When Was the Last Time You Took a Sip of Water?
Many people nowadays forget to drink water due to simple negligence or because it does not appeal to their taste buds as much as other drinks such as soda or juice. Sodas and juices can indeed help you stay hydrated, and yes, they are exploding with a variety of flavours; however, they are unfortunately not the healthiest option.
What if I told you that there was a way by which you could both stay hydrated and not compromise with your taste buds?
YES! You Read That Right!
The solution to this issue is drinking lemon-infused water! Not only does it keep you hydrated and your tastebuds satisfied, but it also has multiple health benefits.
Image is courtesy of Julia Zolotova via Pexels.
So, without further ado, here are some reasons as to why drinking lemon infused water is the right choice for you!
Benefits
1. It Is a Good Source of Vitamin C
Lemons are citrus fruits high in vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage.
2. Aids Digestion
Drinking warm, lemon-infused water in the morning when you wake up can act as a laxative and help prevent constipation by getting your digestive system moving.
3. Improves Skin Quality
Vitamin C in lemons can lessen the damage by UV rays from the sun. It can reduce wrinkles in skin and hydrate your skin to help counter aging.
Recipe
Now that you know some benefits of drinking this fruity beverage, here is how you can make it yourself.
Ingredients:
Warm or cold water (use filtered water for best results)
½ of a lemon
Procedure:
Squeeze ½ a lemon into 8 oz of warm or cold water and enjoy!
The process to make lemon infused water is so simple and easy, and not at all time consuming!
If you would still like to boost the taste of your lemon water, you may want to consider adding a few mint leaves, a slice of fresh ginger, or 1 tsp of maple syrup/honey.
Image is courtesy of Thirdman via Pexels.
Common Myths
Given all the benefits, there are also many myths surrounding the benefits of lemon water.
1. It Helps You Lose Weight
Lemons contain fibres called pectin which can help reduce your appetite. Also, lemon water is a fantastic alternative to other sugary drinks, and it does not have many calories, if not none at all. So, while drinking lemon water can certainly help limit your calorie intake, there is no proof that it can guarantee weight loss.
2. Lemon Water Can Prevent Cancer
Many people believe that consuming lemon water can increase the alkalinity of your body and, therefore, not allow cancer cells to thrive. However, both these claims are false as lemon water does not have an effect on the alkalinity of your body, and the foods you consume do not affect cancer cells.
3. Lemon Water Assists In Detox
Water of any kind can undoubtedly assist in facilitating bowel movements, and therefore there is no evidence that lemon water can accomplish this task any better than regular drinking water.
References
McDermott, A. (2019). 7 Ways Your Body Benefits from Lemon Water. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/benefits-of-lemon-water#how-to-make
“Lemon water 101: What are the benefits of drinking it?” Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318662#risks
Article Author: Twisha Bhatt
Article Editors: Victoria Huang, Stephanie Sahadeo