Health Benefits Of Lemon Water

It is not uncommon to hear of individuals waking up in the morning and immediately downing a glass of lemon water instead of the more typical tea or coffee, and it is quite common to have it offered up at restaurants at the beginning of a meal. Lemons are a tasty and versatile treat, but do they really offer us any benefits when added to a glass of water?

There is a lot of anecdotal evidence out there point to lemon water offering up some real beneficial effects. Lemon water has not gotten much attention from the scientific community, but there is plenty of research on the benefits of water and lemons on their own. For more information on what benefits may be attained from drinking lemon water, start reading now.

Excellent Source Of Vitamin C

Lemons are an excellent natural source of vitamin C, which is one of the main antioxidants that aids in protecting cells from the damage caused by free radicals. Though research studies have had conflicting results, there is a lot of talk about vitamin C being able to limit the duration or even prevent the common cold. The vitamin C found in lemons may have the ability to lower blood pressure, which can potentially minimize an individual's risk of developing cardiovascular disease or having a stroke.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, one lemon contains enough juice to provide an individual with 18.6 milligrams of this beneficial vitamin, which is roughly one-third of the daily recommended value. Another stand out benefit of vitamin C found in lemons, though not so much an issue these days, is its ability to prevent scurvy. Scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C, was once much more common. It weakened the connected tissues in individuals afflicted with it which results in bleeding gums, among a few other symptoms.

Aids In Healthy Fasting

Drinking lemon water while fasting can have many great benefits, and may make fasting much easier to get through and productive. Drinking lemon water aids in healthy fasting by increasing digestive enzymes that stimulate the gut and liver, which can help regulate blood sugar. When individuals combine a fast with drinking lemon water, they increase the anti-inflammatory benefits of both. When fasting, it can be hard to resist the urge to eat, but with lemon water can help satiate any cravings individuals may be having, which will make it easier to stick with a fast.

Lemon water's polyphenols also suppress appetite and increase satiety by up-regulating an individual's mRNA levels of the enzyme that oxidizes fat, inducing weight loss. If individuals are doing intermittent fasting, lemon water is an overall great way to quell hunger pangs and make they feel a bit better while holding out for the long haul.