Lemon Water Benefits
In all honesty can we explain why it’s so important for us to stay hydrated?
Allow me to explain briefly (I cover this in more detail in a previous post)…
Regulation of body temperature - bear in mind muscle is about 80% water
Energy & brain function - even mild dehydration can limit many aspects of brain function, including working memory, and may lead to increased feelings of anxiety or fatigue
Prevent & treat headaches - the most common symptoms of dehydration=
Prevent & ease constipation
Support weight loss by increasing satiety and boosting metabolic rate - ideally have a large glass 30mins before meals
To make things a bit more interesting, I highly recommend to add a few squeezes of fresh lemon juice. Not only does it enhance flavour, which may help you drink more, but there are a couple of other key advantages:
Good source of vitamin C - an antioxidant that helps protect cells from damaging free radicals. The juice of 1 lemon provides approx 18.6mg vit C (RDA for adults is 65 - 90mg)
May support weight loss - Research has found polyphenol antioxidants in lemons aid weight management. They also offset negative effects on blood sugar levels and improve insulin resistance (but whether the weight loss is due to people simply drinking more water and feeling full or the lemon juice itself is unclear)
Support skin quality and health - The vitamin C may help reduce skin wrinkling, dry skin from aging, and damage from the sun
Aid digestion - Drinking warm lemon water when you wake up may help get your digestive system moving. Ayurvedic medicine says the sour lemon taste helps stimulate your “agni.” In ayurvedic medicine, a strong agni jump-starts the digestive system, allowing you to digest food more easily and helping to prevent the buildup of toxins
Freshens breath - Lemon is thought to stimulate saliva and water also helps prevent a dry mouth, which can lead to bad breath caused by bacteria
Helps to prevent kidney stones - Citrate, a component of citric acid (in lemon juice), paradoxically makes urine less acidic and may even break up small stones
*NOTE: Lemon water is generally safe, but there are a few potential side effects to be aware of:
-Lemon contains citric acid, which may erode tooth enamel so try to drink through a straw, and rinse your mouth with plain water afterwards
-Citric acid may cause heartburn. However others experience relief from heartburn as lemon juice becomes alkaline, reducing acidity in digestion. Only trying it can tell its effect on you
-Although vit C is often believed to be a diuretic, natural sources (like lemons) are not proven to have diuretic effects
