Demi Moore, Beyoncé, and Elsa Pataky have something in common; they all start their day with a glass of warm water with lemon on an empty stomach. An increasingly popular habit that can provide us with endless health benefits.
But, what what properties does lemon water really have for our body? Is it really effective as part of a weight loss diet? We tell you everything in this post!
Properties of lemon water: what is it for?
Lemon water is an incredibly light drink, but it is capable of providing us with a lot of nutrients interesting for our body.
On average, a glass of water with a squeezed lemon (about 50 grams) will contain the following nutrients for your body:
- 10-20 calories
- 7 g of carbohydrates
- 18.6 mg of Vitamin C
- 9.6 mg of folate
- 49.4 mg of potassium
- 0.01 mg of vitamin B1
- 0.01 mg of vitamin B2
- 0.06 mg of vitamin B5
Benefits of lemon water
These are the main benefits of drinking lemon water:
- ‘Alkalizing’ effect: with a pH of 2.6, lemon is one of the foods more acids that exist, which makes its alkaline effect help the excretion of acids through urine.
- Helps the immune system: as a good source of Vitamin C, lemon helps us strengthen our body's immune system to be able to fight more efficiently colds and infections.
- Improves blood circulation: the cleansing effect lemon water also has a detoxifying effect on our blood.
- Prevention of kidney stones: thanks to its high citrate content, the consumption of this drink considerably reduces health problems of renal origin.
- Improves digestion: in addition to helping with stomach contractions and to facilitate evacuation, it also helps us balance our acids and therefore have better digestion.
- Skin protection: the Vitamin C in lemon protects the skin from free radicals, which helps us have more beautiful and healthy skin.
- Anti-inflammatory properties.
- Improves iron absorption: thanks to its high Vitamin C content.
Contraindications
However, before starting to drink this miracle beverage, you should keep in mind that its consumption is contraindicated in certain cases:
- If you usually have a gastric ulcer or reflux: its high acid content can have a harmful effect in such cases.
- In cases of migraines or headaches: some strong-flavored foods, like cheese or citrus fruits, can trigger migraine episodes. Avoid it if you are prone to this type of ailment.
- Children and pregnant women: the little ones in the house and pregnant women should be cautious with the consumption of lemon water. The same applies to elderly people of advanced age.
- Worn enamel and other oral problems: the acidity of lemon can be harmful in cases of dental sensitivity, in addition to being a precursor to enamel wear.
As always, we recommend that if you are going to drink lemon water regularly, you consult first with your trusted doctor.
Does lemon water help you lose weight?
Despite the simplicity of this almost miraculous drink, there are many myths surrounding its consumption: does lemon water help you lose weight? Is its consumption effective in fat burning? But the answer is not as simple as it seems.
If you think that by drinking lemon water you can binge on sweets and fast food, since thanks to its supposed ‘fat-burning’ benefits you will not only not gain weight, but you will also lose weight, you are very mistaken!
In fact, lemon water is usually recommended in weight loss diets, but for very different reasons.
Lemon, due to its high content of acid and Vitamin C, it has a satiety effect that will help us control our appetite more effectively throughout the day. Especially if you tend to have cravings for sweet foods. We recommend taking a look at this post with the different types of diets that you can do.
On the other hand, its properties diuretic contribute to the elimination of liquids and consequently, they make us feel less bloated and lighter.
Lemon water at night
Although the most popular is always to drink lemon water in the mornings (specifically on on an empty stomach), the consumption of this juice can also be very beneficial at night.
In addition to all the benefits mentioned above, drinking warm or even hot lemon water before going to bed will allow us to sleep better.
On the other hand, if we suffer from constipation, drinking lemon juice can help us to improve the digestive tract overnight.
How to prepare lemon water
The preparation of lemon water has no secret and consists of two main ingredients: water and lemon.
It is imperative to use natural lemons, and never, under any circumstances, substitute its juice with prepared juices.
To obtain the juice we can use a traditional juicer of oranges or squeeze them with our hand. Also, it is recommended that the water be slightly warm to improve digestion and the sensation after consumption.
Lemon and ginger water
If you want to multiply the immune properties of lemon water, we recommend adding a bit of ginger to the mixture, one of the most healthy that exist.
For this, we recommend ginger infusions separately, to later add it to our mixture according to your taste. Remember that ginger can have a very strong flavor and that it is slightly spicy, so don't overdo it!
It is important to keep in mind that this root is contraindicated in cases of pregnancy, anticoagulant treatments, hypertension, and some heart conditions.
Lemon and cucumber water
Cucumber, besides being a source of antioxidants very potent, it is also an excellent complement for any cold drink.
On the other hand, cucumber is also very beneficial for the health of our skin, muscle recovery, bone health, and blood pressure control. Add it to your lemon water and enjoy its refreshing sensation on the hottest days!
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