Lemons have many health benefits that have been known for centuries. The two main ones are its powerful antibacterial and antiviral power and its immune system stimulation abilities. Lemon juice is also known for its use as an aid in weight loss because it is a digestive and it also cleanses the liver.
Lemons contain many substances, especially citric acid, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, biolflavonoids, pectin, and limonene, which boost immunity and fight infection. Here are the 10 benefits of drinking warm lemon water every morning.
How Do I Prepare Warm Lemon Water?
You should use purified water and it should be warm but not boiling. Don’t use cold water since your body takes awhile to process it and it will need more energy to process cold water than warm. Always use fresh lemons, or organic ones if possible, and never bottled lemon juice. Squeeze 1/2 of a lemon in a glass and drink it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
Benefits of Warm Water
1. Helps You Digest
Lemon juice helps eliminate unwanted materials and toxins from the body. Due to its atomic composition that is similar to saliva and the chloric acid of digestive juices, it helps the liver produce bile, an acid that is required for digestion. Lemons are also rich in minerals and vitamins and help loosen toxins in the digestive tract. The digestive qualities of lemon juice help relieve symptoms of indigestion, like acid reflux, burping, and abdominal bloating. The American Cancer Society recommends hot lemon water to patients with cancer to help stimulate intestinal movements.
2. Cleanses Your System As a Diuretic
Lemon juice helps eliminate unwanted materials because lemons increase the rate of urination in the body. Therefore, when you drink lemon water, toxins are released at a faster rate, which helps you keep your urinary tract healthy. The citric acid in lemons helps maximize the function of the enzyme, which stimulates the liver and aids in detoxification.
3. Stimulates Your Immune System
Thanks to its amount of vitamin C, lemons are a huge ally in strengthening your immune system.
Lemons are rich in vitamin C, which is ideal for fighting colds. They are rich in potassium, which stimulates the brain and nervous system. Potassium also helps control blood pressure. The ascorbic acid (vitamin C) that is found in lemons has anti-inflammatory effects and is used as additional help for asthma and other respiratory symptoms. It also improves the absorption of iron in the body. Iron plays an important role in the immune system. Lemons also contain saponins, which show anti-microbrial properties that help keep colds and flus away. Lemons also help reduce the amount of phlegm the body produces.
4. Balances pH Levels
Lemons are one of the most alkaline foods for your body. They are obviously acidic on their own, but inside our bodies they are alkaline (citric acid doesn’t create acidity in the body once it is metabolized). Lemons have as much citric acid as ascorbic acid, which is weak acid that is easily metabolized in the body thus allowing the mineral content of lemons to help alkalize the blood. You only get sick when the body’s pH is acidic. Drinking lemon water regularly can help eliminate acidity in the body, including uric acid in your joints, which is one of the main causes of pain and swelling.
5. Cleanses Skin
Apart from cleaning your face, lemon juice is great for washing your hands and for greasy skin.
The vitamin C component, as well as other antioxidants, helps reduce wrinkles and dark spots and fight free radicals. Vitamin C is vital for healthy and radiant skin since its alkaline nature kills certain types of bacterial known to cause acne. In fact, it can be applied directly to age scars or marks to help reduce their appearance. Since lemon water cleanses toxins from the blood, you can help keep your skin clear from defects on the inside as well as on the outside. The vitamin C in lemons rejuvenates your skin from inside your body.
6. It Gives You Energy and Improves Your Mood
The energy that human beings receive from food comes from the atoms and molecules of those foods. When positively-charged ions of food enter the digestive tract and interact with negatively-charged ions, a reaction is produced. Lemons are one of the few foods that contain more negatively-charged ions, which provides your body with more energy when they enter the digestive tract. The smell of lemon also has energizing properties and improves your mood. The smell of lemon juice can improve your mood and help clear your mind. Lemons can also help reduce anxiety and depression.
7. Boosts Healing
The ascorbic acid (vitamin C) that is found in lemons boosts healing and is an essential nutrient in maintaining bone, connective tissue, and cartilage health. As we mentioned before, vitamin C also has anti-inflammatory properties. As a whole, vitamin C is an essential nutrient in maintaining good health and recovery from stress and injuries.
8. Freshens Breath
Lemon, mint, or yogurt: great allies for getting rid of bad breath.
Apart from fresher breath, lemons help relieve toothaches and gingivitis. Keep in mind that citric acid can erode tooth enamel, which is why it is best to brush your teeth before drinking lemon water or wait awhile to brush your teeth after you drink it. Also, you can gargle purified water after you finish drinking the lemon water.
9. Hydrates Your Lymphatic System
Warm lemon water helps your immune system through hydration and replacing lost fluids in your body. When your body is deprived of water, you can feel the secondhand effects which include: feeling tired or slow, a drop in immune functions, constipation, lack of energy, low/high blood pressure, lack of sleep, lack of mental clarity, etc.
10. Helps You Lose Weight
Lemon’s properties for slimming down are very well-known and valued. It is an excellent detoxifier and inflammation reducer. It has tons of vitamin C with antioxidant properties.
Lemons are rich in pectin fiber, which helps fight cravings. Studies have shown that people that have a more alkaline diet tend to lose weightfaster.
