I find myself constantly urging my patients to drink, drink, DRINK plenty of good, pure water. Our bodies are nearly 70% water after all. And If we allow ourselves to dehydrate even slightly we limit our body's ability to transport nutrients to tissues, eliminate toxins, and function optimally on a cellular level. There is no single cell of the body that will not be washed and cleansed by water. And 8 glasses a day doesn't cut it. The general rule of thumb is to consume half of your body weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 170lbs, you should be drinking at least 85oz of pure, clean water daily. If you weigh 100lbs, this number then becomes 50oz. Do you see the pattern? Good.

The excuse that I hear often from patients is, "I don't really like drinking plain water". Most of us would much prefer "hydrating" with soda or coffee, or some other flavorful beverage. The problem is that some of these beverages actually dehydrate the body even further, taking us further from health and closer to sickness. Fortunately, there is a way to add a little flavor to your water, while subsequently increasing your overall health. The big secret?... - squeeze a little lemon in your water!

The primary benefit is due to the wonderful alkalizing properties of the lemon juice. By having lemon squeezed in your water you create a beverage that raises your body’s pH. Put simply, having a low pH (or being Acidic) is not a healthy place to be. Our bodies do not function nearly as well when they are acidic. They are more susceptible to sickness, disease, fatigue, etc. According to Jethro Kloss in his book Back To Eden: “The medicinal value of the lemon is as follows: It is an antiseptic, or is an agent that prevents sepsis [the presence of pathogenic bacteria] or putrefaction [decomposition of tissue]. It is also anti-scorbutic, a term meaning a remedy which will prevent disease and assist in cleansing the system of impurities.” A few more wonderful benefits of putting lemons in your water

• lemon juice cleans your mouth
• it controls excessive bile flow
• it dislodges phlegm
• it aides in the digestive process – heartburn and bloating
• lemon water helps alleviate constipation
• it helps prevent vomiting
• and it helps with throat issues
• cleanses the liver and kidneys
• and even works as a natural skin cleanser

Typically, half a lemon squeezed into 20oz of water may be enough. I like to squeeze a whole lemon into my 32oz water bottle. I do this in the morning and leave the whole lemon in my bottle, so as I refill my bottle the flavor stays. At lunch I grab a new lemon and repeat the process. Play with this and see what works for you. Some lemon is better than no lemon. Also, lemons with a thinner peel tend to be juicier than those with a thick peel. And if lemon isn't your style, try using lime instead for the same benefits.

So if drinking plenty of water seems like a chore to you, try this flavorful method. Doing so will actually improve your health even further.

Important note : Squeezing lemon juice into water is not meant to be a substitute for a healthy diet, vitamins, or any medication you might be taking. also, if you have edema, consult your physician as there might be a need for limiting your fluid intake.