I’m a fan of fruit-infused water and love to experiment with different fruits and vegetables to make my water tasty (and pretty!) One of my favorite go-to’s is simply adding lemon to water. In the past, I would occasionally enjoy having lemon with my water, but my intake was never consistent until now. Over the 4 few months, I’ve started a new routine of having lemon in my water everyday. So far, the benefits have been great. And the best part is, it’s SO feasible, simple and cheap to do. Let’s talk about claims we’ve heard about having lemon water and whether they are true or not, based on my experience of having it everyday for the past 4 months!
Claim #1: It aids in digestion. Yes! I’ve had less GI symptoms such as bloating and constipation since starting this lemon water routine. Lemons have been talked about as detoxifying agents. The flavonoids in lemon and other citrus fruits aid the acid in the stomach in breaking down food, which can help improve overall digestion. And the water itself helps move things through the digestive tract to help prevent constipation.
Claim #2: Lemon is a good source of Vitamin C. It can help prevent colds and reduce the duration of colds. I can attest to this as well! I used to regularly take EmergenC packets for its high Vitamin C content until I started taking lemon water everyday. I’ve found that it’s a great alternative without the added sugar or artificial taste and I haven’t gotten a cold in a really long time (*knock on wood*). When I have had a scratchy throat that may be indicating a cold about to come through, I would take at least 16 oz of warm lemon water and I would feel much better the next day. No scratchy throat, no cold.
Claim #3: It helps your skin. I really believe drinking lemon water everyday has helped clear up my skin over the past few months. I started to notice slight improvements, including less acne, less dullness in my complexion and possibly, even my mild rosacea seemed to have calmed down. The reason why lemons are good for the skin is they’re a good source of antioxidants, which amazing natural components found in plants that can prevent cellular damage and fight free radical that eventually lead to wrinkles, spots and other aging skin problems. You’ll notice that many skin serums contain antioxidants like vitamin C, and why skincare experts always advise you to eat more antioxidant-rich foods.
Claim #4: Lemons can boost mood and energy. This is a really interesting claim and I was so curious to see if this is true. The fresh citrus flavor seems to help awaken me when I’m feeling tired. The smell alone is always a nice scent. Thanks to lemon water, I can skip the coffee for a moment.
Julie Tang Nutrition 