The Benefits Of Lemon Water

Lemon water is famous amongst dieters and the clean eating community, so you might be wondering what exactly the benefits of lemon water are. 

It has alleged weight-loss properties, and during lockdown, gained popularity thanks to WhatsApp messages that swore drinking lemon water every day would aid in staying healthy and germ-free. 

Whether you like it hot or cold, lemon water won’t cure your Covid. There are, however, definite benefits from adding it to your daily H20 intake. 

How Do I Make Lemon Water?

It’s as simple as it sounds. You slice up a lemon and add it to your water bottle or flask – depending on if you prefer hot or cold beverages. Let it steep for the lemon flavour and properties to infuse into the water, and drink it throughout the day.

The taste is sour and can make the mouth slightly dry. Some people prefer to remove the lemon pieces and strain them before drinking. Others leave the chunky bits in and even eat the lemon and rind after steeping.

What Are The Benefits Of Lemon Water?

There are loads of nutritional and digestive benefits to drinking lemon water. Feel free to add extras like mint leaves, limes and other fruits to spruce it up!

It has loads of vitamin C 

Okay, so it won’t cure Covid or the flu, but it does offer a large amount of vitamin C to boost your immune system. Vitamin C also protects us from cell damage and helps our bodies repair themselves. Lemons also contain phytonutrients. These are nutrients that cover the body against disease and have powerful antioxidant properties that prevent cell damage.

Weightloss friendly

We’re creatures of habit, says Cleveland Clinic. Try to replace your morning coffee with lemon water. Lemon water makes you feel fuller for longer, supports hydration, boosts your metabolism and increases weight loss, says Healthline. It is tasty and easy to make. It’s an excellent replacement for sugary juices and can be used as a low-calorie replacement for higher-calorie beverages.

It aids in proper digestion and keeps you hydrated

Acid breaks down food, and lemons are highly acidic. The acid in lemons helps supplement stomach acid levels, which tend to decline as we age. Lemons cut through fatty, greasy foods and help you pass softer, more regular stools. 

A healthy gut is a healthy body. Drinking enough water is important in keeping your stomach regular – and the good news is that lemon water counts towards your 8 cups a day! 

Provides a potassium boost

Lemons contain potassium, which your body needs for nerve-muscle communication, transporting nutrients and waste, and regulating blood pressure. Potassium is vital for the normal function of all cells. It regulates the heartbeat, ensures proper muscle and nerve function, and is vital for producing proteins and metabolising carbohydrates. Other fruits that are very high in potassium include bananas, oranges, apricots, and grapefruits.

It helps prevent kidney stones

Lemon water helps prevent painful stones if your body is deficient in citric acid. More importantly, increased fluids help prevent dehydration — a common cause of kidney stones.

Lemons are acidic but become alkaline once processed by your body. They, therefore, alkalise the blood and urine by creating an alkaline environment in the body. This slightly alters the pH, making the body a bacteria-fighting machine. 

The juice’s acidic nature also clears and cuts through phlegm and mucous, which eases breathing and relieves the symptoms of chest and head colds.

Inflammation

Lemon water helps to get rid of inflammation. Inflammation is the process in which the body’s white blood cells and the things they make protect you from infection from outside invaders, such as bacteria and viruses.

Lemons are also high in bioflavonoids. These destroy harmful free radicals that damage blood vessels and cause inflammation, explains Health. 

Lemons alkalise the blood and urine by creating an alkaline environment in the body, which slightly alters the pH, making the body a bacteria-fighting machine. The juice’s acidic nature also clears and cuts through phlegm and mucous, which eases breathing and relieves the symptoms of chest and head colds.

To soothe pain and inflammation, try drinking warm lemon water. Add a clove of garlic, as it offers some natural pain relief. It may be a harsher flavour to get used to, but it’s worth the few minutes of cringing. If it helps, close your nose when you drink it. Smell and taste are connected, so not smelling the garlic will make it easier to swallow. 

It Isn’t A Cure

As much as lemon water has loads of benefits, nothing is better than medical help to heal ailments. Affinity Health aims to make affordable healthcare available to all South Africans with healthcare plans designed to suit your Health and financial needs.

We are passionate about quality healthcare. Using our expertise, we have designed a range of options, including Day-to-Day and Hospital plans.