The Beauty Elixir

Hello sweethearts!

So, I racked my brains hard, in between re-runs of Will & Grace, and then some music (Yes! I am one of those who looks for meanings in Hip Hop songs) and wondered what my first entry should be. And voila! There it was, as I made a mental note of my groceries.

Lemons!

Yes. The holiest of my grails.

A glass of warm lemon water to kick-start my day. In fact, there have been very few instances in my life when I may have missed this superlative morning drink. Cheap, quick and easy peasy. As much as I’d love to take credit for this life-forming habit, it is my mother who gently coaxed me into it during my pre-pubescent years, at a time when I was willing to try anything for the mega zits exploding on my face. School, college, boyfriends, clothes, they’ve all come and gone but this elixir has stayed. That’s the power of it.

Now let me break down the science of it all. Or whatever I know of it. Lemon is one of the most easily available and most popular citrus fruit worldwide and not without merit. It is 5-6% citric acid, which gives it that yum! sour taste I adore. It is packed with nutrients like Vitamin C (strengthens the immune system), flavonoids (composites that contain anti-oxidants and cancer fighting properties), magnesium, potassium, Vitamin B6, calcium, pectin fibre and iron.

Whoa! That’s a powerhouse of goodness in a cute bright yellow packaging. Who would have thought?!

So here is what Lemons bring to the table for me every morning.

Warm filtered water, the juice of two lemons, a spoonful of honey and a dash of cinnamon powder. That’s the elixir, this post is all about. I have two glasses of this every morning without fail. I may have gone without breakfast in a rush (guilty of hitting the snooze button a few times and hence late for work) but never without this.

This drink helps maintain the natural pH balance in the body, aids digestion and flushes out the toxins and purifies the blood.

Cinnamon powder is a recent addition actually. In my research I’ve found that’s its antibiotic properties are a formidable remedy against cold and cough, helps beat acne, aids weight loss, promotes digestion and prevents tooth decay among an impressive array of other benefits. Hit up Google to read about all the health benefits of cinnamon.

A word of caution though. Most experts agree that you should not consume more than between two and five grams of cinnamon each day. This is due to its content of Coumarin, a substance that may be toxic when consumed in high dosages. 

Bonus:

These suckers are tough little acne and blackhead fighters. Lemon’s anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties are a natural alternative to treat acne. Just slice one open and rub it gently on those zits. Don’t get over zealous with the rubbing; it may cause irritation and redness.  Trust me, I know. Now years later, I am zit free but I still use them to lighten acne marks. Remember the 5-6% citric acid? That’s what works its magic on fading those tough spots. I’ve never gone out of my way to do this. Every once in a while, after I’ve squeezed the life out of them , I rub the peel on my face and let it dry. Then shower. It’s just that simple.

And ever so often, at the right time with the right company, I bring out the salt and tequila and put these bad boys to test after a bloody good shot. Hear, hear!

Love!