Health

9 Amazing Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water

2. Detoxification This is essentially the act of getting rids of all the harmful toxins that your body may possess. Some of these toxins are the… Denis Courtney - July 19, 2016

You have probably seen some people who religiously chew or drink lemon water any time of the day. You are left to wonder what they gain from taking the sour bitter fruit which you yourself cannot stomach. You may find them taking them in place of their favorite beverage or mixing it with a glass of their favorite whiskey. You probably have heard several health experts praise this fruit and you sometime find yourself chugging down this citric flavored fruit just because you’ve heard that they will benefit you in one way or the other.

A cup of lemon water is rich in vitamin C which is in abundance. This fresh cup will serve you with about 187 percent of vitamin C which is highly recommended for you per day. In addition, you will benefit from such minerals as magnesium, copper, potassium, foliate, thiamin as well as a host of other vitamins. It is however important to note that lemon contains no fats and so there is no fear that you will add weight after its consumption. Well, we would like to break it down for you the various benefits that come with its consumption and they include:

1. Aids in digestion

Ayurveda-View-Digestion-The-Five-Elements-Connection

Lemon water is responsible for flushing your digestive system and rehydrating your body giving it a proper jump start and thus ensuring improved digestion. For the best results, it is advisable for you to take it in the morning and also have it warm. When you go to sleep, your body stays without fresh water for a period of around 8 hours, the average time most people sleep. You are therefore required to take at least 2-3 glasses of water first thing in the morning when you wake up and you will notice in time that improved digestion together with an energized body. Just remember to add a slice or two of lemon for added flavor and nutrients.

Other than that, lemon water due to its atomic structure similar to those of the digestive juices is able to trigger the liver to release bile which will enhance the smooth movement of food through your body. In addition, it will keep your gastrointestinal tract smooth.

On the other hand, lemon water is essential in relieving indigestion and stomach upsets. Indigestion is basically the feeling of discomfort you get after taking a meal. It can also be characterized by pain or a burning sensation in your stomach and it can be a sign of an underlying problem. However, you can eliminate or prevent such occurrences by taking lemon water. With its presence, the breakdown of food will be slower in that the body will have ample time to absorb all the important nutrients. The slow pace is also important in that insulin levels will be steady and your body will be able to absorb all the important nutrients for the proper functioning of the vital organs. With proper nutrient absorption, you will be less likely to experience bloating, heartburn, constipation or other digestion-related problems.

fruit_juice

2. Detoxification

This is essentially the act of getting rids of all the harmful toxins that your body may possess. Some of these toxins are the cause of many short or long-term problems which can be easily avoided by taking lemon water. Detoxification can be achieved by following a specific diet that also incorporates lemon water since even healthy foods that you consume on daily can increase your toxic accumulation. As a result, due to the cleansing property of lemon water, you can be able to flush out the toxins from your body. Most people find the bitter taste hard to stomach but it can be a lot more beneficial than dealing with an unfavorable taste. Also, taking it warm is much more beneficial and in my opinion, makes the taste more tolerable.

Lemon water helps a lot in the stimulation of vital body parts. This is because it helps in stimulating certain enzymes which will in turn stimulate your liver. As a result, your body will be able to expel toxins from your system and you will fall sick less often. This is an easy way of keeping yourself healthy because it also achieves a lot more than detoxification in your body.

Because it is a mild diuretic, you will find yourself frequenting the washrooms after its consumption as your urinary tract will be busy getting rid of the unwanted toxic elements. Thus, do not be alarmed by the number of times you visit the toilet because this is the way your body is getting rid of all the unwanted toxins.

Try out this simple and effective homemade medication and you will not find yourself frequenting the doctor’s office. Remember that having a glass of lemon for just a week daily, expels toxin accumulations of more than five years back.

Immune-system

3. Boosting the immune system

Lemons and limes are some of the best sources of vitamin C which is a very important nutrient to our bodies. This vitamin is useful in ensuring that our immunity remains strong and also wades off common infections thus boosting our immune system. It is also useful in repairing damaged tissues and thus aids in fast healing of wounds and maintaining other organs.

Your body does not have the ability to make vitamin C on its own yet it is expected to be bumped up with loads of this mineral. Vitamin C is not hard to find because most fruits are rich in this mineral but as mentioned, fruits such as oranges and lemons are great sources. I believe that that will not be a hard feat for you since most households have lemons and you, therefore, have no excuse not to have at least one per day. Consequently, making lemon water on an occasional basis should not be a difficult feat as well.

The vitamins accrued from lemons are crucial for our survival, especially Vitamin C. This is because it is good for stimulating the production of white blood cells. As we all know, these cells are responsible for protecting our bodies against harmful mechanisms that cause diseases. The production of these cells is also attributed to the fact that vitamin C aids in the maintenance of strong bones and white blood cells are consequently produced in the bone marrow.

Vitamin C is also a very good antioxidant and will therefore help in protecting your cells from any oxidative damage. Essentially, this nutrient prevents oxidation of harmful molecules that may lead to some form of damage. Lemon water, in addition, helps in fighting against flu’s and colds, especially during the cold season and this is why most people believe in taking some lemon water when suffering from a cough.

skin-banner-1

4. Rejuvenating the skin

Many people often desire smoother and much younger-looking skin. There are many ways that people try to solve this but what they do not know is that the solution could be as simple as taking lemon water. You may have also noticed that beauticians use lemon during their therapies. This can be attributed to the fact that the vitamin C present can do miracles for your skin. This is because it helps in fighting off the damage caused by free radicals due to its antioxidant property while keeping your skin looking younger and fresh.

Drinking lemon water is also good for your skin in that the Vitamin C present will stimulate your body into producing collagen which is responsible for smoothing out lines on your face. This will help you in getting younger, smoother and wrinkle-free skin and leave you feeling good and confident about yourself.

Additionally, lemon juice does have some skin-lightening properties that can be achieved by applying the juice directly onto your skin or simply drinking a glass of lemon water every now and then. This has been tried and tested and many women and men alike confirm the effectiveness of this method of skin rejuvenation. But, it is important to remember that consistency as well.

Also, Adding lemon juice on black spots after a bout of acne will also help keep off those dark spots left behind leaving you with blemish-free skin. Many people do not know this and it may seem too good to be true. However, it is best to attempt and see if you will get great results and after all, it does not hurt to try. Who knows, you might just get rid of all those unfavorable qualities of your skin that you have tried for so long.

iStock_before-after-weight-loss

5. Weight loss

We can now safely report that several researches have been conducted to ascertain the ability of the lemon to aid in weight loss. The many advantages of lemon water mentioned above all contribute to its ability to aid in weight loss. Good digestion, a well-functioning immune system and detoxification are all intricate parts of losing weight. We know that weight loss is a nightmare for most of us even after tirelessly going to the gym. We can indeed confirm to you confidently that yes, lemon water can help you achieve your ideal weight. Foregoing those unhealthy snacks and beverages and opting for lemon water can help you shed the extra weight.

For an added advantage, it is best to keep your weight loss practices and just add lemon water to your normal routine. In order for you to get the best results, it is advisable for you to keep a healthy, activity-filled lifestyle for you to reach your weight goals. This means that placing your attention on drinking lemon water alone will have you seeing results much slower than you think. Therefore, an effective diet, hydration using lemon water and occasional exercise and physical activity is much more beneficial.

This is so the findings of the various researches showed that lemons indeed contain pectin, a type of fiber found in most fruits. This pectin is thought to help you feel sated and fuller and you will find yourself going for long without eating! In short, this property curbs your appetite making you lose weight in the process. Another property is that it helps boost the rate of metabolism. A healthy serving of lemon water will also help keep those nasty mood swings at bay and you will live a healthy happy life championed by your need to live better.

portfolio-icon-19

6. Best source of potassium

Citrus fruits such as oranges and limes contain a significant amount of potassium and it is only right for lemons to contain a large amount of potassium nutrients as well. Lemon has potassium in abundance and if you are suffering from potassium deficiency this is your best option.

You should therefore make it a regular addition to your daily meals because potassium is great for supporting your muscles, heart, brain and nerve functions. It is important to other nutrients in your body because it assists in the breakdown and usage of starch and the building of proteins in our bodies. This makes the nutrient very essential in building our muscles and thus having stronger bodies altogether.

Additionally, potassium is an electrolyte which means that it is responsible for controlling the electrical activity in your body. It is used to conduct electricity, especially in the heart.

With low potassium, you are at risk of suffering from heart-related diseases which can be fatal. This deficiency can also be characterized by severe vomiting or diarrhea and kidney disorders. You may also have low levels of potassium in your blood if you take high blood pressure medicine or too many laxatives.

Do not run into the risk of having complicated body problems due to the fact that you have little amounts of potassium in your body. However, too much potassium in your blood is also unhealthy. This can be caused by poor functioning in the kidney and blood pressure medicine which is usually potassium-sparing diuretics. The occurrence of a severe infection can also be a sign that you have too much potassium in your blood. If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, it is best to talk to a general practitioner who will advise you on the best way forward. A glass of lemon twice a week is okay for you. Come on, try it and live to tell the story.

Smiling woman standing with hands on hips

7. Energizes you and improves your mood

Lemon water is a very good source of energy in that the lemon is one of the few foods with more positively charged ions. When these ions enter our digestive tract and interact with the enzymes, energy is released. This happens because food is a very good source of energy since without these foods, we would just shrivel and die of starvation of course. After digestion, our bodies are blessed with an energy boost gotten from food as there are molecules and atoms released from those foods. This is because a reaction occurs when positively charged ions enter our digestive system and interact with the negatively charged enzymes present.

Therefore, you may have to substitute those many cups of caffeine for simple lemon water. Taking this every morning can give you that energy boost you need to take on the day. Who knows, you might just substitute coffee for lemon water.

The lemon scent is also associated with the ability to uplift our sour moods apart from serving the purpose of energizing us. When you are stressed out, the mere scent of lemon is enough to rouse you from your foul mood as it has the ability to help rid your mind of the many negative thoughts you might have. The scent does this by affecting the stress indicators in our body by significantly reducing them.

But, taking lemon water only will improve our moods and you do not have to resort to smelling a lemon every time you feel down. Taking lemon water occasionally will indeed improve your mood and with time, you will notice a tremendous improvement in what you feel. As a result, you will be less likely to succumb to depression and anxiety associated with the negative thoughts doing rounds in your mind on any given day.

ph_balance

8. Balances pH levels

Studies conducted to ascertain the benefits of lemon on our bodies have also shown that they are also good for balancing our pH levels. This is because lemon is one of the most alkalizing foods making it a must-have fruit. This is despite the fact that lemon is acidic in nature but studies have shown that once consumed, they are instantly converted into alkaline in our bodies. This is because, after metabolism, citric acid does not create any acidity inside our system. Many people can easily argue about this claim stating how citric ‘acid’ cannot create any acidity in our bodies.

In fact, lemons contain citric and ascorbic acids which are just weak acids that can be easily metabolized. As a result, the mineral content once metabolized will help alkalize the blood. This alkalized state of the blood is essential in that when our body’s pH is too acidic, we are bound to fall sick easily. On the other hand, an overly alkaline system, known as alkalosis is also dangerous.

It can be manifested by the presence of problems such as loss of consciousness, light-headedness, etc. these can all be caused by too much alkaline in your body and thus a pH balance is very important.

Drinking lemon water regularly is therefore strongly advised in that it will help remove the acidity in our body and leave us with a stabilized pH level. The lemon water will also help in flushing out uric acids from our joints. Accumulation of these acids can cause a lot of problems, especially in our excretory organs (the kidneys and so on). This is because these acids are the primary causes of pain and inflammation in our bodies. Inflammations are often painful and dangerous and may result in swelling, fevers and damage to normal tissues.

Blausen_0595_KidneyStones

9. Good for treating kidney stones

Kidney stones in this case are solid mineral formations which collect in your kidneys over time. These stones are typically formed by a substance called calcium oxalate which can simply be treated using a compound known as citrate. Studies confirm that lemon is rich in citrate, it is therefore essential for treating kidney stones. With an abundant presence of this citrate in your urine which can be easily found in lemons, it is thought that it can prevent calcium from bonding with other compounds and forming stones.

With that in mind, it is therefore safe to conclude that it can best be used for treating and preventing the formation of kidney stones. Other studies have also shown that it will work best if used alongside potassium citrate, which is just a supplement form of citrate. You can however stick to lemon water if you are intolerant to potassium citrate.

It is also advisable for you to take lemon water regularly to reduce the formation of kidney stones. It is better to use it as a preventative measure while you can even though you know that it is also great for treatment.
As a precaution, remember not to brush your teeth immediately after taking lemon water. This is because it is not safe for your teeth as they can weaken if you do so as they will erode. You should instead swirl your mouth with pure clean water for about 30 minutes before brushing them.

With the various benefits of lemon water in mind, you shouldn’t be afraid to try it. Just add your preferred amount of lemon juice to your water which before taking them. You can alternatively start gradually by taking plain water the first few days and the next time throwing in a slice of two before graduating to whole fruit for a healthier body.

Advertisement