Lemons are packed with nutrients, including vitamin C,
B-complex vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and fiber.
Because of how hard lemon juice can be on the enamel of your teeth, it’s
important to dilute it with water of any temperature (though lukewarm
is recommended). Drink it first thing in the morning, and wait 15 to 30
minutes to have breakfast. This will help you fully receive the benefits
of lemon water.
The acid in lemon juice “works with the body to nourish and to enhance proper function. By drinking lemon water, you’re giving your body more time to take in and process the nutrients in the foods you eat afterward. This slow absorption is good for two reasons: It conserves the stores of insulin in your body (insulin is important in regulating the amount of glucose in the blood), and also helps your body get more out of the food you eat. Plus, quick absorption of certain “stripped” carbs — such as white flour, corn starch, and corn syrup — can be a digestive nightmare.
Aside from aiding digestion, there are other benefits to lemon juice itself. “It’s a good way to consume vitamin C without the higher levels of sugar that may be found in other citrus fruits, like oranges. And if you’re used to swigging a glass of OJ with your first meal of the day, try swapping in lemon water instead. It provides that same tangy jolt, without the crash that comes from downing a fiber-less juice.
Also, While lemon water may be good for digestion, it can do a little damage en route to your belly. “By adding [acidic] lemon to water, you are increasing your risk of eroding the enamel away, which can cause issues over time, “Once enamel is eroded away, it can’t be replaced.” (Dentist Matthew Messina, DDS)
Aside from aiding digestion, there are other benefits to lemon juice itself. “It’s a good way to consume vitamin C without the higher levels of sugar that may be found in other citrus fruits, like oranges. And if you’re used to swigging a glass of OJ with your first meal of the day, try swapping in lemon water instead. It provides that same tangy jolt, without the crash that comes from downing a fiber-less juice.
Also, While lemon water may be good for digestion, it can do a little damage en route to your belly. “By adding [acidic] lemon to water, you are increasing your risk of eroding the enamel away, which can cause issues over time, “Once enamel is eroded away, it can’t be replaced.” (Dentist Matthew Messina, DDS)
Some of the Benefits of Lemon Water are as follows below:
- Gives your immune system a boost.
- Excellent source of potassium, which is good for heart health, as well as brain and nerve function.
- Cleanses your system by flushing out the toxins in your body by enhancing enzyme function, stimulating your liver.
- Freshens your breath,Because the citric acid can erode tooth enamel, either hold off on brushing your teeth after drinking lemon water or brush your teeth before drinking it.
- Keeps your skin blemish-free because the antioxidants in lemon juice help to not only decrease blemishes, but wrinkles too! It can also be applied to scars and age spots to reduce their appearance, and because it’s detoxifying your blood, it will maintain your skin’s radiance.
- Helps you lose weight,by using the pectin fiber present in it in fighting hunger cravings.
- Reduces inflammation, by decreasing the acidity in your body, which is where disease states occur. It removes uric acid in your joints, which is one of the main causes of inflammation
- Gives you an energy boost when it enters your digestive tract, and it also helps reduce anxiety and depression.
- Helps to cut out caffeine on daily basis.
- Helps fight viral infections, Warm lemon water is the most effective way to diminish viral infections and their subsequent sore throats. Plus, with the lemon juice also boosting your immune system, you’ll simultaneously fight off the infection completely.
There are sound health reasons to imbibe lemon water, especially if you typically have a finicky digestive system. But it’s wise to take a few extra steps to save your smile:
- “Drink it as part of a meal, not by itself, to help stimulate saliva production,” Messina advises. Saliva “washes harmful acids and food particles away from teeth and helps neutralize acid, protecting teeth from decay.”
- If you want to drink warm lemon water first thing in the morning, try waiting until it cools a bit, and then use a straw. This “may help to push the liquid past teeth,” Messina says.
- Drink lemon water before brushing your teeth, so the acid isn’t hitting enamel directly (morning tooth scuzz has purpose!). Then, “it’s best to wait a little while to brush your teeth, approximately 30 to 60 minutes.