Nicki’s Pick: Lemon Water

The founder of View the Vibe has officially entered her 40s and with knowledge and determination she plans on staying young on both the inside and out. Nicki’s Pick is a weekly beauty column that features Nicki’s favourite beauty products and latest discoveries for women in their 40s. These products are tried and tested by Miss Nicki, and if she lists it here you can trust that this is how she is staying young in mind, body, and spirit…

Beauty is not just about products… it’s also about habits. Last week I wrote about the Nutri-Bullet, because while it is a product, it also helps support a great habit which is to get all your greens in a breakfast smoothie. However, there’s another great habit I swear by and was taught by none other than my mama: lemon water every morning.

Appropriately timed just before Mother’s Day, I figured this was a great time to talk about how my mother’s tips and tricks – as much as I fought them – have worked since I finally started listening. Growing up, my mom loved to tell me what to do and how to do it. But I’m not a girl who takes direction well… I’ve learned it’s imperative to take criticism, but I’ve also learned I quite enjoy learning from my mistakes. She told me not to wax my eyebrows because they wouldn’t grow back (sure enough, they didn’t), she told me not to die my hair too young ’cause it would dry it out (yup, right yet again), and she told me to squeeze the juice of one lemon into room temperature water every morning and drink it as soon as I wake up. Took me about 10 years to actually incorporate this into my daily ritual, but for the last 4 years I haven’t skipped a day.

I’m sure most of you have heard that you should do this – nowadays all natur0paths, dieticians and “women’s” specialists tell you to do this. But really, what are the benefits? There are so many, actually, but here are my favourites…

1 It helps digestion. Yes, ladies, it does. Are you a coffee drinker so that you “go” in the morning? Lemon water will do that too, so if you’re trying to cut out coffee lemon water is your answer.

2 It cleanses your system. When I am feeling like I’ve had too many big dinners out, have been to too many parties, and have that extra “puff” because of it, I will drink lemon water every morning – then also keep it going throughout the day. The next day I already feel better and less bloated.

3 It boosts your immune system. Obviously lemons are filled with vitamin C. I swear since I started drinking my lemon water daily I get sick a lot less. 

4 It keeps your skin clear and free of blemishes and wrinkles! Yes, this is quite possibly my favourite reason to drink lemon water. The antioxidants in lemon juice help to not only decrease blemishes, but wrinkles too, and because it’s detoxifying your blood it will maintain your skin’s radiance.

All great reasons to drink lemon water daily… and listen to your mama. ‘Cause, really, she knows what she’s talkin’ about. And on that note, Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there that keep themselves, and their daughters, looking great!

What beauty tips have you inherited from your mother? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.