Drinking lemon water is widely believed to have a host of health benefits. Some cite its ability to balance the body’s pH levels
(whatever that means), while others claims that it can help improve
your skin, aid in digestion and promote weight loss, among many, many
others.
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While some of these claims have been greatly exaggerated,
there are many benefits to the drink. Here, we examine the real benefits
of lemon water. Find out which claims are real, and which supposed
“benefits” you should take with a grain of salt.
The Truth About Lemon Water And Weight Loss
While
proponents insist on the miraculous weight-loss properties of lemon
water, doctors remain less than convinced. “Hot water with lemon in and
of itself does not cause any actual weight loss,” confirms Allisa Rumsey
of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietics.
That said, if the lemon
water is replacing other, more caloric drinks, this could indeed help
promote weight loss. Think about it: If you replace one bottle of soda a
day with lemon water, you’ll be cutting out around 180 calories each
day. According to the Mayo Clinic, losing a pound of fat is equivalent
to burning or cutting out 3,500 calories. While the math of fat-burning
isn’t actually quite this simple, it’s nonetheless a helpful estimate;
the 180 calories you would cut out by replacing a soda with lemon water
would add up to a pound about every 20 days. Not bad for a simple,
refreshing switch. More important, however, is all the sugar you’ll be
cutting out of your diet if you replace traditional fizzy or
fruit-punch-type drinks with lemon water — especially since we now know
that added sugar is the leading cause of obesity.
Boost Your Metabolism
Lemon
water has touted for its metabolism-boosting properties, and indeed,
research has shown that the consumption of lemon water can lead to a
modest metabolism boost. However, this isn’t because of lemon water’s
inherent properties, but simply because your body needs plenty of water
to function well. “Staying hydrated
is an important component of a healthy diet because it boosts your
metabolism,” says Rumsey. Many of us struggle to get enough water and
stay hydrated: according to some estimates, up to 75 per cent of
Americans are chronically dehydrated.
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For many people, drinking
something with flavour is easier than simply guzzling water. Drinking a
cold glass of lemon-water every morning, or hot water with lemon in the
afternoon, is also a conscious decision we make to stay hydrated that we
may not have done otherwise.
Prevent Bloating
Another way
that lemon water appears to help people “lose weight” is by reducing
bloating. Lemon functions as a diuretic, helping your body rid itself of
excess water, which may help give you a streamlined, flat-belly look.
However, this is not the same as true fat loss.
Additionally, if
you consistently experience long-lasting, uncomfortable bloating, you
should examine the root cause; drinking too much soda, eating excessive
amounts of gas-inducing foods and eating too quickly can all contribute
to bloating.
Unverified Claims
The previous benefits are
all fairly scientifically supported. There are, however, a variety of
claims for hot-lemon water that have not yet been verified by western
medicine. According to some natural health practitioners, drinking hot
water with lemon water supposedly helps detoxify the liver and clean out
the digestive system. Right?
Not necessarily. Dr. Joy Dubost says
that these claims for drinking hot-lemon water are largely anecdotal
and not supported by science. “Your body does not need any assistance
with discarding or eliminating so-called toxins. The lungs, kidneys,
gastrointestinal tract, and liver complete this process,” she says.
[post_ads]Lemon water
fans claim various other benefits: that it helps drinkers stay young,
improves skin, balances the body’s pH levels, reduces appetite, cleanses
the urinary tract, improves breath and promotes healing. While some of
these benefits may well be real, it’s also possible that, as with many
health fads, many of them have been grossly exaggerated.
Nutritional
consultant Dr. Mike Roussell certainly doesn’t seem impressed. “The
magic properties of drinking a juiced lemon in warm water each morning
is rooted in a seed of truth,” he admits, but adds, “the impact of the
ritual is greatly overstated.” So while “lemon has a handful of
characteristics and compounds that contribute to good health,” he warns
not to expect miracles.
Even so, there are a number of reasons why
drinking lemon water can be part of a healthy lifestyle. Lemons are
cheap, and juicing them doesn’t take much work, which means this little
health habit is an easy one to stick to.
Furthermore, we could all
use more more fresh fruit in our diets, and the nutrients found in
citrus are beneficial, but the biggest gain from drinking lemon-water is
quite simply that it encourages you to drink more water and be better
hyrdated.
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Lastly, it’s important to remember that there is such a
thing as too much lemon water. If you have acid reflux or heartburn, the
lemon water’s citric acid could exacerbate the issue. Furthermore, hot
water with lemon is tough on teeth, and could lead to enamel erosion in
the long-run. Dr. Sara Solomon suggests waiting at least 60 minutes
after drinking lemon water before brushing your teeth. She also suggests
rinsing the mouth with water or chewing sugar-free gum immediately
after drinking the lemon water as a way to normalize the pH in your
mouth and protect your teeth.
Courtesy Fitness Republic
