12 WAYS YOUR BODY BENEFITS FROM LEMON WATER
12 Ways Your Body Benefits From Lemon Water
While restaurants bring you a glass of water with a slice of lemon for its aesthetically pleasing look, for hundreds of years people have been drinking lemon water for its health benefits.
One cup of lemon juice provides almost twice the daily recommended serving of vitamin C – you may now rethink reaching for that orange. It also offers a good dose of other vitamins and minerals such as potassium, folate, copper and magnesium.
Not only will adding a glass of warm lemon water to your morning routine provide all those beneficial nutrients and quench your thirst better than any other drink, it’s also an energy booster for when we wake up first thing in the morning as our tissues are dehydrated and in desperate need of fluid to push out toxins.
Here are some other benefits of adding a glass of warm lemon water to your morning routine:
The rich source of vitamin C found in lemons is an essential nutrient that protects the body against immune system deficiencies. It will keep colds and flu at bay and it stimulates white blood cell production, vital for your immune system to function properly. As an antioxidant, vitamin C also protects cells from oxidative damage.
2.Lemons contain pectin fiber which is very beneficial for colon health and also serves as a powerful antibacterial. Because warm lemon water aids the digestive system which allows the elimination of waste products from the body easier, it prevents the problem of constipation and diarrhea, ensuring smooth bowel functions.
3. Because lemon juice’s atomic structure is similar to the digestive juices found in our stomachs, it aids digestion and detoxification by tricking the liver into producing bile, which helps keep food moving through your body and gastrointestinal tract smoothly. Lemon water also helps relieve indigestion or ease an upset stomach. As mentioned above, adding a glass of warm lemon water each morning will help flush out toxins.
4. The acids found in lemon juice also encourage your body to process nutrients in foods more slowly. This slower absorption means insulin levels remain steady and you get more nutrients out of the foods you consume and better nutrient absorption means less bloating. Lemon water benefits the enzyme functions in your body, stimulating the liver and flushing out toxins. Because it’s a mild diuretic, you might find yourself using the bathroom more often, helping the urinary tract get rid of any unwanted elements. All of this helps detox the body and skin.
5. The antioxidants found in the vitamin C in lemon water help rejuvenate the skin and heal the body as they fight damage caused by free radicals, keeping your skin looking fresh. Getting enough vitamin C from your lemon water also keeps the body in producing collagen, essential in smoothing out lines in the face.
6. As lemon juice dissolves uric acid, a glass of warm lemon water can help reduce pain and inflammation in joints and knees.
7. The potassium content in lemons helps nourish the brain and nerve cells.
8. A glass of warm lemon water helps maintain the health of your eyes and helps fight against eye problems.
9. After a strenuous workout, lemon juice will help replenish body salts.
10. Regularly sipping on lemon water can help you lose those last kilos because of its pectin content. Pectin helps you feel full longer meaning you’ll be inclined to eat less throughout the day.
11. If you’re able to skip the morning coffee and replace it with a warm glass of lemon water, you’ll still boost your energy levels without the caffeine crash. It works because our bodies get energy from the atoms and molecules in foods. When negative-charged ions, like those found in lemons, enter your digestive tract, the result is an increase in energy levels from a more natural source.
12. Further, just the smell of a lemon has been found to reduce stress levels and improve moods, so next time someone is grouching around you, hand them a glass of warm lemon water. Plus, did you know that when you’re even mildly hydrated, you’re more prone to headaches, fatigue and feeling in an overall bad mood? Having a glass of lemon water helps your body stay hydrated and feeling happy.
With all those wonderful benefits, how do you make lemon water? First of all, always use fresh lemons, not the stuff from a bottle. To make lemon water, squeeze half a lemon into one cup of boiling, warm water. To make the drink as healthy as possible, use filtered water and organic lemons.
If you feel you need to add some flavor to your lemon water, you could add:
· a few springs of mint
· a teaspoon of maple syrup or raw honey
· a slice of fresh ginger
· a dash of cinnamon
You can also add slices of other fresh citrus fruits such as limes and oranges, or cucumber slices.
Having lemon ice cubes on hand is a great way to add lemon to your water fast. Simply squeeze fresh lemon juice into ice cube trays and freeze. Drop a few cubes into a glass of cold or hot water as needed.
Why not start your morning with a mug of warm lemon water and then keep some cold lemon juice in the fridge for you to drink throughout the day to keep you feeling refreshed and hydrated.
While lemon water is one of the safest drinks you can ingest, the acids in lemon can eat away at your tooth enamel. To prevent this, drink lemon water before brushing your teeth — the overnight bacteria will protect your teeth a bit. Rinse your mouth thoroughly after drinking lemon water, drink from a straw or rinse with baking soda to neutralize any acid that might be left on your teeth.
In order to reap any health benefits of lemon water, you need drink it consistently, and you need more than just a single wedge of lemon in your mug. Being packed with so much goodness, make a point of beginning your days with warm lemon water as it’s cleansing and healing effects will have a positive effect on your health in the long run.