“The benefits of drinking lemon water in the morning may be more related to drinking water than the lemon itself,” registered dietitian and weight loss expert Paul Salter told INSIDER. If lemon water is good for you anytime of the day, what makes the morning so important? Why should you drink lemon water in the morning?
Benefits of drinking lemon water skin#
Plus, the powerful antioxidants found in vitamin c help fight the damage caused by free radicals.ĭrinking lemon water first thing in the morning gives your body the antioxidants it needs to rejuvenate your skin and keep it looking fresh. Well, not only do they taste good with pretty much everything, lemons are also a great source of vitamin C, polyphenols, antioxidants, and vitamin C. She explained that the bitter flavor of the lemon is thought to increase bile production and flow. “It helps keep you hydrated and thus improves muscle function and digestion. Stephanie Ferrari, MS, RDN, told INSIDER there’s no reason not to drink lemon water. “The lemon triggers the release of sodium bicarb (alkaline part) into the small intestine, and this can help relieve indigestion,” said Koff. But don’t expect it to yield miracles.Koff explained that adding lemon (juice) will make the water more “alkaline-forming.”This can be helpful for the digestive tract because it creates a nicer home for good bacteria. So if you do want to try lemon water, drink it through a straw.īottom line: If you like the taste, go ahead and add some lemon to your morning glass of water.
Meanwhile, it can also weaken tooth enamel and irritate the gums, Delbridge says. Drinking lemon water, especially in large amounts, can actually cause a burning sensation in your stomach, and can exacerbate the symptoms of acid reflux or heartburn, Valdez explains. That said, the acidic concoction is not for everyone. If you have trouble staying hydrated, aren't a fan of plain 'ole water, or are trying to cut back on high-calorie drinks, go ahead and try lemon water, recommend both Delbridge and Valdez. (Find more inner calm and build strength in just minutes a day with WH's With Yoga DVD!) Sip This Way Translation: The foods you eat won't alter your pH whatsoever. While the liver and kidneys tightly regulate the removal of toxins from your body, the lungs, kidneys, blood, and bones all work together to maintain your body's perfect pH. Meanwhile, the claims that lemon water detoxifies the body and, through its acidity, somehow alters blood pH, are flat-out false, says Delbridge. He says a glass of lemon water won't even hit 1 percent of your daily needs. The same goes for lemon's flavonoids, antioxidants that research has shown to fight cancer, says Valdez. If you also eat the pulp, you can get up to four mg, or 5 percent of your daily needs, says Jonathan Valdez, R.D.N., owner of Genki Nutrition and a spokesperson for the New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. According to the National Institutes of Health, women need about 75 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C per day, but a slice's-worth of lemon juice only has about one mg. RELATED: 5 Vitamins And Minerals You Don't Need To Be TakingĪfter all, even though lemons do contain vitamin C, and studies link vitamin C deficiency to poor immune function, lemons contain so little of the immunity-boosting nutrient that it likely won't make any impact on whether or not you catch a cold. And the lemon itself doesn’t actually provide a ton of nutritional value. No, lemon water isn’t magical, says Delbridge, and so far there are no studies that support the claimed benefits of lemon water. But if it’s darker than that, you probably need to drink more water.)īut sipping any kind of water: hot, cold, flavored, or plain, will do the trick. (If your urine is light yellow or clear, you’re probably hydrated. Dehydration can also slow brain function to torpedo your energy levels and allow brain fog to set in, he says. While dehydration can slow metabolic rate, most lemon-water-linked weight loss happens when people use it to replace high-cal beverages like soda or fruit juice. RELATED: Should You Try A Natural Remedy To Treat Your Migraines?
Most people don't drink enough water, so when they up their H2O intake (with or without the slice of lemon), they’ll usually experience the so-called benefits of lemon water, such as decreased constipation, tighter skin, and weight loss, he explains. “But the water part of lemon water is to thank for most of the science-backed benefits of lemon water,” he says. After eight hours of Zs, a glass of H2O with a lemon slice is a great, low-cal (one slice contains two calories) way to start your morning, says registered dietitian Wesley Delbridge, R.D., a spokesman for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics.