7 Reasons to Start Your Day with Lemon Water (2024)

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January 16, 2020/Nutrition

A simple habit that can yield big results

7 Reasons to Start Your Day with Lemon Water (4)

Even the smallest changes in your routine can have a big impact on your health. Take starting your day with lemon water, for instance.

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Internal medicine specialist Roxanne B. Sukol, MD, MS, discusses seven reasons why you should consider adopting this super simple habit.

  1. Aids in digestion
    Acid helps break down food. That’s why there’s so much of it in our stomachs. The acid in lemons may be especially helpful in supplementing stomach acid levels, which tend to decline as we age.
  2. Helps you stay hydrated
    Most of us don’t drink enough water. A daily lemon water habit is an easy way to get your day off on the right foot. How do you know if you’re drinking enough? Your urine is almost clear.
  3. Weight-loss friendly
    We’re creatures of habit. Ponder the impact of replacing your morning OJ or latte with lemon water. Not just once, but perhaps 20 times a month — and multiply that by 10 years. Your waist line will thank you.
  4. Prevents oxidation
    Like all produce, lemons contain phytonutrients, which protect your body against disease. These phytonutrients have powerful antioxidant properties, which prevent cell damage from oxidation, the same mechanism that causes rust.
  5. Supplies a healthy dose of vitamin C
    Juice half a lemon into your water and you’ll add a mere 6 calories to your diet. Plus you’ll get more than a sixth of your daily vitamin C, which is needed to protect us from cell damage and repair injury.
  6. Provides a potassium boost
    Your body can’t function without potassium. It’s necessary for nerve-muscle communication, transporting nutrients and waste and blood pressure regulation. Fruits and vegetables are important sources of potassium.
  7. Helps prevent kidney stones
    Lemon water helps prevent painful stones in those deficient in urinary citrate (a form of citric acid). More importantly, increased fluids help prevent dehydration — a common cause of kidney stones.

How to enjoy lemon water

Simply squeeze half of a lemon into a glass of water. How much? When? It really doesn’t matter. Any way you do it, it’s a big plus for your health.

Don’t forget the peel

Capture the rich nutrients by zesting your lemon (organic, please) and using in baking or cooking.

Will it hurt my teeth?

Theoretically, lemon acid can be harmful to your enamel, but you’re diluting it here. As long as you don’t make a habit of sucking on lemons all the time, you should be fine.

Resources: National Institutes of Health

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7 Reasons to Start Your Day with Lemon Water (2024)

FAQs

What does starting the day with lemon water do? ›

The acidity of lemons stimulates your digestive system and liver. This can help regulate your metabolism and bowel movements, thus helping your body absorb nutrients and potential leading to weight loss.

How long to wait to eat after drinking lemon water in the morning? ›

1. Drink the juice of one lemon in one cup of warm water first thing in the morning (on an empty stomach). 2. Make sure to wait 30 minutes before eating breakfast, as this will ensure your body gets the most energy and nutrients from the food you eat.

How long does it take for lemon water to start working? ›

How long does it take to get the results? Results such as improvement in digestion and higher energy levels can be seen within one week of regular consumption of warm lemon water.

What happens when you drink lemon water on an empty stomach? ›

In addition, doing it on an empty stomach favours the hydration of the body after having been many hours without hydrating during the night. "It improves intestinal transit and hydrates the colon," says Parada, which is why taking it on an empty stomach can help with constipation.

Who should not drink lemon water in the morning? ›

If you have a history of acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), you should be cautious when consuming lemon water.

Does lemon water detox your liver? ›

It breaks down toxins or excess nutrients in the liver and eliminates those molecules via the kidneys and out into the toilet in your urine. There is no evidence vitamin C helps this. So any claims lemon water detoxes you are untrue. If you really need a detox, you probably need a liver transplant.

How long after lemon water can I have coffee? ›

(Just be sure to rinse with a little plain water to protect your tooth enamel.) Try to wait roughly 20 minutes after drinking the lemon water before having coffee or breakfast. You've gotta let it do it's magic! This is truly one of the simplest things you can immediately start doing for your health.

How much lemon to put in water in the morning? ›

Supplies a healthy dose of vitamin C

Juice half a lemon into your water and you'll add a mere 6 calories to your diet. Plus you'll get more than a sixth of your daily vitamin C, which is needed to protect us from cell damage and repair injury.

Is it better to drink lemon water at night or morning? ›

Again, the choice is ultimately yours regarding whether you drink lemon water a.m. or p.m., as both can pose some benefits. In terms of your nightly routine, Erwine says that sipping on some warm lemon water before bed could have a nice calming, relaxing effect, which could help reduce stress and improve sleep.

Is it better to drink lemon water warm or cold? ›

Drinking it ice cold may hinder the digestive benefits of the lemon water. And it makes your body spend more energy trying to heat it up. But lemon water at warm or room temperature provides you with the most health benefits. It allows the enzymatic and energetic properties of the lemon their full flow.

How many times a week should I drink lemon water? ›

How often you drink lemon water is entirely up to you,” says Kaler. “Many people enjoy a warm glass as a part of their daily morning routine. You can also enjoy lemon water throughout the day to keep hydrated and add flavour to your water.”

What happens when you drink lemon water for 30 days? ›

You may experience a boost in your immune system due to the vitamin C, and may feel more energetic, because of better hydration. If you also follow a balanced diet and engage in regular physical activity, you may also notice some weight loss.

How to prepare lemon water for a flat tummy? ›

Lemon might help reduce the accumulation of belly fat. Add some lemon juice to a glass of warm water and drink it in the morning on an empty stomach.

How long after lemon water can I eat? ›

Normally, for the morning you should have 12oz- 16oz of warm water, preferably filtered water, with the juice of half a lemon, preferably an organic lemon. You should drink it on awakening, on an empty stomach and not eat for 20-30 minutes afterwards.

What happens to your body when you drink lemon water before bed? ›

Hot lemon water may induce relaxation before bed, which could help with sleep. It can also help with general hydration. Lemon contains vitamin C, which is important for several bodily functions. Hot lemon water may provide other benefits, but there is a lack of evidence behind most health claims.

Does lemon water in the morning help lose weight? ›

According to the experts, lemon water could enhance weight loss due to its positive effects on satiety, hydration, and metabolism, but plain water offers similar effects without any negative side effects. If you want to reduce weight, you should not rely solely on this combination.

Does lemon water kick start your metabolism? ›

Both the lemon and water components of lemon water can boost your metabolism. When you drink cooler water, your body expends even more energy to heat it, so drinking a cool glass of lemon water regularly throughout the day could increase your metabolism, leading to weight loss.

What does lemon water in the morning do for your skin? ›

Brightens complexion: Regular consumption of lemon water can impart a natural glow to your skin. Vitamin C promotes skin brightening by reducing the production of melanin, the pigment responsible for dark spots and hyperpigmentation.

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