Health Benefits of Lemon Water

I started drinking warm lemon water in the morning a few years ago, but it is only recently that I started making a conscious effort to set aside the time to drink a cup every morning. I now enjoy sitting calmly and enjoying a warm drink in the morning. It allows me to gather my thoughts and prepare for the day ahead, whereas before I’d start my day stressed and rushed. I’ve also loved having ice cold lemon water throughout the day during the brief summer we had. Drinking lemon water is refreshing, hydrating and a great way to flavour water. Not only this, but it has several health benefits, some of which I’m going to share with you today.

1. Hydrates
Drinking lemon water first thing in the morning rehydrates your body after it has dehydrated overnight. Water is incredibly hydrating of course, but lemon is packed with electrolytes which boosts hydration further.

2. Helps digestion
The citric acid in lemon stimulates the secretion of gastric juices to help to aid natural bowel movement and keep things, erm, moving.

3. Flushes the liver
Adding lemon to your water encourages enzyme function and stimulates the liver, allowing the body to flush out unwanted toxins. Lemons are also a natural diuretic which also helps to flush out toxins.

4. Alkalising
Although lemons are citrus fruits with citrus acid, they are surprisingly great at reducing the acidity of the body. Drinking lemon water daily is a great way to help balance the pH levels in the body.

5. Improves the skin
Lemons are full of antioxidants which help to combat free radicals. Water hydrates the skin and plumps out wrinkles. The Vitamin C in lemons cleanses the skin and repairs damaged skin cells.

6. Healthy weight
Lemon boosts the metabolism and contains pectin fibre which can make you feel fuller, suppressing your appetite. Increasing your water intake can also help with weight loss.

7. An immune boost
Lemon water is a rich source of vitamin C which can help boost our immune system to fight off bacteria and viruses. Vitamin C decreases when we are stressed, so lemon water is a great top up.

These are just some of the claimed health benefits of lemon water, a quick Google will show you many more however there is a lack of evidence behind some. I think drinking lemon water is definitely a great habit to have in the mornings. Simply boil the kettle and pour a cup of water, but let it cool a little before adding slices of fresh lemon then enjoy. I have used bottled lemon juice on the mornings when I’ve run out of fresh lemons. When you’re eating out, ask for slices of lemon when you order water. Add ice and lemon slices to cold water, or keep a jug of water and lemon slices in your fridge to drink throughout the day.

Do you like the taste of lemon water? Has the health benefits of lemon water convinced you to try it? What benefits have you seen from drinking lemon water? Let me know in the comments below.