Lemon water offers plenty more taste than plain water but’s also packed with goodness and health benefits. Bringing lemon water into your life can be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make.
If you follow the advice of healthcare experts, you’ll be drinking plenty of water every day. Exactly how much we should be consuming varies from source to source so we won’t poke that bear right now. Rest assured, however, if you’re drinking plenty of clear fluids, you’ll reap a range of health benefits.
For many people, though, there’s a troublesome caveat to this – water is dull. Given a choice between tap water and a fizzy soda or sugary fruit juice, many people will instinctively opt for the latter options. Adding lemon to water provides the best of both worlds.
What happens when you drink lemon water?
In short, lemon water detoxes and cleanses your body – especially when consumed on an empty stomach. Water alone will do this, acting like your body’s power shower and flushing away stubborn toxins.
The addition of lemons provides an acidic quality, which breaks down any stubborn blockages or crystals in the body. This makes lemon water highly recommended to anybody prone to urinary tract infections, or similar ailments. (1)
Lemons are also a natural antioxidant. By drinking lemon water, you’ll flood your body with goodness. (2)
This means that drinking lemon water can be potent in the battle against joint pain. If you’re living with arthritis or a similar complaint, lemon water will make the joints considerably suppler.
The health benefits of lemon water
There is a multitude of reasons why you should be consuming lemon water. Just some of the boosts that it will provide your body include:
Hydration
The critical component of lemon water is water. The more water you consume, the less likely you are to become dehydrated. As our bodies are made up of 70% water, keeping hydrated is clinical.
Immunity
Lemons are packed with Vitamin C. If you keep meaning to up your fruit intake but never quite manage it, lemon water is a fantastic compromise. By sipping on lemon water, you’ll banish those pesky sniffles.
Skin condition
Hydration and Vitamin C, both of which we have established is provided by lemon water, are critical to the state of your skin. By sipping lemon water, you’ll be less prone to wrinkles and skin blemishes.
Digestion
Lemon water can be a potent weapon in the battle against constipation and other intestinal disorders. The sour and robust taste sensation acts as a wake-up call for your gut and gets everything moving.
Kidney issues
Lemon water is acidic. That may not sound appealing on paper, but in practice, it breaks down kidney stones and similar complaints within your body.
Fresh breath
If you overdid it on the garlic or onions the night before, no toothpaste or mouthwash would completely clear the scent. Likewise, cigarette smokers find that their breath often betrays their habit. Lemon water can mask many odors on the breath.
Weight loss
Of course, the side effect most commonly associated with lemon water is weight loss. (3)
In truth, opinion varies wildly on whether this is the case. Just drinking alone water aids with weight loss, and it fills the stomach. All the same, if lemon water helps you maintain a healthy weight, stick with it.
The drawbacks of lemon water
Naturally, nothing in this life comes for free. Despite all the benefits of lemon water, you’ll also have to be mindful of a few potential issues.
The biggest of these is the acid content in lemon water. Lemons are citrus fruits, so they’re very acidic. Keep an eye on your teeth when you drink lemon water.
Too much can wear away tooth enamel, and even cause acid reflux in those with a sensitive stomach.
For most people, the benefits of lemon water far outweigh the drawbacks. Every individual is different, though. Assess your body’s reaction to yourself, and decide whether lemon water works for you.
How to make lemon water
If you’re ready to bring lemon water into your routine, make sure, you do it properly. Just squeezing a few drops of lemon juice into a glass of tap water once a day won’t do it. That will only bring acid into your body and provide a few of the benefits.
Lemon water is best enjoyed in warm water, first thing in the morning. Replace your ceremonial cup of tea or coffee that you use to kickstart your brain with lemon water. (4)
By consuming this beverage on an empty stomach, your body will be able to absorb all the nutrients.
Also, you’ll need to include the entire lemon. The means the peel, too. Squeeze out the juice, and use a grater to apply some peel to your water in chunks small enough to consume.
Does this sound unappealing to the tastebuds? Well, there’s nothing to say that you can’t spruce up your lemon water with additional ingredients.
There is a raft of consumable herbs out there that will also enhance your health. Consider adding a pinch of the following to your pitcher of lemon water:
- Mint
- Turmeric
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
If you really can’t abide by the taste, consider adding a teaspoon of maple syrup or honey. Go easy on this, though. Applying too much sugar will counteract all the health benefits of lemons.
Lemon water can undoubtedly do great things for the human body. Like all foodstuffs, however, they must be consumed in moderation. If you can find the right balance, you’ll enjoy all the benefits that this natural remedy has to offer.
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