It’s served regularly by many restaurants and some people continue their day with lemon water instead of coffee or tea. There’s no question that lemons are delicious, but adding them to water does it make you healthier?
Much evidence that supports the health benefits of lemon water is anecdotal. No scientific work has been carried out directly on lemon juice, but similar research is being conducted on the effects of lemon and juice.
Seven ways your body can take advantage of lemon water here.
1. It promotes hydration
General recommendations specify that women should get at least 91 ounces a day and men should get at least 125 ounces, according to the Food and Nutrition Board. That includes food and drink water.
Water is the perfect hydration beverage, but some people don’t like the taste of it alone. Including lemon enhances the taste of the tea, which can make you drink more.
2. It’s a good source of vitamin C
Citrus fruits such as lemons are rich in vitamin C, a key antioxidant that helps avoid exposure to free radicals by the cells. You’ve probably heard that certain people can consider vitamin C helping to avoid or reduce the length of common cold, but studies are contradictory.
Vitamin C will reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, and lower blood pressure.
Although citrus fruits high in vitamin C do not top the list, lemons are still a good source. The juice of one lemon contains about 18.6 milligrams of vitamin C according to the United States Department of AgricultureTrusted Source. For adults, the recommended daily level is between 65 and 90 milligrams.
3. It supports weight loss
Evidence has shown that the polyphenol antioxidants present in lemons substantially minimize weight gain in overfed mice for obesity induction.
The antioxidant compounds also balanced the negative effects on blood glucose levels in these mice studies, and enhanced insulin resistance, the two key factors in type 2 diabetes production.
While the same findings must be confirmed in humans, there is clear anecdotal evidence that lemon water promotes weight loss. It is uncertain if this is due to people only drinking more water and feeling fresh, or to the lemon juice itself.
4. It improves your skin quality
Vitamin C found in lemons can help reduce skin wrinkles, aging dry skin and sun damage. It’s controversial how water strengthens the skin but one thing is certain. If the skin loses moisture, it is dry and wrinkle-prone. A 2016 laboratory study found that a drink based on citrus has helped prevent wrinkles from forming in hairless mice.
5. It helps digestion
Many people take lemon water as a laxative regularly in the morning to help avoid constipation. Drinking warm or hot water from the lemon when you wake up will help push your digestive system.
Ayurvedic medicine says the sour lemon taste helps to stimulate your “Agni.” A powerful agni jump-starts the digestive system in ayurvedic medicine, enabling you to digest food more easily and helping to prevent toxin build-up.
6. It freshens breath
Have you ever rubbed your hands with lemon to get rid of the scent of garlic or some other strong odor? The same folk remedy can be applied to bad breath caused by consuming foods with strong odors like garlic, onions, or fish.
Having a glass of lemon water after meals and first thing in the morning, you might avoid bad breath. Lemon is thought to increase saliva and it also helps to avoid a dry mouth that can lead to bacteria causing bad breath.
7. It helps prevent kidney stones
The citric acid in lemons can help to prevent stones in the kidneys. Citrate, a component of citric acid, is paradoxically less acidic in urine, and may even break up small stones. Not only does drinking lemon water get you to citrate, but also the water you need to help avoid or flush out the stones.
