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

9 Ways to Use Fresh Lemons

Fresh lemons! Photo: SXC

I have a tendency to pick produce that is on sale during my grocery runs. Sometimes I end up with a drawer full of randomness--which usually includes a few lemons.

Are you looking for ways to use up a lemon or two before it shrivels and lands in the garbage can? Try these ideas!

9 Ways to Use Lemon

1. Slice a lemon and add it to the top of baked lemon-pepper chicken breasts.
2. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over grilled asparagus. (This comes from a WFL reader tip. Thanks!)
3. Make homemade lemonade.
4. Add peeled lemon to your next juicing adventure. I like lemon blended with apple and carrot juice.
5. Whisk fresh squeezed lemon juice with olive oil for a tangy, healthy salad dressing.
6. Squeeze lemon juice into a spray bottle. Add equal amounts of white vinegar and water to make a homemade sanitizing spray for the kitchen.
7. Make a lemon meringue pie from scratch. Everyone has to do this at least once in a lifetime!
8. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over apple wedges to keep them from browning in a lunch bag.
9. Add lemon juice to a cup of hot tea.

How do you use lemons around the kitchen or house?

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

PS: Are you just finding this blog today? Well, you should check out what's been going on this month! I've been busy with the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Poke around my little corner of the web to see what I've been cookin' up!


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How to Make Zest

Citrus fruits! Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Want to add a burst of natural flavor and color to your cooking? Add zest! Lemons, limes, oranges and any other citrus fruits can be used to make zest.

How to Make Zest

1. Thoroughly wash a whole citrus fruit.
2. Use a peeler or pairing knife to trim slender, thin slices of the fruit peel. Be careful not to get the white underside of the peel known as pith. It has a bitter flavor.
3. Chop the peelings into tiny slivers (I believe chefs call this julienne) or small pieces.
4. Or, use the fine grating on a cheese grater to shave zest from the fruit peel. Hold the whole fruit against the grater and gently shave off the skin.
5. That's it! The zest is ready to use. If you have extra, store it in an airtight container and use it within a day or two before it dries out. 
   

Add Zest to Your Meal

Here are a few ways I like to add the fresh flavor of citrus zest to food.

• Sprinkle lime zest on a bowl of cranberry sauce at the holidays.
• Add lemon or orange zest to a sugar cookie recipe for a springy, refreshing flavor.
• Dust the tops of pancakes with powdered sugar and orange zest.
• Whisk citrus zest into homemade vinaigrette salad dressing.
• Garnish a chocolate cake or cupcakes with slivers of orange zest.

How do you enjoy your zest? Please comment below!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

PS: This may be the last day of the A to Z Blogging Challenge, but don't forget to drop by on occasion and see what I've got cookin'! Or, follow me on Twitter and Facebook and I'll let you know what I've been up to! :)

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