What Does Drinking Hot Lemon Water Do for You?

Image Credit: morgueFile

Lately memes with the same foodie theme keep showing up in my social media feeds.

The Benefits of Lemon Water.
How to Drink Hot Lemon Water.
Eat More Lemons.

Why?

I love lemon, but why do so many sources say that drinking a cup of steamy water served with a fresh lemon wedge first thing in the morning before having breakfast is so good for you?

In an ABC Good Morning America article online, Mattie Khan chatted with experts who revealed that lemon water can settle your stomach, make staying hydrated more palatable than sipping plain water, activate bile flow to aid in detoxification and emulsify and remove fat-soluble toxins.

Since I love tea, I thought I'd give this close cousin a try.

After drinking hot lemon water off and on for months, here are my observations:

• I urinate more frequently while drinking hot lemon water.
• My initial morning appetite is curbed, so I don't grab something unhealthy on a whim.
• On weeks I drink hot lemon water each morning, I lose a bit of weight, or maintain, even when I've splurged on extra calories.

So, do you drink hot lemon water? Why? Let's chat in the comments below.

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

Lemon Basil: My Favorite Herb of the Summer

For the past several years, I've thought about planting herbs in the flower boxes by the backdoor. Each year I fill the planters with flowers and scorn myself for not growing something more practical.

But, this year I finally did it!

After an impromptu stop at a local garden center, I was the proud owner of some parsley and lemon basil.

I grew up putting parsley on everything from green salads and roasted potatoes, to hot vegetable casseroles and pasta salads. But the lemon basil was a new herb for my palette.

It tastes just like fresh lemons AND basil. It really is an odd combo at first taste. If you've never had lemon basil, poke around at the local farmer's market or garden center. It is a true treat!

So far I've used it fresh from the plant:

• as a topper on homemade pizza
• mixed into pasta drizzled with Alfredo sauce
• mixed with lemon slices in my ice water
• chopped and sprinkled on grilled mushrooms

As I research this curious little herb, I'm learning its flavor is most robust when used fresh, so add it to dishes at the last minute or as a garnish. Lemon basil is common in Thai, Laotian and Indonesian cuisine. If you eat at Middle Eastern restaurants often, you might recognize this flavorful herb.

Have you ever tried lemon basil? How to do you like to incorporate it into your cooking? I have a huge plant to use up this summer. Make my mouth water!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

Lotus Moon Lemon Poppy Seed Powder Cleanse Review

Photo by Angela Tague

When I think of a lemon-poppy seed combo, I immediately think of muffins. Not skin care.

So, when I was asked by Lotus Moon to give its Lemon Poppy Seed Powder Cleanse a try, I thought, why not? If it smells as good as muffins, I'll be thrilled.

I believe in full disclosure, so here's the fine print. I was given a free 4 oz. sample of this product for review purposes. I was not compensated monetarily and all views are my own.

Back to the good part! Have you ever used a powdered cleanser? This was my first attempt, and I was pleasantly surprised. You simply pour 1/8 of a teaspoon of the powder into the palm of your hand, add some warm water and rub your hands together to create a foaming facial wash.

At a glance, I think this type of cleanser would be perfect for gals who travel a lot. Even if the container opened during a flight, you wouldn't ruin anything with a leaking, sticky gel.

The facial cleanser has a mild, sweet scent, much like muffin batter. Bonus! As I smoothed it on my face, I could see the poppy seeds. These little black specs help the cleaner to foam and enrich the skin with vitamin E. The cleaner also has a noticeable yellow tint from the stone ground cornmeal which helps gently exfoliate the skin. There's also jojoba beads and lemon peel powder to nourish and cleanse the skin.

I really liked how this cleanser felt on my skin. It wasn't overly rough like some exfoliating cleaners, yet there was enough texture to know my skin was getting a deep cleansing. After massaging the foam into my skin with circular motion for about 30 seconds, I rinsed my face with cool water.

My resulting skin was soft, clean and, the big bonus, not rashy. (My sensitive skin doesn't respond well to cleaners filled with artificial fragrances and fillers.) Lotus Moon's Lemon Poppy Seed Powder Cleaner is 95% organic, gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO and formulated for all skin types.

This is one beauty product that has earned a front row spot in my bathroom cabinet.

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

PS: Visit me on Facebook! I'd love to chat!