Breaking Down the Benefits of Lemon Water

Are there really benefits to drinking lemon water?

 

I’ve been hearing more about this trend and wanted to know if there is any method to the madness. I know citrus has its benefits, but is lemon water in the morning really all that important?

 

According to some science-backed research, I found these benefits:

• Drinking lemon water first thing in the morning can kick-start, stimulate, and cleanse the digestive system
• Lemons are packed with Vitamin C, an antioxidant which helps with the absorption of other nutrients, such as iron. Vitamin C can also help if you’re fighting a cold or have a sore throat.
• Depending on how much you’re drinking, the juice of lemons can be a source of other nutrients including: folate, potassium, magnesium, Vitamin B6, and thiamin
• Flavonoids, which are found in lemons, help prevent the development of cataracts in diabetic patients
• The bioflavonoids in lemons are a type of antioxidant that can significantly help reduce blood sugar levels, and help manage blood sugar in other ways, such as how it is stored in the muscles and liver

So how much do you need? Beyoncé reportedly drinks a gallon of water with lemon every day. Martha Stewart drinks the juice of a whole lemon every single morning.

 

My take? Start by squeezing half a lemon into a glass of lukewarm or room-temperature water every morning, or a few times a week. If you can find a way to slowly insert this into your morning routine, you can test out how much you can handle. In the least, lemon water offers an alternative to caffeine-packed tea and coffee or sugary drinks like soda and juice.

 

Just be careful how much you’re drinking, as it can be very acidic and worsen heartburn. Try drinking through a straw to prevent tooth damage!