have any food or other drink, except for pure hot/warm water, but after you have brushed your teeth.
To stimulate/increase your digestive fire - during detox, when feeling unwell, low on energy, sluggish etc - bring to boil 1,2 ltr of water with 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 inch of grated ginger, 2 tbsp unrefined sugar (coconut, jaggery, maple syrup are all good choices), 1/8 tsp rock salt. Boil for 20 minutes, cool down and add the juice of 1/2 lime. Do not boil lime juice. Pour into a flask or thermos and drink throughout the day.
If you are looking to lose weight or maintain your weight, you can add a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of lime to your hot water (cool it down before adding honey) and drink it first thing in the morning. A pinch of turmeric may also be added but make sure your Pitta dosha is not too high as both honey and turmeric are heating for the body.
Try these and let me know how you go :-)