Health benefits of Lemon/Lemon Water

Lemon is one of the most popular and versatile citrus fruits. Its popularity is owed to it’s refreshing flavor and scent making it a popular choice for flavoring many recipes and perfumes. Lemon is also widely used in all sorts of drinks from teas and cocktails to juices. Along with its obvious use as a flavor, lemon since long has also been used for its medicinal value. A rich source of vitamin C, lemon possesses immense health benefits ranging from its antibacterial and antiviral properties to its immune boosting abilities. One of the most common ways to reap the health benefits of lemon is by juicing it.

15 Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water in Morning Empty Stomach

• As a rich source of vitamin C, lemon juice protects the body from Immune system deficiencies.
• Drinking lemon juice with warm water every morning helps in maintaining the pH balance of the body.
• With its powerful antibacterial properties, lemon juice helps fight infections
• Acts as a detoxifying agent.
• Helps with maintaining digestive health.
• Along with vitamin C, lemons are also a rich source of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium etc.
• Helps fight common cold
• Lemon water is also a popular remedy for many kinds of skin problems ranging from acne, rashes and wrinkles to dark spots.
• Lemon juice with warm water helps in quick weight loss as it promotes digestion and increases the metabolic rate.
• Lemon juice is also very effective at cleansing the liver as it promotes the liver to flush out toxins
• Lemon’s anti-inflammatory properties help in fighting respiratory tract infections, sore throat and inflammation of tonsils.
• Lemon juice with warm water helps keep the body hydrated as it provides electrolytes to the body.
• Drinking lemon juice with warm water also helps reduce joint and muscle pain.
• Lemon juice with warm water is also good for your dental health as it helps with toothache and prevents gingivitis.
• Lemon juice with warm water helps with digestion and hence, helps regulate natural bowel movement.

Lowering stroke risk: According to a 2012 study, the flavonoids in citrus fruits may help lower the risk of ischemic stroke in women. A study of data from nearly 70,000 women over 14 years showed that those who ate the most citrus fruits had a 19% lower risk of ischemic stroke than women who consumed the least. Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke. It can happen when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain.

It promotes hydration: General guidelines say that women should get at least 91 ounces per day and men should get at least 125 ounces. This includes water from food and drinks. Water is the best beverage for hydration, but some people don’t like the taste of it on its own. Adding lemon enhances water’s flavor, which may help you drink more.

It improves your skin quality: Vitamin C found in lemons may help reduce skin wrinkling, dry skin from aging, and damage from the sun. How water improves skin is controversial, but one thing is certain. If your skin loses moisture, it becomes dry and prone to wrinkles.

It aids digestion: Some people drink lemon water as a daily morning laxative to help prevent constipation. Drinking warm or hot lemon water when you wake up may help get your digestive system moving. Ayurvedic medicine says the sour lemon taste helps stimulate your “agni.” In ayurvedic medicine, a strong agni jump-starts the digestive system, allowing you to digest food more easily and helping to prevent the buildup of toxins.

It freshens breath: Have you ever rubbed a lemon on your hands to get rid of the smell of garlic or some other strong odor? The same folk remedy may apply to bad breath caused by eating foods with strong smells such as garlic, onions, or fish. You might avoid bad breath by drinking a glass of lemon water after meals and first thing in the morning. Lemon is thought to stimulate saliva and water also helps prevent a dry mouth, which can lead to bad breath caused by bacteria.

It helps prevent kidney stones: The citric acid in lemons may help prevent kidney stones. Citrate, a component of citric acid, paradoxically makes urine less acidic and may even break up small stones. Drinking lemon water not only gets you citrate, but also the water you need to help prevent or flush out stones

It supports weight loss: Research has shown that polyphenol antioxidants found in lemons significantly reduces weight gain in mice that are overfed in order to induce obesity. In these mice studies, the antioxidant compounds also offset the negative effects on blood glucose levels and improved insulin resistance, the two main factors in the development of type 2 diabetes.

Cancer prevention: Lemons and lemon juice are an excellent source of the antioxidant vitamin C.  Antioxidants may help prevent free radicals from causing cell damage that can lead to cancer. However, exactly how antioxidants can help prevent cancer remains unclear.

Maintaining a healthy complexion: Vitamin C plays a vital role in the formation of collagen, the support system of the skin. Sun exposure, pollution, age, and other factors can result in skin damage. A 2014 mouse study suggested that either eating vitamin C in its natural form or applying it topically can help prevent this type of damage.

Boosting the immune system: Foods that are high in vitamin C and other antioxidants may help strengthen the immune system against the germs that cause the common cold and the flu. One review found that, while vitamin C supplements do not appear the reduce the incidence of colds in a population, they may help reduce the length of time a cold lasts. Vitamin C may also help boost immunity in people who are undergoing extreme physical activity.

Increasing iron absorption: Iron deficiency is a leading cause of anemia. Pairing foods that are high in vitamin C with iron-rich foods maximizes the body’s ability to absorb iron. However, a high intake of vitamin C can trigger gastrointestinal problems in people who are taking iron supplements. For this reason, it is best to obtain iron from dietary sources, such as beef liver, lentils, raisins, dried beans, animal meats, and spinach.

Help 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.

Reduce inflammation: If you drink lemon water on a regular basis, it will decrease 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.

Freshen your breath: It helps relieve toothaches and gingivitis. 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.

Give your immune system a boost: Vitamin C is like our immune system’s jumper cables, and lemon juice is full of it. The level of vitamin C in your system is one of the first things to plummet when you’re stressed, which is why experts recommended popping extra vitamin C during, especially stressful days.

Excellent source of potassium: As already mentioned, lemons are high in potassium, which is good for heart health, as well as brain and nerve function.