There are tons of lemon water benefits, but I’ve decided to narrow it down to my top ten, a few of which might surprise you. You’ve probably seen the posts all over the internet about how lemon water is so good for you first thing in the morning.
It’s true, lemon water can help kick-start digestion and energy when it’s consumed first thing in the morning.
If you’re not a fan of drinking water first thing in the morning though, this doesn’t mean you have to give up. Lemon water is good for your body any time of the day!
It’s cheap. It’s quick. The lemon water benefits are astounding! Truly something every mom needs in her daily routine.
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Boosts the immune system
Lemons contain a major amount of vitamin C. Just by drinking lemon water, you’re improving your immune system.
This is a simple way to stay healthy during the cold and flu season, as well as those stressful times when our immune system is the first thing to take a dive.
Improves Mood
Just the scent of a lemon has been found to reduce stress levels and improve mood.
Regulates blood pressure
It is suggested in studies that lemon water may help in reducing and regulating blood pressure. Lemon juice has commonly been used by hypertensive patients in order to lower blood pressure
Decent source of potassium
125mg of Potassium in a half cup of lemon juice. There are 211mg of Potassium in half of a banana.
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
Drinking warm lemon water can help your body with digestion. This is because the citric acid interacts with various enzymes in your body and stimulates the secretion of gastric juice. This helps keep food moving through your body and gastrointestinal tract smoothly. Lemon water also helps relieve indigestion or ease an upset stomach
Freshens Your Breath
Lemon water helps with toothaches and gingivitis. However, since citric acid can erode the enamel, make sure to brush your teeth within 20-30 minutes of drinking lemon water. You could also go a step further and drink your lemon water through a straw like I do.
Keeps Joints & Muscles Happy
Lemon water reduces both joint pain and muscle pain.
Cheapest Skincare Routine
When I was in my teenage years my sister and I would put lemon juice on our face. We had heard it would clear up our acne and honestly it did improve the appearance of our skin. Little did we know, we could have just drank the lemon juice in our water and gotten great results.
Helps You Lose Weight
Water in general can help you lose weight because it keeps your body systems moving. Lemon added to your water can help to release and flush out toxins.
Also, lemons contain pectin fiber. It’s this fiber that will help you fight off hunger cravings. Consuming lemon water will make you feel full longer so you can avoid cravings, especially in the morning.
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Boosts Energy
Before that morning cup of Jo, reach for a glass of lemon water. Lemon helps your body absorb nutrients more easily. This means you will naturally have greater energy.
Regulates bowel movement
Remember I said that lemons have natural fiber (actually all fruits have natural fiber), and it is that fiber that will help regulate your bowel movements. Because lemon water contains fiber, you naturally flush out toxins and regulate bowel movement.
Take care in how you prepare your lemon water
I use organic lemons. Yes I really do believe it makes a difference in health benefits and quality of the juice.
I prepare my juice as soon to the time of consumption as possible. This is because, as with all fruit and vegetables, they start degrading the moment you pick them. They start degrading even faster and losing precious nutritional value from the moment you cut into them.
Wash your lemons before you cut into them. This may be a no-brainer for some of you but it was not for me. Honestly I never thought about washing fruit whose skin I was not going to eat. A friend of mine who is a dietician opened my eyes to this fact. Think about it, our food travels anywhere from around the region to around the world.
SOURCES
US Library of Medicine
Journal of Experimental and Clinical Medicine
National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health
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