Squeeze half a lemon into your next glass of water.
You don’t need to add sugar or any artificial sweetener (which would make it lemonade).
Just the simple combination of water and lemon juice is all you need.
Better Than Sugary Drinks
Lemon water is a healthier alternative to sugary drinks like lemonade, soda, sports drinks, and fruit juice.
These unhealthy drinks are associated with conditions such as:
- weight gain
- type 2 diabetes
- cavities and tooth decay
- heart disease
- kidney disease
- liver disease
Lemon water can be a much healthier alternative. Replace your daily can of soda with a glass of lemon water, and you’ll consume far fewer calories and sugar and reduce your risk for associated chronic illnesses.
Lemon Water for Tasty Hydration
Lemon water is a refreshingly flavorful way to stay hydrated.
Many people struggle to drink the recommended daily water intake, often because they find it tasteless and bland. Underhydration and dehydration can then lead to:
- fatigue
- dizziness
- headaches
- confusion
- fainting
Adding lemon to your water can help increase your intake and make drinking more enjoyable.
Lemon Water To Help You Lose Weight
Since lemons can help you drink more water, this increased intake can also help with your weight loss goals.
If you drink a full glass of water before you start eating a meal, you’ll be less likely to overeat and therefore consume fewer calories.
Drinking water throughout the day can reduce your appetite and cravings, helping you avoid unhealthy snacks that interfere with your weight loss journey.
And drinking lemon water instead of sugary drinks can help reduce your calorie intake and contribute to weight loss.
Citric Acid Can Aid Digestion
The citric acid found in lemons (and other citrus fruits) can facilitate healthy digestion in several ways.
It can stimulate the production of digestive juices and enzymes, helping you better break down the food you eat.
Citric acid can also help regulate gastric emptying, meaning it helps make sure that food is flowing from your stomach into your intestines at a healthy rate.
Additionally, lemon water lowers your glycemic response to starchy foods like bread and pasta. Eating carbohydrates along with lemon water may prevent your blood sugar from spiking too high—an important consideration for people with diabetes.
Vitamin C and Other Nutrients
Lemons are a tremendous source of vitamin C, which is essential for:
- forming collagen
- absorbing iron
- maintaining healthy skin
- healthy immune function
- preventing cell and tissue damage
Lemons also contain a good amount of potassium and vitamin B6.
And if you flavor your lemon water with mint, honey, ginger, or cinnamon, you’ll also get a boost of antioxidants and other health-promoting nutrients from those delicious additives.
