Benefits of Lemon Water
Many people rave about starting their day with lemon water. You find it in restaurants, cafes, and bars.
Some even claim that drinking lemon water on an empty stomach can help you lose weight. Does it actually make you healthier? There are studies done on the benefits of lemons and benefits of water so mixing them together only makes sense. There are some benefits one can gain from drinking or consuming lemon water regularly.
Vitamin C- Citrus fruits like lemons are high in Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a primary antioxidant that helps protect cells from damaging free radicals. Vitamin C also helps in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and blood pressure.
Promotes Weight Loss- Polyphenol antioxidants found in lemons significantly reduced weight gain in several animal studies. The antioxidant compounds also offset the negative effects on blood glucose levels and improved insulin resistance. These are the two main factors responsible for the development of Type 2 diabetes. Drinking lemon water encourages consumption of water and provides high amount of satiation.
Promotes Hydration- Adding lemon to water gives it a fresh and cooling taste. This increases hydration during summers and encourages people to drink more water. Women need at least 91 ounces per day and men should get 125 ounces of water daily to stay hydrated. Dehydration can cause several diseases, fatigue, nausea, acidity, and indigestion. You can add other fresh elements to water like mint, basil, or cucumber along with lemon and keep it handy.
Improves the Quality of Skin- Vitamin C found in lemons may help reduce skin wrinkling, dry skin from aging, and damage from the sun. Dehydration can lead to loss of moisture and texture damage in your skin. If your skin loses moisture, it becomes dry and prone to wrinkles. Dry, dehydrated skin is also susceptible to roughness, pigmentation, and dullness. Citrus based products or Vitamin C is considered a holy grail in skin care. Drinking lemon water regularly can provide you with a natural and organic source of Vitamin C.
Aids Digestion- Drinking lemon water first thing in the morning daily can act as a laxative and help prevent constipation. People drink warm or hot lemon water before coffee or tea to move their digestive system. Traditional medicine forms such as Ayurveda have recommended the sour lemon taste to stimulate the digestive system. It also allows you to digest food easily and prevents the buildup of toxins.
Freshens Breath- Lemon or lemon fragrance is present in several home cleaners, dish-washing liquids, and hand washes. The fragrant odor of lemon easily overpowers other strong smells such as garlic or foul breath. Drinking lemon water in the morning or after meals can get rid of smells such as onions, fish, and garlic. Lemon is known to stimulate saliva and mixed with water it prevents dry mouth. Dry mouth is a common cause of bad breath caused by food bacteria.
Prevents Kidney Stones- The citric acid in lemons prevents the formation of kidney stones. Citrate is a component of citric acid, and makes urine less acidic. It can even help break up small stones. Drinking lemon water gets you citrate the water required to flush out stones.
In order to reap any health benefits of lemon water, you need to drink it regularly, and you need more than just a single wedge of lemon in your mug. When making lemon water, always use fresh lemons rather than artificial lemon from a bottle. To make lemon water, squeeze half a lemon into 8 ounces of warm or cold water. To make the drink as healthy as possible, use filtered water and organic lemons. You can add other ingredients such as mint, cucumber, basil, ginger, honey, and turmeric.
You can also add slices of other fresh citrus fruits such as limes and oranges, or cucumber slices. Always wash the produce well before slicing and using. Having lemon ice cubes on hand is a great way to add lemon to your water fast. Simply squeeze fresh lemon juice into ice cube trays and freeze. Drop a few cubes into a glass of cold or hot water as needed. You can start your morning with a mug of warm lemon water, and keep a pitcher of water infused with a few sliced lemons in your refrigerator to drink throughout the day.
There are certain side effects of drinking lemon water consistently. Lemon contains citric acid which can erase tooth enamel. Drink lemon water through a straw to reduce the risk and rinse your mouth with plain water afterward. The citric acid present in lemons can also cause heartburn or acidity in some people. Drinking lemon water and then consuming a high-calorie, processed diet will not help in losing weight. If you want to add lemon water to your diet to lose weight, then you need to maintain a caloric deficit and eat healthy foods.
There are no major ill-effects of consuming lemon water so you can try experimenting with it and see how it affects your health. Consult a doctor or medical expert before adding any new foods to your diet and lifestyle.
