Health

9 Amazing Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water

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… Denis Courtney - July 19, 2016

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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