7 Health Benefits of Lemon Water

Most people know that drinking water to stay hydrated is very important but they probably don’t know the benefits of drinking lemon water. Adding slices of that tart tasting little yellow fruit makes all the difference.

You can drink lemon water as a refreshing cold beverage or as a hot tea. It can even be used as a substitute for coffee in the morning for an energy boost without caffeine according to Medical News Today.

While some people just use lemon slices and others add lemon rinds, mint, honey or other ingredients to dress up their drink and pack extra health benefits into their glass. Here are seven benefits of drinking lemon water:

High in Vitamin C

Lemons are citrus fruits that are high in vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps protect cells from free radicals,  could reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes as well as aid in reducing blood pressure according to Healthline. Vitamin C also helps to prevent or shorten the duration of colds and flus by encouraging the production of white blood cells that fight infections. Lemons also contain small amounts of other health boosting vitamins and minerals including B complex vitamins, folate, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and fiber.

Great Source of Hydration

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report on the dietary intakes for water determined that women need 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of water a day and men need even more, 15.5 cups (3.7 liters). About 20 percent of this content comes from food but the rest has to come from drinks. If you work outside in the heat or exercise you need even more fluids. Drinking that much plain water can be boring or some people won’t drink plain water at all, adding lemon makes it tastier and ensures that people stay hydrated.

May Help Reduce Kidney Stones

Kidney stones develop when dissolved minerals build up in the kidneys according to Medical News Today. A lack of water in your body contributes to this condition and that’s why staying hydrated is so important. The most common treatment is to use citrate because increasing the amount of citrate in your body prevents kidney stones from forming. A 2015 review of studies in the Pubmed databases found that citrus fruits like lemons and oranges can increase urine levels of citrate which can help treat kidney stones.

Aids Digestion

Some people drink warm lemon water to help prevent constipation and get their digestive system moving according to Healthline. This is a practice that has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine which believes that the sour lemon taste stimulates Agni that jump starts the digestive system, allows food to be digested, and prevents the buildup of toxins.

May Reduce Inflammation

Drinking lemon water on a regular basis, according to Life Hack, will decrease acidity by removing uric acid from joints which is a major cause of inflammation. In fact, eating properly, is one of the best ways to reduce inflammation naturally. So, keep a bottle of lemon water handy after you exercise instead of reaching for pain relievers.

Helps Improve Skin Quality

According to Healthline, the vitamin C found in lemons may help reduce dryness, wrinkling and sun damage to your skin. Lemon water helps because of its vitamin C content as well as to keep you hydrated. That’s because if your skin doesn’t have enough moisture, it can dry out.

Freshens Breath

Using lemon to remove strong odors is an old folk remedy that may also apply to bad breath from eating foods like garlic, onions, or fish according to Healthline. Drink lemon water after meals especially if you are on the run and cannot brush your teeth. Lemon has also been used as a tooth whitener and there are toothpastes that have lemon in them from brands like Colgate, Toms, and Arm & Hammer or you can DIY your own.