Do you start your day off with a cup of warm coffee or tea? We do too, but did you know that replacing one of those cups with warm lemon water is really beneficial to your health?
It turns out that there are many reasons why we should be drinking this little cup of sunshine and here are just a few of them:
Vitamin C:
Lemons are loaded with Vitamin C. In fact, one lemon actually has 51% of our daily needs. We all know the importance of Vitamin C to our immune system, so having a cup of hot lemon water can help boost it – and we know we need to keep our immune system high this winter!
pH Level:
There has been a lot of talk about the benefits of having a balanced pH level in our bodies and drinking lemon water is a great way to help get you there. Lemons are a great alkalizing fruit! You might think there’s no way this can be true because when you think of lemons you think acid. But since lemons have a very low sugar content and very high alkaline mineral content, they have an alkalizing effect on the body that outweighs the citric acid content. When our bodies are more acidic (low pH level), they are more prone to disease. Lemon water assists in removing the acid in the body that can ultimately lead to inflammation and joint pain.
Aids in Digestion:
Trade-in that first cup of coffee for a cup of warm lemon water and your body will certainly thank you. The lemon will help to loosen the toxins in the digestive system and relieve symptoms of heartburn and bloating (source).
Kidney Stones:
I have not experienced these, but I hear they are as painful as childbirth! Drinking lemon water can help prevent these miserable stones. Lemons (and Limes) contain the most citric acid of any fruit. Citric acid can prevent the stones from forming and can break down those that have already started to form (source). If you are prone to kidney stones, you may want to give this a try.
Helps Skin:
The antioxidants found in lemons aid in the fight against the damage caused by free radicals. Lemon water will hydrate your body and help it to produce collagen which will smooth out those pesky fine lines around the face.
How Much Lemon?
So now you know some of the benefits of lemon water, but now you’re asking, “how much should I drink”? If you are new to this, start off slowly with just a wedge squeezed into a warm glass of water. You want to give your body a chance to adjust to your new health routine. Too much too soon can cause uncomfortable detoxifying symptoms like fatigue and headaches. Work your way up to squeezing half a lemon into warm water. You can dilute it with as must water as you like, just be sure to drink the entire glass to get all of these benefits.
If you are concerned with the acid affecting the enamel in your teeth, drink through a straw or dilute it to suit your tastes. And remember, when life hands you lemons – drink them!
