Lemon water is all the rage right now, but you might be wondering if it lives up to the hype. It has been touted for everything from weight loss to cancer prevention, and while we can honestly say that no drink can cure all physical ills, this drink is very good for you.
One of the best benefits of drinking lemon water is that the recipe is up to you. You can use as much lemon as you like, and even include additional ingredients like mint, honey, or other fruits. Lemon water can also be consumed warm or cold depending on your preference.
However, according to nutrition experts, the ideal way to drink lemon water to get the most benefits is if you drink it warm with at least ½ lemon included, peel and all. It is not necessary to eat the lemon slices, but the peel contains valuable polyphenols, which are antioxidant compounds that can help you lose weight. Adding lemon wedges to warm water helps extract more polyphenols than cold water.
So what are the potential benefits of drinking lemon water every day? There are many, and some of them, like # 3 and # 7, make the habit worthwhile on its own. On our way we are also going to break a couple of myths about lemon water.
1. Have a fresher breath
If you are tired of chewing gum or chewing on a mint every time you have to talk to someone, lemon water may be the answer. When you think about the large number of products that contain lemon scent, this starts to make sense. The citrus scent of lemon can neutralize odors, either on your countertops or in your mouth.
Drinking some lemon water after a meal that includes onions, garlic, fish, or blue cheese can remove its lingering evidence. Lemon is also great for stimulating saliva production, which in turn cleanses the mouth. A dry mouth, like the one you wake up to in the morning, actually smells worse due to excess bacterial growth.
2. Keep your skin looking younger
When you drink lemon water every day, you are adding critical hydration to your skincare routine. Hydrated skin appears smoother and smoother, reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. When you are fully hydrated, your body also has a better chance to expel toxins through sweat.
Adding lemon to your water increases your intake of vitamin C, a powerful nutrient that plays an important role in the production of collagen and elastin, the elements in skin that keep it strong and supple. Some research indicates that a diet high in vitamin C will also reduce wrinkles, something everyone wants.
3. Take more vitamin C
As we talk about vitamin C, let’s dive a little deeper into its many health benefits. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can neutralize harmful free radicals before they cause cell damage.
Therefore, making sure you get the recommended daily allowance is believed to reduce your risk of stroke, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. And since our bodies don’t synthesize vitamin C from other nutrients, we need to get that RDA from food. Lemon water can help you reach the suggested level of 60 mg per day.
4. Experience easier weight loss
We can tell you from the beginning that lemon water is not a miracle product for weight loss. Drinking it every day is not the only thing you need to do to successfully lose weight. However, people who drink lemon water tend to report being able to lose weight easier overall. It’s not entirely clear why, but drinking more flavored water may help you feel full and satisfied between meals.
But let’s not forget those antioxidant polyphenols in lemon that have been shown to support weight loss in mice. Research showed that lemon reduced weight gain in mice despite a high-fat diet, and insulin resistance was also improved. Human research is needed to track these promising results.
5. Stabilize your moods
The same invigorating scent that neutralizes odors can also reduce your stress and help you stay calm. This is why lemon oil is a common ingredient in aromatherapy oils. When you drink lemon, you get the same stress relief plus the benefit of the potassium in the fruit. Potassium is critical in regulating blood pressure, and high blood pressure is a key factor in your experience of stress.
If you drink warm lemon water, you will experience additional calming effects. But however you consume it, try sipping some lemon water before turning to wine after an especially difficult day.
6. Avoid kidney stones
Even if you have never personally had a kidney stone, you are probably aware of how agonizing they can be. Most kidney stones are essentially calcium deposits, and you can reduce your risk of forming one by consuming more citric acid in your diet.
Lemon is a citrus fruit that contains a large amount of citric acid; in fact, just ½ cup of lemon juice contains as much as prescription kidney stone medications. Staying well hydrated is also an important part of kidney health, which is why daily lemon water can be an amazing preventative measure when it comes to kidney stones.
7. No more urinary infections
And speaking of agonizing conditions, urinary tract or bladder infections are also incredibly painful. It’s honestly like peeing on small knives when you suffer from one of these infections, and unfortunately, they are easy to catch. One way to minimize the occurrence of these infections is to keep your urine alkaline. Although lemons are acidic, citric acid produces alkalizing by-products when digested.
Lemon water daily helps maintain an alkaline tendency pH in the urinary tract. However, it does not affect the pH in the bloodstream. Your kidneys do that work and diet is not related to the process. Don’t be fooled by claims that lemon water can alkalize your entire system.
Conclution
There are many reasons why daily lemon water is a good habit, and it only takes 7 days for you to see the difference. In addition to everything we’ve already mentioned, proper hydration alone is very important for good health. When your water is tastier due to adding lemon or other citrus flavors, it can be much easier to drop the ideal amount from 91 to 125 ounces per day.
We encourage you to experiment with lemon water and see how much better you feel each day. Just don’t expect that you’re going to lose weight instantly, detoxify your system (the body does this very well on its own), or increase your IQ. But for everything else that lemon water can do, we recommend it!
