Lemon water and the benefits it provides to have a healthy life has always been spoken about.
Lemons –
Lemons are the most popular citrus rich fruits. These small yellow fruits, which are easily available, have numerous health benefits. Great source of vitamin C, fiber, potassium and many more.
Some people start their day with lemon water instead of drinking regular tea or coffee whereas some people drink it during the day. However, there are a majority of people who might have heard that yes ‘drinking lemon water is beneficial’ but are not yet there to actually put it to use.
One of the easiest and very conveniently available fruits which you can buy and just mix it with water! That’s it. Any healthy drink cannot get easier than that.
As I say there are numerous benefits of drinking lemon water. In this blog, I’m going to list down a few of them so that you can implement this easy healthy habit to your lifestyle.
An easy and simple way to improve your health could be by drinking lemon water!
5 Benefits of drinking lemon water
1. Improves skin quality
Lemons contain powerful antioxidants which help to reduce blemishes and not just that but also reduce skin wrinkling. Antioxidants help to fight skin damage caused by pollutants in the atmosphere.
Lemons contain high concentration of Vitamin C which is the main ingredient to form collagen in the body.
Collagen plays a very important role in improving elasticity of skin and maintaining overall health of the skin.
Now everybody is going crazy over Vitamin C serums or collagen boosting products for their skin care, instead you can actually drink lemon water! Simpler and more effective in most cases.
2. Cleanses and detoxes
Water helps to eliminate toxins from our body. As we keep drinking water during the day, it is also a good idea to drink lemon water. In case you are that person who is aware water is very important but is not able to drink the required amount of water a day? Then lemon water could be a saver option!
Lemon water helps to eliminate waste from the body and thus is good for the liver. Lemon juice helps your body to cleanse naturally.
3. Stronger immune system
Vitamin C is the most important to have a good immune system, and lemon juice is full of it.
During my research I understood that vitamin C helps to increase white blood cell production. White blood cells are like the major defender cells that protect us from any virus or bacteria which enters the body.
4. Hydration
Water is incredibly essential to maintain our overall health and well-being. However, most of us are always dehydrated as we don’t end up drinking the bare minimum of water required a day.
In such cases for those where drinking water seems to be a little too boring, you can squeeze ½ of a lemon into a glass of water and also add a spoon of honey or mint leaves depending upon your preference! In that way you also get the crazy benefits of lemon and also your body is hydrated enough.
5. Helps to manage your cravings – Better digestion
Pectin, lemon contains pectin fiber, which has been proven that it helps to control our cravings.
Drinking a glass of warm lemon water in the morning helps to keep our digestive system moving. This is backed by Ayurvedic medicine as well, the sour taste helps to trigger your ‘agni’ which helps to start the digestive system.
The better the digestive system, helps your metabolism work efficiently and hence the body can absorb better nutrients.
Lemon rind
The peel of the lemon is in fact more beneficial. It has higher nutritional value, high in antioxidants, and has antifungal properties.
To make the best use of it, you can add the peel of frozen lemons to your salad, in soups, seasoning, in your cocktail, lemon zest to your baked goods and in many more ways!
Best practises to drink lemon water
Now we know that drinking something as simple as lemon water has numerous health benefits but not sure where to begin?
Not really sure of how to get started and then introduce it to our daily routine?
Well, I have listed down a few of the best and easy practises to get started on your health journey!
Your morning drink
Lemon water is most effective when you drink it first thing in the morning.
As lemon water kick starts the digestive system and lemon also has pectin to control our cravings. Then isn’t it the best way to start your morning routine!
I love to start my mornings with a warm glass of water, mixed with ½ lemon juice. It is just a warm feeling to your early morning.
Do you have morning cold or throat itchiness as soon as you wake up?
If yes, this is the best practise to begin with because I was there where you are now. I had mornings especially during my college days in Bangalore where I would wake up to throat pain or uneasiness. Then lemon water worked wonders! It helps to relax the body and throat.
Add honey
Honey has magical wonders as well! It has plant chemicals that serve as a good source of antioxidants, helps digestive issues, sore throat, antifungal properties and many more.
Just plain lemon water has around 9 calories and if you add a spoon of honey to it that would just take the calories count to 20-25 maximum. Hence, a low calorie drink!
If just drinking plain lemon water doesn’t interest you, then you can add a little honey to make it taste better and is still healthier.
Things to be mindful of –
Morning routine
Lemon juice is acidic in nature and so is our stomach but once metabolized it actually becomes alkaline.
However, if you have a sensitive stomach or sensitive digestive system then be very mindful as having lemon water in the morning might disrupt your digestive health.
Tooth enamel erosion
Lemon has a pH level of 2 and tooth enamel has a pH level of 7.
This neutral pH level of 7 drops when acidic foods are consumed. When the mouth is exposed to longer periods of having less low pH level, it then allows cavities causing bacteria to develop.
So if you are someone who already has cavities or has weak tooth health then you have to be mindful of lemon water as it might just grow the already existing bacteria or develop new bacteria.
To reduce side effects you can drink it from a straw or rinse your mouth right after drinking lemon water.
Summary
Depending on your body and the way it works you should be able to consume lemon water accordingly. If you are not sure of it then probably you can try having it some other time during the day instead of early in the morning. It completely depends on how your body functions. Study your own body and the way it reacts to it.
Enjoy the amazing health benefits that lemon water provides!
Have a happy and healthy lifestyle.