Lemon water is simple to make and abounds with nutritional benefits, including glowing skin, boosting immunity and energy, supporting brain cells, flushing toxins, assisting in weight loss, and anti-aging effects and more. Warm provides different benefits from cold, learn the differences and values of each here! Don't forget to add the lemon peel!
The benefits of lemon water are many, but don't drink too much. Lemon water offers a slew of benefits, but there are differences between warm lemon water and cold lemon water, and be careful no drink too much. Read on to learn the science behind the benefits of lemon water.
Table of Contents
What Is Lemon Water?
Lemon water is plain water with fresh lemon juice added. It is best to freshly squeeze your lemons and juice them each time for optimum nutritional benefit. Don't buy bottle lemon juice with preservatives or additives that interrupt the benefits of this drink. Buy a brand that has only lemon juice in the ingredient list. But as always, it's best to use fresh.
9 Benefits of Lemon Water
So why drink lemon water? Here is a list of nine benefits of lemon water.
Drinking water with lemon does the following:
- Boosts hydration [source]
- Improves skin [source]
- Triggers weight loss [source]
- Fights germs that cause cavities [source]
- Aids digestion and prevents kidney stones [source]
- Balances acidity upon morning wake up [source]
- Restores electrolytes as a great recovery drink after exercise [source]
- The drink also flushes the liver, and reduces pain in joints [source]
- But most importantly lemon water boosts the immune system in an extraordinary way. [source]
How Does Lemon Water Boost Immunity?
Basically, lemon water, cold or warm, creates an alkaline pH in your body. And an alkaline environment is super hard on illness. Virus and bacteria have a difficult time thriving. And, of course, lemon is high in basic vitamin C, long known for its antiviral and antibacterial strengths. [source]
Disadvantages of Drinking Lemon Water Daily
You can drink too much. Despite the benefits of lemon water, there are negatives to drinking too much a day.
Lemons can erode teeth enamel, cause heart burn, trigger ulcers and even migraines for those prone to them. [source] [source]
How Much Lemon Water Should You Drink Each Day?
Experts suggest drinking 1-2 (8-ounce) glasses a day with each glass containing about about 4 tablespoons of lemon juice. So basically you need a lemon a day.
To protect your teeth, use a straw. To prevent heartburn, don't lie down for at least half an hour after you drink it.
What Are Benefits of Cold Lemon Water?
Drinking water cold is beneficial because it tastes better and you are more likely to drink more of it. Cold lemon water tastes delicious and so you are more likely to drink more of it. It's particularly alluring in hot weather and after a workout thus is more hydrating. And after a workout, it is useful to re-hydrate you and replenish body salts and nutrients such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium.
Drinking it cold with the peel is also better for weight loss, with the thinking that the soluble pectin fiber in lemon helps you feel full longer. [source]
What Are Benefits of Warm Lemon Water?
I prefer the taste of cold lemon water, it is delicious and refreshing. But science says the bio-availability of lemon water's nutritional benefits is higher when the lemon water is warm.
The warm version flushes toxins more easily, and assists digestion gently. For this reason, warm is best.
How to Make Lemon Water
So how do we make this magical drink, step by step?
Step 1. Prepare the lemons
Set them out the night before so they are at room temperature the next day. This will allow you to get maximum juice from them.
Step 2. Juice the lemons. Roll a lemon on the countertop to weaken the peel.
Cut the lemon in half, and squeeze it into a 2-cup jar, or use a juicer. If you want to get more juice then usual, microwave the lemon for 5 seconds first.
Step 3. Add 2 cups of water to the jar. If you want cold lemon water, add chilled water. If you want warm, microwave the water first about 5 seconds or heat in a pot on the stove. But you only want it warm or just warmer than room temperature.
Step 4. In either case, if you want to add peel, add about ¼ of the lemon's peel (about 2 tablespoon chopped), and blend in a high speed blender. Then either serve cold after chilling or warm after warming.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
How to Juice a Lemon. Generally I squeeze 1 lemon (about 4 tablespoon of juice) into 16 ounces of water, and use that as my lemon drink over one to two days. If I want it chilled, I leave it refrigerated; if I want it warm, I warm it in the morning of drinking it.
Add the lemon peel to your water for added nutrition. Add ¼ of a lemon's peel to the water, and blend in a high speed blender. Small amounts of lemon peel contain fiber, calcium, potassium and magnesium. And astonishingly, 1 tablespoon provides 9% of the daily requirement for vitamin C.
Use fresh lemon water to make wellness shots and ginger shots. Both types boost immunity, provide a burst of energy, have anti-aging effects and more! Don't buy KOR shots or other expensive brands, just make your own. My simple ginger shot recipe requires either a juicer, blender or even a jar and ground ginger.
Flavor your lemon water. Add fruits to your water. Try my fruit infused detox water, or even my homemade lemonade sweetened only by pears.
FAQS
People ask lots of questions about lemon water and its benefits, here are some answers.
Can I Drink Water With Lemon Every Day?
Sure you can, but as I said, keep it to one to two glasses a day. And when you drink it and what temperature it is matters too.
When is Best Time to Drink Lemon Water?
Drink your first 8 ounces as the first drink of the day - either cold or warm. That's because when you wake in the morning you are dehydrated and acidic.
Your first drink should hydrate you and turn your body to alkaline. You will feel a boost of well-being within 15 seconds of drinking it - try it tomorrow morning and see!
Why Does Lemon Water Temperature Matter?
Temperature matters for several reasons. In general, the temperature can change the molecular structure of lemon juice and affect which benefits are bioavailable.
Other Detox Drinks
Or, check up my round-up for 7 Lemon Water Drinks for Detox
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Lemon Water Recipe (hot & cold)
Ingredients
Cold lemon water
- 1 cup water (cold water)
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
Warm lemon water
- 1 cup water (room temperature or slightly tepid)
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
Cold lemon water
- Use water naturally chilled from a refrigerator tap or leave glass in refrigerator for an hour or so.
- Allow lemons to be room temperature, roll them on the counter to break up the taute skin, wash them, and slice the long way. Juice with a hand juicer.
- Stir in the lemon juice and drink right away.
Warm lemon water
- Use water warmed up by allowing it to sit an hour at room temperature, or zap in microwave for 5 seconds, or warm water in a pot on the stove and let cool to room temperature.
- Allow lemons to be room temperature, roll them on the counter to break up the taute skin, wash them, and slice the long way. Juice with a hand juicer.
- Stir in the lemon juice and drink right away.
Henry K.
I like how drinking lemon juice can help you keep your electrolytes up.
Dee Dine
Yes, agreed!