Welcome to the official first newsletter from Yoga with Elaine! As we are heading even deeper into the season of flus and festivities, it is even more crucial that we take the time to nourish our bodies the proper way to ward off the sniffles and to fight off stress. One of the easiest thing you can do first thing in the morning to help get the body moving is having a warm cup of water with some fresh lemon juice squeezed in. You don't even need to change your diet! Read on to learn more...

The Citrus Way to Start Your Day!

If the first thing you head towards is the coffee machine first thing in the morning, you might want to reconsider your actions. In Ayurveda and most holistic wellness practices, it is advised to have a glass of warm water with half a lemon or lime squeezed in upon waking.  

Benefits:

• Detox. The sour taste stimulates bile production from the gallbladder, which helps kick-start your metabolism and revs up the fat-burning engine. Warm water helps flush out the kidneys.
• Vitamin C.  One of the most important antioxidants in nature, vitamin C is found is a lot of citrus fruits and helps neutralize free radicals to prevent them from damaging healthy cells, inducing inflammation and swelling in the body.
• Rehydration. After 8 or more hours of sleeping, your body becomes dehydrated. This is a great way to rehydrate the body in the morning, whereas coffee and caffeinated drinks have diuretic effects, which dehydrate you more.

If you palate is sensitive to the acidity of lemons, you can start off with just half a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, and gradually build up. Alternatively, you can add some stevia or raw honey to balance out the sour taste. Do this before you even start your coffee machine. You might find that you won't need that cup of coffee after all!