Jakarta –
Lemon water is claimed to have many health benefits, especially if consumed every day. This refreshing drink made from a mixture of lemon juice and water is known as a source of vitamin C and can help with weight loss diets.
So, does lemon water really offer a number of health benefits? Are there any side effects from drinking it? How much lemon water can you consume and when is the best time to drink it to get all its benefits?
Benefits of Lemon Water
Quoting Good Food, here are a series of effects that you will feel from regularly drinking lemon water:
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1. Increases body hydration
Drinking enough water is important to prevent dehydration. Because lemon water consists of a mixture of water and lemon juice, consuming this drink offers properties similar to regular water. One of them is increasing body hydration.
Lemon water can be used as an alternative for people who don’t like plain water so that their hydration levels remain stable. However, it is not recommended to consume too much of this drink per day because it can erode tooth enamel.
2. Improves the body’s immune system
Lemons contain vitamin C, which is an antioxidant, which helps boost the immune system. Based on data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), one 48 g lemon contains around 21% of the daily value (DV) of vitamin C that the body needs.
Antioxidants are known to help protect body cells from free radicals that cause inflammation and a number of diseases. Vitamin C also plays an important role in body processes, such as absorbing iron, producing hormones, and protein metabolism.
3. Maintain healthy skin
Vitamin C can help the body produce collagen which contributes to healthy skin, preventing premature aging, maintaining skin elasticity and firmness, and accelerating wound healing.
A number of studies have proven a link between vitamin C or ascorbic acid and flavonoids with improving skin conditions.
4. Facilitates digestion
Drinking lemon water before eating is believed to improve digestion. According to a small study in 2022, researchers found that the citric acid content in lemons helps increase stomach acid secretion. Gastric acid itself is a fluid produced by the stomach to help break down and digest food.
5. Prevents Kidney Stones
The citric acid in lemons can help prevent kidney stones caused by a buildup of calcium oxalate. Citrate, a component of citric acid, makes urine less acidic and can even break up small stone clumps that have the potential to become kidney stones.
Quoting Healthline, drinking lemon water helps increase daily water intake. Water itself is often recommended in weight loss strategies.
In a 2018 study, those who drank water before eating consumed less food than those who didn’t drink it first. Even though they ate less, they didn’t feel hungry.
That way, consuming water or lemon water before eating can be a fairly effective way to lose weight.
Is Lemon Water Safe to Consume Every Day?
As reported by The Healthy, lemon water is safe to drink every day as long as the consumption is not excessive. Because the citric acid in lemons can damage tooth enamel.
Lemon water is also safe for everyone to drink as long as it doesn’t cause any side effects. However, those who experience heartburn are not advised to consume this drink because it can make the pain worse after drinking it.
Best Dosage and Time to Drink Lemon Water
It’s best to only consume lemon water made from a mixture of the juice of half a lemon and 240 ml of water per day, no more. If the sourness is too sharp, add a little water, mint leaves, or sliced ginger.
It is recommended to use slightly warm or room temperature water to help extract the vitamin C content. Avoid adding sugar, occasionally it’s okay to add a little pure honey.
There is no best time to drink lemon water so it can be consumed at any time. Making lemon water your first drink in the morning is a great way to hydrate your body after a long night’s sleep. Plus, its vitamin C not only increases energy but also speeds up metabolism.
(azn/row)
