5 unexpected benefits of drinking lemon water daily (2024)

5 unexpected benefits of drinking lemon water daily (1)

[3 MIN READ]

In this article:

  • Lemon water can be a helpful addition to your daily diet.

  • Lemon water has antioxidants, vitamin C, and electrolytes that help you stay healthy.

  • Talk to your Swedish physician about how to optimize your nutrition.

You may not know it, but lemon water does a lot of good for our bodies. Besides aiding digestion and keeping us hydrated, adding lemon to our water each day can give us the energy to approach our day feeling refreshed – without the midday crash that comes with caffeine. If you've never tried drinking lemon water regularly, now is a perfect time to start. Here are five reasons why you should incorporate lemon water into your diet:

1. Keep your skin blemish-free

Lemon juice contains antioxidants, which not only strengthen the skin and decrease blemishes, but they may also help stave off wrinkles due to their ability to fight off free-radical damage. Free radicals live inside and outside the body in sun rays, dust and pollution. Drinking water will keep you hydrated and skin supple, but adding lemon will give your skin a glowing boost!

2. Help prevent infection

Lemon water is packed with vitamin C, which detoxifies your blood and boosts your immune system. While it is an excellent way to prevent colds, you can always drink warm lemon water during a cold to help loosen congestion and shorten the duration of symptoms. Drinking lemon water also promotes healthy kidneys, respiratory systems and cardiovascular systems. It has also been known to fight pneumonia.

3. Freshen your breath

Spicy foods, alcohol and smoking all lead to dry mouth. It’s important to keep hydrated to promote better breath, but if you’re in a fix, lemon water will do the trick. To help get rid of bad breath, you’ll want to incorporate acidic fruits like lemons into your diet. Because fruits are high in vitamin C, drinking lemon-infused water often will create an acidic environment in your mouth that makes it hard for bacteria to thrive. If you’re already drinking lemon water often, try switching it up by adding other fruits.

4. Help regulate stress levels

Dehydration can lead our bodies to experience fatigue and stress. When we get stressed, our adrenal glands release a hormone known as cortisol. Cortisol is known as the “stress hormone” and can have many adverse effects on the body, including weight gain, high blood pressure, and sleep deprivation. The vitamin C in lemons helps minimize the effects of cortisol in the body and, when combined with water, can help you stay relaxed, hydrated and energetic throughout the day. Vitamin C supplements can also be taken separately to help cope with stress. However, you should always start with a small dosage.

5. Increase your electrolytes and metabolism

Not consuming enough electrolytes can lead to muscle weakness, cramping, and fatigue. You can get electrolytes from a variety of foods, including the potassium in bananas. Drinking lemon water daily is an excellent way to get electrolytes that help you avoid muscle cramps and support healthy skeletal muscle function.

Besides the benefits listed above, lemon water can be used to boost metabolism, reduce inflammation, balance pH levels in your body and so much more. And while drinking it in the morning is a great replacement for coffee, you can drink it throughout the day and still get the same benefits. Like most food and beverage, lemon water should be consumed in moderation.

Find a doctor

If you have questions about improving your nutrition, contact the nutrition care department at Swedish.We can accommodate both in-person and virtual visits.

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This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care professional's instructions.

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About the Author

The Swedish nutrition team seeks to bring you expert advice and tips on how to fill your plate with the right nutrients to fuel your body in the healthiest way possible.

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5 unexpected benefits of drinking lemon water daily (2024)

FAQs

What are the benefits of drinking lemon water everyday? ›

7 Reasons to Start Your Day With Lemon Water
  • Aids in digestion. Acid helps break down food. ...
  • Helps you stay hydrated. Most of us don't drink enough water. ...
  • Weight-loss friendly. We're creatures of habit. ...
  • Prevents oxidation. ...
  • Supplies a healthy dose of vitamin C. ...
  • Provides a potassium boost. ...
  • Helps prevent kidney stones.
17 Jan 2020

What happens if I drink only lemon water everyday? ›

May aid digestion

Drinking lemon water before meals may help promote and improve digestion. That's because the citric acid found in lemon juice has been shown to boost gastric acid secretion, a digestive fluid produced in the stomach that enables your body to break down and digest food.

Are there any real benefits to drinking lemon water? ›

All the nutrients without the calories

In addition to vitamin C, lemons contain flavonoids and evidence suggests these may decrease oxidative stress: in other words, that slice of lemon contains antioxidants to help your body combat free radicals.

What happens when you drink lemon water for 7 days? ›

Some swear it gives them better skin and overall health. Reportedly, the drink can provide health benefits from clearing up acne to boosting your immune system with vitamin C, which helps fight the common cold and flu.

What is the results of drinking lemon water? ›

Headlines have linked drinking lemon water to many health claims, including weight loss, improved digestion, 'alkalising' effects on the body, improved skin and detoxification.

Why drink lemon water before bed? ›

Hot lemon water may induce relaxation before bed, which could help with sleep. It can also help with general hydration. Lemon contains vitamin C, which is important for several bodily functions. Hot lemon water may provide other benefits, but there is a lack of evidence behind most health claims.

How long does it take for lemon water to work? ›

How long does it take to get the results? Results such as improvement in digestion and higher energy levels can be seen within one week of regular consumption of warm lemon water.

Does lemon water clear skin? ›

Citric acid inside lemon water can help treat mild acne and brown spots. "Lemon juice contains citric acid which is helpful in treating mild acne and photoaging such as over tanned skin, wrinkles, and brown spots," said board-certified dermatologist Dr. Janet Prystowsky.

Does lemon water reduce blood sugar? ›

Lemon water may not directly impact your blood sugar levels and cause it to come down, but it can surely help prevent untimely spikes. The easy to make beverage is very low in carbohydrates and calories, and keeps you hydrated, which is very essential for diabetics to ensure.

How much lemon should I put in my water? ›

How much lemon juice to put in water? Mix the juice of ½ lemon in about 16 oz. of water (or about 1 ½ Tablespoons lemon juice in 2 cups of water). Stay away from the bottled lemon stuff - fresh is best!

Does lemon water burn belly fat? ›

Lemon water can promote fullness, support hydration, boost metabolism and increase weight loss. However, lemon water is no better than regular water when it comes to losing fat. That being said, it is tasty, easy to make and can be used as a low-calorie replacement for higher-calorie beverages.

Does lemon water help arthritis? ›

Properties and Health Benefits

Lemon water may help reduce some symptoms of arthritis when consumed alongside your normal medicine routine. Promoting collagen synthesis and tendon repair. Aids in maintaining the immune system.

What happens when you drink lemon water for a month? ›

I found that it lessened any bloating, improved my energy levels, and made my skin clearer. I didn't experience any major negative effects, and I'm planning to incorporate lemon water into my daily routine.

Does lemon water help hair growth? ›

Lemons contain many other nutrients that strengthen the hair follicles and encourage new hair growth. Naturally acidic, lemon juice can deeply cleanse the scalp and hair follicles, restore healthy pH levels, and remove build-up of product, oils, and pollutants.

What is the best time to take lemon water? ›

Lemon water is most effective if consumed first thing in the morning. It is recommended to add lemon juice to warm water because it helps extract vitamin C and polyphenols from the lemon and its peel. Also, how much lemon water you drink daily is important.

Is warm or cold lemon water better for you? ›

Drinking it ice cold may hinder the digestive benefits of the lemon water. And it makes your body spend more energy trying to heat it up. But lemon water at warm or room temperature provides you with the most health benefits. It allows the enzymatic and energetic properties of the lemon their full flow.

Does lemon water affect sleep? ›

You might love drinking lemon tea after dinner, but it hampers sleep. The citrus flavor of certain fruits, including lemon, enhances mental stimulation and boosts energy levels and that is how to stay awake at night.

What happens if you drink warm lemon water every morning? ›

Drinking lemon water first thing in the morning will flush out all the toxins from your system. Lemon is also known to purify your blood, thus keeping your body free from many health disorders.

Does lemon water affect kidneys? ›

Drinking lemon water has numerous health benefits and does not cause any harm to the kidneys. Lemon can boost hydration, prevent the formation of kidney stones, create an alkaline atmosphere in the body, and is rich in antioxidants which are responsible to protect against cellular damage.

How long to detox liver with lemon water? ›

The lemon detox diet involves consuming just a lemon juice-based mixture for 1 or 2 weeks, with no solid foods. The diet aims to remove toxins and cleanse the body.

Is lemon good for wrinkles? ›

Enjoy Clear Skin and Fewer Wrinkles

Starting your day off with a glass of lemon water has innumerable benefits, including increasing the amount of collagen in your skin. That means you'll produce fewer wrinkles, and the vitamin C in the lemon can also fight off toxins that cause breakouts.

Can lemon remove dark spots? ›

We all know that lemons have a number of benefits. It can be used to get rid of dark spots. The vitamin C and the citric acid present in lemons make it a perfect bleaching agent which can help in lightening the dark spots.

Can I rub lemon peel on my face? ›

Lemon peel provides natural hydration for your skin thus keeping your skin soft, supple and hydrated all the time. You should take one small piece of lemon peel and rub it all around the face. Do this for several times to keep your skin soft, supple and hydrated throughout the day.

Can lemon reverse diabetes? ›

Lemons can be helpful in type 2 diabetes because they can help prevent sugar absorption after carb intake. They can also help to lower glucose levels, insulin resistance, and regulate your metabolism. A study showed that citrus fruits such as lemon could help to lower obesity in rodents.

Does lemon water reduce cholesterol? ›

Lemon Juice and Cholesterol Levels

According to the latest research, lemon juice may help lower cholesterol levels and improve cardiovascular health. These benefits are largely due to the high levels of flavonoids and vitamin C found in the juice.

Does lemon bring down blood pressure? ›

Citrus fruits, including grapefruit, oranges, and lemons, may have powerful blood-pressure-lowering effects. They're loaded with vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds that may help keep your heart healthy by reducing heart disease risk factors like high blood pressure ( 4 ).

Does drinking lemon water help your liver? ›

Lemon water aids our bodies in the process of flushing the toxins out and restoring the liver. But to flush your system you will also need fiber, because let's face it lemons while high in Vitamin C are not high in fiber.

What is the best time to drink lemon water for weight loss? ›

Boosts metabolism: It is said that the best time to consume lemon water are mornings. Mornings are said to be the best time to put in all effort to lose weight as at this time your metabolism is at its peak.

How much lemon juice should I put in my water to lose weight? ›

Just warm some water and add 1 tablespoon lemon juice and enjoy. You can accentuate the taste and effectiveness of your weight loss drinking by adding 1 teaspoon cumin and boiling the lemon slices in water. Next, add 1 tablespoon lemon juice after straining the blend.

Does lemon water reduce belly fat? ›

Lemon water can promote fullness, support hydration, boost metabolism and increase weight loss. However, lemon water is no better than regular water when it comes to losing fat. That being said, it is tasty, easy to make and can be used as a low-calorie replacement for higher-calorie beverages.

How much lemon water should I drink a day? ›

How much lemon water should you drink? Stephens recommends using the juice from two to three lemons (about four to six tablespoons) throughout the day, and drinking one or two glasses of lemon water with meals, and one glass in between meals.

Does lemon burn fat in the tummy? ›

The answer to this is easy: No. Lemons do not have special fat-burning qualities, explains Czerwony. A squeeze of the fruit's pucker-inducing juice won't help you squeeze into a smaller pair of jeans. “That mechanism of action is just not there,” says Czerwony.

Is it better to drink lemon water at night or morning? ›

Drinking a glass of hot lemon water before bed is a good way to stay hydrated. Lemon is also a source of vitamin C, which has several health benefits . For example, vitamin C helps to protect cells from damage. It also supports the production of collagen, which helps wounds to heal.

How much weight can you lose by drinking water with lemon? ›

Swapping out your juice or soda with lemon water can lower your daily calorie intake, which can help you to lose weight. If you replaced one glass of juice or a can of soda with a glass of lemon water every day for a year, you could save yourself the equivalent of 10-16 pounds of weight gain per year.

Is lemon water good at night? ›

Erwine says that warm lemon water before bed could have a relaxing effect, which could help reduce stress and improve sleep. Additionally, for those who find lemon water to be a satisfying sipper for the evenings, it could serve as a healthier alternative to alcoholic beverages or late night snacks.

Does lemon water cleanse the liver? ›

Many citrus fruits, including lemon, can be added to water to help stimulate and flush out the liver. To help improve liver function, enjoy 4-6 tablespoons of lemon juice mixed with water each day.

Does lemon water detox your body? ›

Lemon also happens to be a strong detox agent. Drinking lemon water first thing in the morning will flush out all the toxins from your system. Lemon is also known to purify your blood, thus keeping your body free from many health disorders.

How long does it take to see results from drinking lemon water? ›

How long does it take to get the results? Results such as improvement in digestion and higher energy levels can be seen within one week of regular consumption of warm lemon water.

What should I drink at night to burn fat? ›

6 bedtime drinks that can boost weight loss overnight
  • Greek yogurt protein shake. As noted above, having protein before bed—especially if you've worked out beforehand—helps stimulate the repair and rebuilding of muscle (muscle protein synthesis) while you sleep. ...
  • Chamomile tea. ...
  • Red wine. ...
  • Kefir. ...
  • Soy-based protein shake. ...
  • Water.
26 May 2022

How to prepare lemon water for flat tummy? ›

Lemon Water With Salt: Squeeze half a lemon in warm water and add a pinch of pink salt. Take it on an empty stomach every morning. Honey Lemon Water: Squeeze half a lemon into lukewarm water and add one tablespoon of honey. Stir well.

How many lemons a day is too much? ›

Is there any upper limit to the quantity of lemon juice you should consume in a day? Dr. Datta and Dr. Sood both suggest that having the juice squeezed from two lemons per day, is quite enough to keep you hydrated.

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