10 Health Benefits To Drinking Lemon Water
Lemon water is refreshing and delicious. What many of us don’t know, is while we’re sipping at a restaurant, there are some added benefits with each gulp. The immediate taste is crisp and cool, but the effects are long-lasting. One of the best things about lemon water is the added sweetness, without supplementing for a sugary energy or sports drink. Tune in to 10 health benefits to drinking lemon water!
1. Weight Loss
Drinking lemon water is proven to help promote weight loss. A study done with animals proved that the antioxidants found in lemons help shed the pounds. Heres how: the properties that are present in the antioxidants threw off the body’s blood and glucose levels, helping with insulin, two main sources of type 2 diabetes. That study is not the only evidence linking lemon water to weight loss. Simply put, the presence of lemon makes the water sweet, making you drink a lot more of it. Drinking a lot of water keeps your body from developing water retention, (feeling bloated), and accelerates your metabolism. Another benefit to drinking lemon water that contributes to weight loss is the quantity of water that adding lemon urges you to drink, and by adding that sweetness makes the water more desirable.
2. Colon Cleanse
There is a property found in our digestive system called “Agni”, that is triggered when we indulge in that sour taste. Agni helps prevent toxins accumulate in our digestive system, and keeps everything moving. Lemon water is an overall highly beneficial drink to everything related to your tummy! Drink up!
3. Mood Boost
Drinking lemon water especially in the morning can give you that energizing boost similar to that of a cup of coffee. One of the benefits of lemon water is improving mood and memory, making it so that you have the most for your day. The combination of hydration and energy your mood will increase, without the dreaded caffeine crash from a typical cup of coffee. This aspect may be a bit mind over matter… the sweetness of the lemon may increase alertness, but hey, it’s a natural source of energy!
4. Healthy, Clear Skin
The vitamin C in lemons can help with wrinkles, sun damage, and help prevent aging. According to dermatologists, drinking lemon water can help balance the body and regulate inflammation, reducing the appearance of redness and acne. Radiant skin is often the result of drinking plenty of water, to help hydrate and nourish the skin. By adding lemon to your water, people tend to drink more, and as a result, reach the recommended intake of water daily. Another claim from a dermatologist explains that lemon water helps promote skin detox naturally, forcing dead skin cells and other imperfections to the surface, like sweat or dirt. At the end of the day, you’ll be hydrated, and have just created a natural and soothing remedy to clear skin!
5. Lots Of Vitamin C
Any citrus fruit like oranges, limes, or lemons, contain a sufficient amount of vitamin C. This antioxidant helps preserve cells and protect them, and can also help protect you from sickness and flu! On average, the recommended dose of vitamin C is 65 to 90 milligrams for adults, and lemon contains just over 18. Not too shabby!
6. Helps With Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are small, hard, painful stones that pass through urination. In some cases, drinking lemon water can help with prevention. Salt in the citric acid helps to block any potential new stones, by binding with the calcium. Citrate is found in the citric acid of a lemon and is known to make the urine itself less acidic, and it is possible that as a result can help soften the stones if they pass. Those who suffer from kidney stones or have ever experienced them know how painful they can be, give lemon water a shot!
7. Makes Your Breath Smell Fresh
Everyone hates after drinking coffee or some other strong scented food/drink, having that smell linger on their breath. One perk about lemon water, as you drink, it also neutralizes and freshens your breath! One aspect to bad breath is dry mouth and the lemon helps to hydrate and increase saliva on the tongue helping prevent bacteria and dry mouth. If you don’t have any gum or mints nearby, not to worry! Lemon water is your next go-to.
8. Natural Detox
Lemon water, fresh, natural and delicious – is also a cleanse for your body. Flushing out all unwanted toxins, this hydration is purely replenishing to your overall health. Similarly, it helps to cleanse your liver, given that it urges you to use the bathroom. If you are trying to cleanse your insides and refresh from the inside out, lemon water is the way to go. It doesn’t have any additives or bitter taste, and it is a natural source of detox. Drink up!
9. Improves Physical Performance
If you love working out, lemon water is the perfect fix to quench that thirst. If you have a sweet tooth but want to avoid the calories, (I think we all do), drink up! The lemon helps balance electrolytes that are found within your body. Electrolytes are a natural source of muscle replenishment. After your workout, instead of reaching for Gatorade or another sports drink, fill your water bottle with lemon!
10. Reduces Cancer
Given that a natural way to reduce your chances of cancer is eating lots of fruits and vegetables, throwing a cut-up lemon wedge in your water is just increasing your fruit intake, and easily! There are some studies indicating that those who consume a greater number of citrus fruits (lemon, orange, grapefruit), have a decreased chance of developing cancer. Another tip that can’t hurt to try, is combining orange, lemon, lime, and grapefruit in your water and letting it steep overnight for an extra sweet (and highly nutritious) benefit!
When is your favorite time to drink lemon water? Morning, or evening? Comment below!
Feature Image Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/607493437216543862/
Senior at UMass Dartmouth with a minor in communications, writing has always been a part of me. I believe writing is a powerful form of self-expression, and I couldn't have found an internship more aligned with my goals to pursue a career in this field.