I wasn’t a fan of drinking water in the morning until three years ago. I had some skin problems: my face felt dry, itchy, and just unpleasant.
But I made the switch, and the results came. Not in a week or two, but after making a small change in my habits, I experienced numerous benefits. Sometime later, I found an article about the benefits of lemon water, and decided I could take my water drinking ritual to the next level.
And now, I hope that this article will help you make a small change in your morning ritual. Believe me, the results will come.
Why lemons?
People often ask, “why lemons?” What are the benefits of lemon water? Why about the benefits of plain water? Well, the truth is that water is great, but lemon water is even better. When you drink lemon water in the morning, you experience the full nutritional value and benefit of lemons. And that is a huge amount of vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, potassium, fiber, and iron. Did you know that lemons contain more potassium than apples?
The trick here is that you have to dilute the lemons, as they can be harmful to the enamel of your teeth. That citrus acid is no joke. Before we go further down the road of lemon water benefits, let’s take a look at the nutritional value of lemons:
- 61 calories
- 3 grams protein
- 6 grams sugar
- 1 gram fiber
- 0 grams fat
- 303 mg potassium
- 112 mg vitamin C
- 14.6 mg magnesium
- 31.7 mcg folate
How much?
Another question people ask is how much water do you need to drink? Well, it’s simple. For those under 150 pounds, a glass of water and half a lemon is all you need. If you’re over 150 pounds, squeeze the entire lemon in a glass of water. There are some other important things you need to know:
- When buying lemons, always look for fully yellow lemons. If possible, get organic lemons. If lemons are green, they are not fully ripe, and you won’t get the full benefits.
- Look for thinner-skinned lemons. They are juicier.
- Store lemons in a sealed plastic bag to keep them fresh. If you buy a lot of lemons, store them in the fridge.
- When you squeeze lemon into a glass of water, make sure the water is at room temperature. You don’t want to drink cold lemon water, as it can shock your system.
Now, onto the benefits of lemon water.
Boosts the immune system
I mentioned that lemons contain vitamin C, and as you know, vitamin C is the most important macronutrient for our immune system. Therefore, just by drinking lemon water, you’re improving your immune system. Experts recommend getting some extra vitamin C during stressful days, as vitamin C is the first thing that decreases when you’re under stress. And during the winter and on chilly days, drinking lemon water will help keep colds and flu away.
Regulates blood pressure
In addition to boosting your immune system, drinking lemon water will keep your blood pressure normal. One lemon per day reduces high blood pressure by 10%. So, get that water in the morning and enjoy the day.
Great source of potassium
I also said that lemon is a good source of potassium, even better than apples. Now, for those who don’t know, the main function of potassium is to regulate fluid balance and electrolytes. By doing so, potassium helps prevent stroke, blood pressure, anxiety, stress, kidney diseases, and it also improves your muscle strength.
Aids in digestion
One of the main benefits of lemon water is flushing toxins. By drinking a glass of water with some lemons, you flush toxins from your body. And we know how important it is to keep our body toxin-free. By removing toxins, you improve the health of your digestive tract and liver. Cleansing the liver is crucial for good health. By aiding digestion, you relieve symptoms like burping, bloating, and other indigestion symptoms.
In addition, the acids in lemon juice encourage your body to process the good stuff from foods slowly. This means improved absorption of minerals, nutrients, and slow and steady absorption of insulin. Not only do you get vitamins from lemons, but you also get more vitamins and minerals from other food.
Cleanses the liver
I mentioned that drinking lemon water flushes toxins and improves your digestion. But another beneficiary is the liver. By flushing toxins out of the liver, you enhance enzyme function. By cleansing your liver, you ensure that this very important organ can do an efficient job.
Reduces joint pain
Another benefit of drinking lemon water is pain reduction (e.g., after a long day of work, a hard core workout, or even just a feeling of tiredness). Lemon water reduces both joint pain and muscle pain.
Freshens your breath
I said at the beginning that lemons can be harmful to the enamel of your teeth. But lemon water helps with toothaches and gingivitis. However, since citric acid can erode the enamel, make sure to brush your teeth an hour after drinking lemon water.
Keeps your skin blemish free
This is the reason why I started to drink water in the morning. And lemon water is even better. With some antioxidants, lemon water decreases blemishes and wrinkles. Your skin will look rejuvenated, clean, healthy, and shiny. And there is another benefit. Not only does it help you fight off free radicals, but drinking lemon water improves your body’s ability to produce collagen.
Fights infections
We mentioned at the beginning that lemon water is packed with vitamins. And that helps boost your immune system. But during cold and flu season, lemon water is even more crucial. Sore throats, tonsil inflammation, and all other infections are history. Thanks to the anti-inflammatory properties of lemons, infections are easy to fight off.
Lose weight
Any weight loss diet you’ll find will tell you one thing: you have to speed up your metabolic fat burn rate and flush out toxins. And lemon does both. In addition, lemons contain pectin fiber, helping you fight off hunger cravings. Consuming lemon water will make you feel full longer so you can avoid those sugar cravings, especially in the morning.
Reduces inflammation
Fun fact: lemon contains acids, and it reduces the acidity of your body. I can’t explain the reason behind this, but drinking lemon water decrease the acidity of your body. And we know that an acidic environment is a breeding ground for diseases and inflammation.
Boosts energy levels
Many people drink a cup of coffee in the morning to boost their energy level. I understand, caffeine does do that. But drinking a glass of lemon water is even healthier and more beneficial. To understand this, you have to understand how the body works. Our body gets energy from atoms and molecules in foods, or micronutrients. And as I mentioned previously, lemon helps your body absorb nutrients more easily. In addition, there is scientific proof that the scent of the lemon reduces stress and improves your mood.
Regulates bowel movement
Going back to that fiber, lemon water will regulate your bowel movement. I know lots of people have trouble with their bowel movement in the morning. They just cannot go to the bathroom. Some people drink a cup of coffee to regulate it, but that’s not a natural method. Because lemon water contains fiber, you naturally flush out toxins and regulate bowel movement.
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