When should you drink lemon water?
You can drink lemon water at any time of day, such as in the morning, before meals, during meals, or after meals.
Many people enjoy drinking lemon water in the morning to replenish fluids, vitamin C, and aid digestion. However, you can drink lemon water at any time of day and still reap its benefits.
Drinking lemon water after meals can help support digestion and reduce bloating. Because lemon water is acidic, drinking it with or after meals may be more palatable for those with sensitive stomachs.
Why should you drink lemon water?
Most people prefer to drink water in the morning to replenish their body's water supply. (Illustrative image)
Drinking lemon water offers several potential benefits, including:
Hydration support: Lemon water helps hydrate the body, but it's neither better nor worse than plain water in terms of hydration. Some people find it easier to drink because of the lemon aroma. In this case, it may help increase your overall water intake.
A calorie-free alternative: Lemonade is very low in calories and sugar. This makes it a great alternative to soda or other sugary drinks.
Supplementing your vitamin C intake : Squeezing one lemon into water can provide about 21% of your daily recommended intake (DV) of vitamin C.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant nutrient that helps prevent cell damage from environmental pollution, smoking, ultraviolet rays, and other harmful agents. It also supports skin health and wound healing, and aids in iron absorption.
May aid digestion : Lemon water is not a cure for digestive problems. However, some people find that lemon water helps reduce bloating. This may be because lemon water stimulates the production of stomach acid. Stomach acid activates digestive enzymes, which help break down food. It may also help reduce bloating by helping food move through the stomach faster. However, for most people, this effect may be negligible.
Nutritional information of lemon water
A glass of lemonade made from the juice of one lemon provides:
- Calories: 10.6 kcal
- Carbohydrate: 3.3 grams (g)
- Total sugar content: 1.2 g
- Vitamin C: 18.6 milligrams, 21% of the daily value
Lemonade is a low-calorie beverage. It can provide a significant amount of vitamin C, depending on the amount of lemon you squeeze. Using one lemon can provide approximately 21% of your daily vitamin C requirement.
However, if it's too sour, you can use half a lemon instead.
Risks to be aware of
Although lemon water can quench thirst and offer some benefits, it's not the best choice for everyone. In some cases, drinking lemon water can be unpleasant or not recommended. Here are a few situations where drinking lemon water should be limited or avoided:
People with sensitive stomachs: Lemon water is acidic, with a pH of around 2.3. Adding lemon to water makes it more acidic than plain water. People with sensitive stomachs may experience discomfort if they consume acidic drinks or foods too often or in large quantities.
People with kidney stones: Some people drink lemon water as a home remedy for kidney stones. Lemon water may help with some types of kidney stones by increasing the amount of citrate in the urine. However, it may worsen symptoms for others. Therefore, always consult a doctor before using lemon water to treat kidney stones.