Lemon water is for many people a favorite drink to start the day well. No wonder – after all, lemon water is credited with many health-promoting properties. Drinking water with lemon is associated not only with losing weight but also with increasing immunity, improving digestive processes and a noticeable improvement in well-being.
Learn more about how lemon water can help and benefit your health!
Does lemon water help you lose weight?
Many women ask themselves whether lemon water helps in losing weight or whether it is just another myth. What’s the truth? Lemon water has no magical properties – it does not dissolve fat in food, does not reduce the calorie content of meals, and certainly does not burn excessive fat. Despite everything, it significantly supports weight loss like, for example, apple vinegar.
First of all, lemon water slows down the absorption of sugars from food and lowers the glycemic index of meals. Secondly, lemon water (especially if we also peel off the fruit peel) provides the body with a lot of pectins. The latter swell in the stomach and increase the feeling of fullness, and therefore satiety. As a result, we will eat smaller portions of food and will not feel hungry.
Finally, terpenes present in lemon stimulates salivation. Lemon water also improves digestion, accelerating intestinal peristalsis. Acceleration of metabolism, even if insignificant, supports the weight loss process, too.
Other benefits of drinking lemon water
In addition to reducing hunger and accelerating digestion, drinking lemon water also provides a whole list of other benefits. Here are some of them:
Boosting the immune system– A morning glass of water with lemon will cover about 25% of the daily demand for vitamin C, which participates in the processes of building immunity and protects against colds.
Toxin cleansing – Higher diuretic effect results in faster getting rid of better-diluted toxins and unnecessary metabolites from the body. Stimulation of the kidneys to work will be especially appreciated by people with kidney stones. The citric acid (an acid found in citrus fruits) supports the dissolution of kidney stone deposits and prevents the formation of new ones.
Skin condition improvement – Regular drinking lemon water on an empty stomach can significantly improve the condition of the skin, smooth wrinkles and generally rejuvenate the complexion. Vitamin C is involved in the production of collagen and antioxidants that are very important for cell repair processes.
Fresh breath – Lemon is often used in various forms in the home to neutralize odors. The same applies to the elimination of bad breath after ingesting strongly aromatic foods such as garlic and onion. In addition, the lemon flavor helps to stimulate saliva flow in the mouth due to acidity.
There are many other health benefits, including lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, preventing swelling and inflammation of the veins, refreshing the breath or improving concentration.
How to prepare and drink lemon water
To note the beneficial effect of drinking a drink on our body, you need to undergo at least a two-week treatment. Over time, as long as we maintain regularity, the effects should be increasingly visible.
Lemon water is recommended to drink immediately after waking up, on an empty stomach, before the first meal. Ideally, if we eat breakfast only half an hour later – we will save space for a better effect of the drink.
The temperature of the water isn’t that important; both chilled and warm drink has the same benefits. It all depends on your preferences – the positive properties of the drink are in both configurations.
And how to prepare lemon water? Squeeze the juice of one half of the lemon into a glass of water (boiled, filtered or mineral). For taste and at the same time to increase health effects, you can add a few mint leaves, freshly grated ginger, a tablespoon of honey or a pinch of cinnamon. You can blend these ingredients together or use only one of them.
Summary
These were several benefits of drinking lemon water. As we said, lemon water can help you lose weight, improve your breath, help your skin and overall well-being. However, keep in mind that lemon water is sufficiently acidic to erode tooth enamel. Therefore, it is always better to drink concentrated lemon juice through a straw.
