And of course, water is the basic component of lemon water. Drinking water not only keeps you hydrated, but it also helps to optimize digestion and elimination, thus easing any uncomfortable symptoms of bloating. Sugar-sweetened beverages, like soda and sports drinks, have been linked to everything from weight gain to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Enter: lemon water. Lemons are a whole food, so switching to lemon water will spare your body of the sugar and chemical additives found in many sweetened beverages like soda or processed juices. Additionally, drinking water, whether it’s enhanced with lemon or not, helps to increase your metabolism. Water causes thermogenesis to occur—which is the production of heat in the body. This heat is what fuels metabolic processes throughout the body. Sure, you can stay hydrated with just water, but the lemon brings its own set of benefits. Lemons are high in vitamin C, an essential micronutrient. When you squeeze some citrus into your water, you are adding anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits to help to promote healthier skin. More importantly, vitamin C plays a big role in collagen production and stabilization2, meaning smoother, stronger, more resilient skin. Squeezing just half a lemon into your water provides almost one-third of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C. An easy way to add extra “C” to your day. Staying hydrated is one of the most basic ways to ensure proper digestion of food and elimination of toxins through the GI tract. Water encourages both proper motility of bowel movements and softens stool, to guard against constipation. And flushing out all those toxins from your body reduces water retention, which helps to eliminate bloating. Potassium citrate binds with calcium and aids in its elimination from the body, which prevents the calcium buildup that can lead to kidney stones. The other protective factor of lemon water is hydration, which is important to maintain proper urine flow and help decrease stone formation. Lemon water is win-win. According to ayurvedic medicine, drinking warm water with lemon stokes the digestive “fire,” known as agni in ayurveda. This basically means that it helps to stimulate the digestive system. This stimulation gets things moving, helping the body to eliminate waste and flush toxins from the body. Warm water helps to increase body temperature and relax the abdominal muscles, encouraging better circulation. Plus, it helps to alleviate muscle soreness or cramping. Don’t rely on only lemon water to stay hydrated; the citric acid found in lemons can wear away the enamel on your teeth7. As with most things, moderation is key. Diluting lemon juice with water helps to lower these effects. That being said, don’t overdo it by putting large amounts of lemon juice in your water or drinking multiple glasses of lemon water throughout the day. To help minimize the potential negative dental effects of lemon, drink a glass of plain water after drinking lemon water to help flush out the citric acid. Because the citric acid softens tooth enamel, it’s also a good idea to wait at least 30 minutes after drinking lemon water before brushing your teeth. This allows the calcium in your saliva to remineralize your teeth, which hardens the tooth enamel. Another option is to simply brush your teeth before enjoying your morning glass of lemon water. Another thing to watch out for: Citrus fruits, including lemons, can be a heartburn trigger. So if you have issues with heartburn or GERD, lemon water may not be for you. One more thing to watch out for: dirty peels. While enjoying lemon water at home can be a healthy ritual, proceed with caution when adding a slice of lemon to your water if you’re dining out. Studies have shown that those seemingly innocent slices of lemon or lime can be crawling with bacteria. Whether or not those wedges are sanitary often depends on how restaurant and bar employees handle them. If you notice employees wearing plastic gloves or using tongs to pick up fruit slices, the odds of contamination are much lower. Add the juice of at least half a lemon to a glass. Pour 8 to 10 ounces of warm water into the glass, and voilà—you have lemon water! It really is that easy. Looking to jazz up your lemon water even more? Here are some ideas for easy flavor boosters: Just a note: If you add grated ginger, you may want to strain the beverage first to remove the ginger bits. Heck, you can add any or all of these for an extra-powerful health boost! You can even try experimenting with other add-ins. Try fresh mint, cucumber slices or berries. Anything that keeps you sipping!
