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Every single day, I drink lemon water. I squeeze about half of lemon into my water bottle and drink it down throughout the day!
So simple, so refreshing and so good for your body!
As a certified personal trainer, this has always been of my favorite tips to share with people who ask for an easy, start today tip, for better health.
Lemons are not just a cute garnish for your glass! You should be gulping lemon water down daily.
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Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water
1. Lemon Water Flushes Out Toxins
When you drink lemon water, you are actually helping to cleanse your body. Lemon juice stimulates the natural enzymes in the liver, which in turn, helps it to flush out toxins!
Consider it nature’s built-in detoxifier: starting your day with lemon water helps to reset your body for the new day ahead.
2. Lemon Juice In Water Balances pH Levels
Contrary to what most people believe, lemon water, although acidic in nature, is actually treated by the body as a base once ingested.
Most of us tend to consume an over-abundance of acidic foods, thus lowering our body’s pH level.
Lemon water can help the body maintain a balanced pH state, alkalizing the blood and reversing the negative effects of highly acidic foods.
3. Lemon Water Will Assists in Weight Loss
Lemons contain a soluble fiber called pectin that has been shown to help with weight loss.
And since liquid calories add up faster than we’d like to believe—think about your morning daily Starbucks with whip for a second—lemon juice is a delicious way to add variety to your water without calories!
[easy-tweet tweet=”Swap your daily can of Coke for a glass of lemon water and save 51,000 cals or 15 pounds a year!” user=”chrisfreytag”]
4. Lemon Juice In Water Is An Immune Booster
When you think of an “immune-boosting” fruit, oranges probably come to mind, right?
Well, lemons should be included on your shortlist, too! Lemons are high in both potassium and Vitamin C.
The potassium will stimulate brain and nerve function and help control blood pressure, while the Vitamin C will help against colds and the flu.
5. Lemon Water Helps With Digestion
A study in the “International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition” released in 2011 stated that taste receptors for bitter substances trigger your pancreas to secrete digestive enzymes and your gall bladder to release bile.
This helps the digestive process along and makes the process of eliminating waste products from the body easier, which, let’s be frank, is a great thing!
But Wait…Is Drinking Lemon Water Bad For Your Teeth?
Some people claim that drinking lemon water can wear away the enamel on your teeth.
If you are concerned about this, know that for one, I have never experienced that (nor has my mother who’s been drinking it daily for her entire life!) but if you feel your teeth could be susceptible to this, there are some precautions you can take.
1. Drink room temperature or cold lemon water instead of hot.
This reduces the amount of acid.
2. Use a straw to drink your lemon water.
This way, your teeth will not have as much direct contact with the lemon water.
3. Use 100% pure lemon essential oil instead of actual lemons.
If you use a kind that is 100% pure (do NOT ingest synthetic lemon oil!!!) then lemon essential oil can be just as good as using actual lemons. I sometimes use lemon essential oil instead of a lemon, and it’s believed that the oil has less acid than the fruit.
So, if you’re worried about your enamel, don’t sweat! You can still enjoy lemon water by utilizing the above tips and protecting those pearly whites.
Is squeezing a whole lemon into 8 oz water too much?
Hi Sara – Great question. I would do it as tolerated! If you are okay with that amount of lemon into 8 oz go for it, but definitely not necessary! You can definitely do it to taste!
Can I add stevia or sugar or does it have to taste bitter in order to get the benefits?
Hi Jean – I wouldn’t necessarily add sugar (personal preference). The purpose of the lemon water is to alkalize your stomach, and by adding sugar or stevia this will change up the dilution of the mixture, thus you may not see the benefits as plain simple water and lemon. I personally wouldn’t add sugar (adding to your sugar content in a day).
I liked your content. It is worth reading.
Is lime just as beneficial as lemon? I have been drinking lime water for a while and really enjoy the taste of like more than lemon.
Hi thank you for your insight. I have always drunk lemon water, starting when I was a server in a fine dining establishment, but that was just one lemon wheel. I recently started adding a cap full of lemon juice to 12 Oz of water, and drank several throughout the day. I have stopped because I get HERD symptoms and I am a vocal professional so that’s a big deal. Should I avoid altogether,or just cut back to one Glas first thing in the morning?
Thanks for your blog its the first time I’ve seen it and will be back!
Hi Randall – I would definitely back off a little bit and see if that improves your symptoms. Maybe it’s just a little too much, so start there. Then I would definitely consult a doctor if symptoms continue. Hope this helps!
I follow Anthony William, Medical Medium, and this is a part of his morning cleanse routine. Although he does say to avoid ingesting essential oils as do most certified aroma therapists.
Lemon is great, I use them all in the morning. A perfect recipe is to squeeze a Tahiti lemon in a 250ml glass with coconut water (no sugar). Only the coconut water with the lemon, has to be cold, that’s wonderful.