How to make lemon water that is refreshing and hydrating, is easy to make in 2 minutes, and will energize your body like a morning coffee while also boosting your immunity system and providing other benefits. Drink it warm, cold or hot.
Learning how to make lemon water is easy, and worthwhile given the benefits it can bring to your system. Some of the sweeping claims are exaggerated, but there are several important benefits that do have scientific backing. I enjoy drinking warm lemon water in the morning because it kick-starts my digestion and actually gives me a burst of energy. Not being a coffee drinker, I look forward to my tall glass of warm lemon water each morning. Hot lemon water also has it benefits, and so does cold lemon water, the differences of which I explain more below.
Although plenty call for drinking lemon water every morning, I do that occasionally but often switch out with other healthy juices such as celery juice recipe, cucumber lemon juice, ginger juice, aloe vera juice, and even my ginger shots , turmeric shots, or lime juice.
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Why You'll Love This
General Health benefits. Lemon water, hot or cold, adds vitamin C and antioxidants which boost your immune system. In addition, the drink offers an alternative to unhealthy drinks, provides hydration, and scientific studies show lemon water can actively support weight loss and digestion.
Drink warm lemon water. Drinking warm lemon water is absorbed more quickly and thoroughly into your cells so you reap faster and more benefits. In addition studies show that warm lemon water can support digestion differently than cold lemon water, and supports weight loss by firing up your metabolism. Warm lemon water is also said to more easily ease constipation than cold lemon water, again because the temperature allows faster and deeper absorption.
Drink cold lemon water. Drinking cold lemon water is a good way to wake up. The cold temperature and high levels of vitamin C combine to serve as a stimulant to the brain, in addition to cooling your body in hot situations such as a work out or a hot day.
Ingredients
Lemon juice. Freshly squeezed juice is recommended for optimum nutritional benefit. If you buy bottled juice, look for organic and one that has only lemon in the ingredient list.
Water. Filtered or bottled is best to keep this drink optimum quality.
Salt. A pinch of salt is essential here to contribute electrolytes in this healthy drink.
See the recipe card at the bottom for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Step by Step Instructions
Here are general steps to make hot or cold lemon water. For detailed measurements see recipe card below.
Step 1. Prepare the lemons. To get the most juice from a lemon:
- Start with a room temperature lemon
- Roll the lemon on the counter to crush the walls
- Microwave it for 15 seconds before juicing
Step 2. Juice the lemons. Cut the lemon in half, remove seeds if any, and squeeze juice into a 2-cup jar.
Step 3. Add 1 cup of water to a glass and add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and stir.
Step 4. Drink or adjust the temperature.
- To make cold lemon water, used chilled water.
- To make warm lemon water, microwave the glass of lemon water 60 seconds.
- To make hot lemon water, boil water as you would tea, add it to a mug with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.
Recipe Tips
Boost the vitamin C. Add some lemon peel to boost vitamin C and micronutrients and add soluble pectin fiber which squelches appetite. Chop a ½ teaspoon of lemon peel, add that and a glass of lemon water to a blender and process. Drink cold or warm.
Squeeze lemon efficiently. Microwave a lemon for 15 seconds, then roll with the heel of your hand on the counter before cutting in half and juicing. This is the most efficient way to get the most juice from a lemon. One lemon should yield 2-3 tablespoons of juice or more.
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]
9 Benefits of Lemon Water
- 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]
- Lemon water boosts the immune system. [source]
Warm Lemon Water is Best
I prefer the taste of cold lemon water; it is delicious and refreshing. But science says the bioavailability of lemon water's nutritional benefits is higher when the lemon water is warm. [source]
Warm lemon water is absorbed into cells more easily and stays there, leaving you more hydrated. Warm lemon water decreases body acidity, flushes toxins more easily and assists digestion gently. [source] For this reason, warm is best. Hot lemon water is also recommended, and is taken like a hot cup of tea, with similar benefits to drinking warm lemon water.
Variations
Add lemon water to other drinks. 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.
Add fruit to your lemon water. Flavor your lemon water with fruit. Similar to my homemade pear lemonade, add blended pear to sweeten lemon water or use lemon water instead of plain water in my detox water recipes.
Flavor your lemon water. Also feel free to experiment with your lemon water, and add in some mint leaves making a lemon mint water, or sweeten with honey or maple syrup. You can even add in cucumbers to turn it into cucumber water or cucumber lemon water.
FAQS
Yes, lemon water can erode teeth enamel, cause heart burn, trigger ulcers and even migraines for those prone to them. [source] [source] The best defense is to not drink more than 1 glass at any one time, and to protect teeth by drinking lemon water with a straw.
Experts have not put a limit on lemon water daily consumption other than be careful to not drink so much that your stomach acid balance is thrown off. Common sense suggests 1-2 glasses a day should be enough to provide benefits and do no harm.
To get real benefits, I suggest at least 1-2 tablespoons per 8 ounces of water, but this ratio is customizable. If you prefer a less potent lemon water, then add only 1-2 teaspoons of lemon juice per 8 ounces of water.
Although lemon water in general boosts immunity, the two temperatures have different additional benefits. Cold lemonade boosts digestion, triggers alertness, and can even help you stave off overheating during a workout or hot weather. Hot or warm lemon water however provides a sedative effect, can drain sinuses, and supports digestion.
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]
Drink 8 ounces of warm lemon water as the first drink of the day. This will turn your acidic body alkaline and boost your energy. I use it instead of coffee.
Other Detox & Lemon Drinks
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📖 Recipe
How to Make Lemon Water (cold or warm)
Ingredients
Cold lemon water
- 1 cup (8 ounces) water (cold water)
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
Warm lemon water
- 1 cup (8 ounces) water (room temperature, warm or hot)
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
Optional
- 1 teaspoon lemon peel, grated
Instructions
Cold lemon water
- Add the 8 ounces of water to a glass. The water can be naturally chilled from the dispenser or refrigerated for an hour.1 cup (8 ounces) water
- Either measure out lemon juice from a jar, or juice a single room-temperature lemon. To prepare it for optimum juicing, roll it on the counter to break up the taut skin, and microwave it for 15 seconds. Wash, slice and juice.2 tablespoon lemon juice
- Add 2 tablespoon of lemon juice to the water, stir and drink right away.
Warm or hot lemon water
- Use water warmed by zapping it in the microwave for 60 seconds, or use water warmed in a pot on the stove.1 cup (8 ounces) water
- Either measure out lemon juice from a jar, or juice a single room-temperature lemon. To prepare it for optimum juicing, roll it on the counter to break up the taut skin, and microwave it for 5 seconds. Wash, slice and juice.2 tablespoon lemon juice
- Add 2 tablespoon of lemon juice to the water, stir and drink right away.
Optional
- To either drink, consider adding ½ teaspoon of fresh lemon peel, grated or chopped. Blend briefly and drink as is for added benefits.
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