May 2012
Welcome to the monthly Ask Dr. Marty Newsletter. In response to several requests, I have decided to share some information based on questions that I frequently receive regarding natural health topics. I promise to keep the newsletter short. But if at any time you get overwhelmed with emails, please let me know and I’ll be glad to take you off of the mailing list. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the newsletter and hope that you will forward any questions you may have as well. Even if they don’t make it into the newsletter, I promise to answer all questions. All questions will be anonymous.
Question: I received this information on lemon juice from a friend today and thought I would forward it to you and get your opinion. (See the email document at the end of this newsletter.)
Answer: First of all, the first message is right on target. Lemon juice will etch your teeth (if your mouth is not rinsed afterward). I believe that drinking FRESH lemon juice in very warm water (not hot) a half hour before breakfast is very helpful from several points of view. It has vitamin C and I’ll explain more about vitamin C later. It also is a potent acidic cleanser in the very warm water. The reason it should be taken a half hour before breakfast is so that it doesn’t make your breakfast acidic (not a good thing since the vast majority of us need more alkaline foods and drinks). Now for the strange part. Lemon juice is very acidic when you drink it, but leaves an alkaline ash when our body burns it as fuel. So lemon juice is an alkalizer, which is great for most of us.
Many natural health professionals (including yours truly) recommend something called the Master Cleanse. It is a half lemon squeezed into very warm water, with a little real maple syrup, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. This is a potent cleanser, purifier, and anti-inflammatory, especially because of its action on the liver. Many people drink this during a fast. As always, however, a cleanse should only be done when the body is strong enough to handle it. Many times, the body must be built up before a cleanse or fast.
An overly acidic environment is an environment in which inflammation exists.
Inflammation is the environment in which disease will invade.
It’s not the invader (like bacteria, fungus, virus or parasites) that is the danger. The danger is a weakened environment in our bodies, in which the bad stuff can move in and set up housekeeping. But back to the email…
According to Snopes.com, the Institute of Health Sciences is a real organization, but they deny this information came from that company.
But 10,000 times more effective than chemotherapy in killing cancer???? We can certainly count that in the category of a real exaggeration. But studies at the University of Florida and the University of California Davis do indicate that compounds in citrus, like flavonoids, do have anticancer activity. 1954 Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling was right about his vitamin C research.
Vitamin C is a very potent antioxidant when taken at bowel tolerance levels. Yes, your body will actually tell you how much vitamin C you need. You take one tablet (usually 250 mg) and add one tablet daily until you have loose bowels. At that point, you back down to the previous level for your ideal amount. So on day one, you can take a tablet at breakfast. Day 2 you can take one at breakfast, then one at dinner. Then on day 3 you could take one with each meal, and so on.
But how about the acid in vitamin C? Many people get mouth or tongue ulcers from all the acid in lemon juice or vitamin C tablets. For that reason, plus the fact that too much acid affects the body in many other negative ways, I recommend Citrus Bioflavonoids. Citrus Bioflavonoids is vitamin C plus alkaline compounds from the white pulp in citrus. Isn’t it facinating how the master plan for nature includes buffering agents in so many real foods to keep that food from being harmful?
Vitamin C itself has been shown in studies to support adrenal function. When we are under physical or emotional stress, our bodies use up more vitamin C as our adrenals work harder to maintain balance in the body. With enough vitamin C, The adrenal glands can lower cortisol, a stress hormone. Lower levels of cortisol can boost the immune system.
Vitamin C also is required by the body in the manufacture of collagen, which strengthens blood vessels. Stronger blood vessels mean the prevention of hemorrhaging or bruising. And collagen forms the structure of bones, preventing bone density problems, like osteoporosis. Vitamin C may also increase our lifespan through the reduction of cardiovascular disease. And this vitamin is also required to form cartilage. Our knees and hips will say “Thank You!”
Citrus bioflavonoids strengthen blood vessel walls, reduce the chance of blood clots, reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart disease, inflammation of all sorts, and varicose veins. Citrus bioflavonoids also make the vitamin C more potent through a synergistic effect. Research also indicates citrus bioflavonoids have the ability to chelate (attach and remove) heavy metals from the body.
Other than that, vitamin C and citrus bioflavonoids aren’t very useful!
Hot Tip: Freshly squeezed lemon juice still has it’s nutrients (versus packaged, treated lemon juice). Always choose lemons without any green on the skin. Unfortunately most all citrus in the grocery has been picked green and gassed to ripen. This method of processing fruit means more acid in the fruit than its tree-ripened counterpart. I squeeze half a small lemon into a cup of very warm water and sip until finished.
Next month…Coconut oil
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Maureen (Marty) Kernion is not a physician and does not diagnose nor prescribe. She received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Louisiana State University, and a Master of Science degree and Doctorate of Natural Health degree from Clayton College of Natural Health. She is the author of Going Natural with Herbs. Marty lectures on natural health topics across the country and has been featured at 78 Barnes and Noble book stores since her book was published. She is also a retired adjunct professor with Clayton College of Natural Health where she authored 39 courses in nutrition and herbal remedies.
It is always wise to advise your pharmacist or health care practitioner about any change in diet or supplements you plan to take, especially if you take any prescription medication.
“Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.” Ezekiel 47:12
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