When scrolling through the lists of the biggest health trends in recent years, a few things come up more often than others—guided meditation sessions, daily consumption of avocados, and of course, lemon water. This refreshing concoction is all the rage on social media. Wellness gurus claim it can do everything from detoxing your body and clearing your skin to helping you shed quarantine weight!
However, is this actually true? Is lemon water really the magic elixir everyone makes it out to be? Keep reading to get the scoop on all the benefits of lemon water and find out why you should start drinking it today!
4 Benefits of Lemon Water
Though social media personalities claim lemon water is a magic cure-all, science is still on the fence. Moreover, all the evidence we have on the health properties of this beverage is anecdotal. However, the lack of research doesn’t mean lemon water is totally useless.
This simple drink does have a few verifiable benefits you can use to improve your health.
1. It Helps You Stay Hydrated
We all know that staying hydrated is the key to good health. Yet, despite countless health professionals reminding you to drink around 8 glasses a day, a recent study found that almost half of Americans aren’t getting enough water. One major reason for these statistics is that people simply don’t like the taste of plain water.
However, if you flavor your glass of H2O with a squeeze of lemon, you will automatically give it a taste boost. In the long run, this may help you drink more water, especially if you are a fan of soda and fruit juice.
2. It Improves Your Skin Quality
When influencers tell you that the secret to flawless skin is hydration, they aren’t lying. Extra water keeps your pores from clogging and improves your skin’s elasticity. However, if you really want to up your skincare game, add a squeeze of lemon to your glass of water. Research shows that citrus-based drinks can reduce wrinkles, dry skin, and sun damage.
3. It Helps You Sneak More Vitamin C Into Your Diet
As the old saying goes, ”An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” A lot of people must not have gotten that memo because research shows that around 90% of Americans don’t get enough fruits and veggies in their diet. However, adding just a squeeze of lemon to your water might help rectify that issue.
Lemons are chock-full of vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps protect your cells from harmful free radicals. While lemon water can’t make up for all the nutrients you’re losing when skipping your five a day, it can serve as a jumping-off point in your journey towards a healthier life.
4. It May Aid in Weight Loss
Let’s get something straight—lemon water can’t magically make you lose weight. However, lemon water, in conjunction with a healthier diet and a good exercise regimen, can help you achieve your fitness goals. Namely, drinking enough fluids boosts your metabolism and helps you feel fuller after meals.
Whether lemons boost weight loss in any way is still open for debate. There is evidence that suggests that the polyphenol antioxidants in lemons help reduce insulin resistance in overfed mice. However, more research is needed to prove whether they have the same effect on humans. For now, the main reason professionals would recommend drinking lemon water for weight loss is because it may help you drink more liquids in general.
Does Lemon Water Detox Your Body?
Another supposed health benefit of lemon water is that it contains properties that detox your body. Sadly, this isn’t true. In fact, the whole concept of body detox influencers like promoting is unfounded. Your body naturally detoxes on its own; after all, that’s what your liver and kidneys are for.
However, you can support this process with lemon water. Good hydration helps your body filter out waste more efficiently. So, if squeezing a bit of lemon into your glass gets you to drink more, go for it!
How Much Lemon Water Should You Drink a Day?
If you want to reap all the benefits of lemon water, then you should get the dose right. Most health experts say that if you weigh over 150 pounds, you can squeeze an entire medium lemon into your glass to get 92% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin C. On the other hand, if you’re under 150 pounds, half a lemon should be enough.
However, the amount of lemon water you drink each day largely depends on your preferences. So, if you feel like your 8 glasses of water need more flavor, do not hesitate to juice a whole lemon or two for maximum deliciousness!
