How do you start your MORSELICIOUS Morning’s? Coffee? Tea? Cuppa Mojo? 
I usually start mine with a hot cup of lemon, cayenne and ginger water, followed by my famous Cuppa Mojo. Click here for recipe. Both drinks are included in my new e-cookbook, The 21 day Ultimate MORSELICIOUS Detox. Click here to order, FREE with any purchase of $38.99 or mo’.
You all know how much I LOVE my cayenne and chipotle pepper. Well, a new study shows that the nicotine (yes, nictotine) in night shades and peppers may provide protective effect in preventing Parkinson’s disease. Click here to read study. Fascinating! Who knew these veggies contained nicotine?
Today’s NUTSO-SWEET Monday post is brought to you by guest, Eve Pearce.
Evelyn Pearce is a freelance writer and full-time mother of two. When not writing about food and nutrition or doing Pilates, she loves to experiment with her cooking. While they may not always meet her own exacting standards, at least the dog has yet to refuse anything. Thanks a million morsels, Eve!
Start Your Morning with a Zing: Lemon & Cayenne Pepper Water
Guest post by Eve Pearc
Most of us are familiar with that groggy morning feeling. The one usually prompted by our alarm clocks. That dreaded tone, tearing us from blissful slumber, pleasant dreams, and hurling us back into reality before we’re quite ready to face it. For those of us not blessed to live life as one of the ‘morning people’ this is often the most difficult part of the day, usually spent in a zombie like state – which for many people can only be remedied with caffeine. For the more nutrient savvy among us however, it’ll be no surprise that there are other, healthier, alternatives out there to kick start your day. Popular with celebrities looking to detox and lose weight, or your average health-conscious person in need of a cleansing feel-good boost; lemon & cayenne pepper water is the way to go!
To those not familiar with the concept, the idea of drinking water with cayenne pepper each morning might sound unappealing (and if you use too much of the hot stuff, that certainly holds true!) but it’s actually quite a pleasant concoction. More importantly, as most people on the bandwagon would agree – it makes you feel fantastic!
Here’s all you’ll need:
- Around 24 oz. of water
- The juice of ½ lemon (organic is preferable, naturally!)
- A pinch of powdered cayenne (it might take a couple of attempts to get the exact quantity, but what you want is enough to feel the zing, but not so much you can’t drink it)
You can use either hot or cold water, whatever works for you. If you don’t acquire a taste for the cayenne right away, you can always add a teaspoon of honey to sweeten the deal.
The Benefits
For a start, lemon and cayenne pepper are both fantastic for your digestion. Lemon juice especially, it destroys bacteria and as a diuretic it helps your liver and kidneys to get rid of those nasty toxins, cleansing your system. The yellow stuff is also well known for being high in anti-oxidants, as well as containing anti-cancer properties. Being rich in Vitamin C, it’s wonderful for both the immune system and healing, and assisting the body to absorb calcium more easily. When it comes to those groggy mornings, lemon juice is also brilliant for improving concentration, as well as the memory.
Cayenne pepper on the other hand gives your metabolism a good kick when it’s not looking, and is regarded as one of the best fat burning foods out there (a pinch will boost your metabolism by 25% for three hours after consuming it). It’s also a natural appetite suppressant. The cayenne’s source of power is a substance known as capsaicin. Capsaicin is often an ingredient found in over-the-counter arthritis medication, making the pepper particularly beneficial to those with the condition. If that wasn’t enough, it also stimulates the circulatory system and helps to regulate blood sugar. With the numerous natural benefits of lemon and cayenne pepper combined, this quick and simple concoction makes for a powerful health drink – the perfect boost to begin your day with. Surely that beats your morning espresso? Give it a try, you might just feel the benefits!
