With the rise of the internet, there are many dietary fads that come and go, each promising incredible results by changing one’s diet or adding something to their daily routine. While many of these are later proven to be false, one that has continued to gain attention is that of lemon water.
Is it possible that there is more to this than just smoke and mirrors?
Unlike many of these popular fads, the inclusion of lemon water in your diet to promote better health has been proven through research and studies. Not only can it help you to lose weight and improve your overall skin condition, but lemon water also carries a number of important health benefits.
Interested in finding out why you should drink lemon water daily? Check out these 13 reasons:
#1 – Improve Digestion
If you have been suffering from digestive issues, the solution may be easier than you thought. Lemon water works wonders! Not only does it hydrate the body, an essential step for proper digestion, but the lemon works to alkalize the system, helping to keep things moving smoothly and without irritation and inflammation through the digestive system.
#2 – Fresher Breath
There is nothing worse than seeing the look that crosses someone’s face when you open your mouth to speak, and your breath reaches them first. Trying to find a way to improve your confidence in public? Look no further. The citric acid from the lemons actually stimulates saliva production helping to cleanse the mouth of bad smelling bacteria, while the citrusy smells leaves you smelling fresh and clean.
#3 – Detoxify the Liver
Your liver plays a vital role in your overall health and well-being by filtering toxins out of your system, however, it also needs to be ‘cleaned up’ from time to time. While just drinking water does wonders to flush the liver out, allowing it to work at its optimal level, adding lemon to your water can amplify your efforts. A healthy liver will lead to better health overall.
#4 – Improve Hydration
We have all heard it at one time or another, that each of us should be making a point of getting those all too important 8 glasses of water into our systems every day. For many, however, the ‘bland’ taste of water can make this difficult. Rather than using drink crystals full of artificial sweeteners, lemons provide a natural flavor.
#5 – Relieve Upset Stomachs
If you’ve been suffering from an upset stomach, lemon water may be the miracle fix you have been looking for. The lemon works quickly to help break down the food that may be causing your nausea, helping to move it through the digestive system while the water hydrates the body, flushing everything out of the system. It is said that you can improve these effects by opting for a hot cup of lemon water as opposed to cold.
#6 – Boost Metabolism
By improving your level of hydration, as we have proven in point 4, you can actually increase your metabolism. Studies have shown that improved hydration works to generate energy in the body by enhancing the function of your cells. This, in turn, boosts your metabolism.
#7 – Great Source of Vitamin C
You’ve likely been told since you were a child that you should increase your vitamin C in order to keep yourself healthy. This is the reason that we are so quick to suggest orange juice at the first sign of a cold. An incredibly effective nutrient, vitamin C has been found to protect against immune system deficiencies, prevent eye disease, and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Lemons are packed with vitamin C, making lemon water a great way to enjoy its benefits.
#8 – Fight Inflammation
Many of the diseases and ailments that we face on an ongoing basis can be traced back to inflammation in the body, including asthma, arthritis, sinusitis, hay fever and some forms of cancer. However, lemon has been proven to work as an effective anti-inflammatory, meaning that simply adding lemon water to your daily routine can help reduce inflammation and prevent these conditions and more.
#9 – Suppress Your Appetite
Trying to lose weight, but guilty of giving into too many snacks throughout the day. If your biggest hang up in your weight loss efforts is a never-ending appetite, lemon water may be the secret to your success. Drink a glass of lemon water before each meal can work to promote fullness with far fewer calories, making it easier to maintain necessary portion control in your meals.
#10 – Prevent Kidney Stones
If you have ever suffered from kidney stones, you know how incredibly painful these small mineral formations can be. Most often formed from a substance called calcium oxalate, for which the currently accepted treatment is citrate. Lemons are high in citrate and, studies show, an effective way to break down kidney stones quickly and easily.
#11 – Boost Potassium Levels
An often overlooked and underestimated mineral, potassium is incredibly important for our overall health and well-being. It works to reduce water retention, lower blood pressure, and protect the body against osteoporosis, stroke and kidney stones. While there are a number of great sources of potassium that one can introduce into their diet, lemons definitely make the list.
#12 – Clearer Skin
Don’t waste your time with expensive skin care products. Instead, just adding lemon water to your daily routine may provide great benefits when it comes to the overall appearance of your skin. By flushing toxins out of the body and acting as a natural antioxidant, it can fight the free radicals that are responsible for damaging your skin. It also helps to repair damaged skin cells due to its vitamin C content, reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and blemishes.
#13 – Improve Energy
If you’re a coffee addict, this one’s for you. While most Americans turn to a caffeine boost to keep themselves going, there are many concerns associated with including too much caffeine in your diet, including significant shifts in blood sugar levels and oxidative stress and damage to the body. Lemon water, however, provides energy by oxygenating and hydrating the body, giving you that much-needed kick without the side effects.
Feature Image Source: Makype | Pixabay