Are you feeling thirsty? Instead of reaching for a sugary drink, try a simple glass of water. However, plain water can sometimes taste boring. If you're looking for a burst of flavor in every sip, try adding a fresh lemon wedge or two to your water. Not only can lemon water improve the taste of your H2O, but it can also provide several health benefits.
Adding an ounce of lemon juice to your water can reportedly yield over 10% of your daily vitamin C requirement. Lemons are also high in other nutrients such as B vitamins, potassium, and folate that can be beneficial for reducing inflammation, maintaining healthy blood pressure, aiding in muscle recovery and repair, repairing cell damage, supporting the immune system, and even promoting weight loss.
Curious about the extent of lemon water's potential effects on the body, one individual tried drinking lemon water in lieu of plain H2O each day. The results were surprising. Drinking lemon water with the juice, pulp, and peel of the lemon can be worth the squeeze.
1) The Approach Used in the Study
This article outlines a 30-day experiment in which the author drank 8-12 cups of lemon water every day, starting at 9:00 am, to see the potential effects on their body. The author followed recommended guidelines for daily fluid intake for women and used measured mason jars to maintain consistency. For every cup of water, the author added one ounce of lemon juice and 1/4 of the lemon, including the pulp and rind.
The author aimed to drink at least 4 cups of lemon water between 9:00 am and noon and continued drinking throughout the day until bedtime, averaging around 10 cups of lemon water daily. Aside from adding lemon water to their routine, the author maintained their usual habits.
During the experiment, the author noticed some subtle and noticeable changes in their body.
2) The Benefits of Lemon Water on Hair, Nails, and Skin Health
Maintaining healthy hair, nails, and skin can be challenging with age, and often requires extra effort. However, incorporating lemon water into your daily routine can provide surprising benefits in just 30 days.
Vitamin C is known to support healthy collagen production, which plays an important role in skin, nail, and hair quality. After drinking 8-12 cups of lemon water per day for a month, I noticed significant improvements in these areas.
I typically pay close attention to the rate of my hair growth, and I was pleasantly surprised to measure nearly a half inch of new growth at my roots by the end of the month. Additionally, my nails, which are typically brittle and prone to breaking during the winter, appeared more durable and required less frequent filing or trimming.
Most notably, I observed significant improvements in my skin's tone and texture. My complexion appeared visibly even and smooth, and I did not experience a single breakout during this time. In fact, a stranger even approached me at the grocery store to comment on my skin's brightness and even tone, asking me about the products I used. I proudly shared that my secret was "nothing but a little SPF and lots of lemon water."
3) Improved Portion Control and Blood Pressure
Maintaining portion control has always been a challenge for the writer, even though they have always been a healthy eater. The writer has a tendency to serve more than they can eat, which leads to food wastage. However, the writer noticed that they started to feel less ravenous as they drank more lemon water. As a result, they did not feel the need to indulge in every dish that came their way. This led to feeling less bloated and uncomfortable after meals. Additionally, the writer did not experience any significant weight loss during the month-long experiment, but they managed to lose a little under two pounds without making any significant changes to their diet. They were also able to maintain their blood pressure below 122/83 mmHg, which is significant since they usually have high blood pressure. The only downside was the frequent trips to the bathroom to urinate.
4) Reduced Muscle Cramps and Faster Recovery Time
I used to experience muscle cramps at least once every few weeks, but while engaging in my lemon water experiment, I didn't experience any charley horses. I also have bad bouts of PMS, including cramps and bloating, which did not happen this time. Additionally, I fell down a steep set of stairs toward the end of my 30-day experiment, and although my back made contact with several steps, I didn't see any visible bruises, and the tenderness and pain I felt had disappeared within 48 hours.
I wasn't sure how much drinking more lemon water influenced my quick recovery from the fall until I spoke with Dr. Beth McCampbell, MD. According to her, the increased hydration from lemon water could have made my tissue less fragile and less prone to bruising. This is similar to how facials aim to plump up and hydrate the skin under our eyes to prevent dark circles.
In summary, lemon water's hydrating abilities seemed to help prevent muscle cramps and reduce PMS symptoms. Additionally, it may have contributed to my quick recovery from a fall by hydrating my body's tissues.
5) Boosted Energy Levels
I was initially skeptical about the idea that lemon water could give me an energy boost in the morning since I tend to be a slow starter. However, I found that drinking lemon water did help me feel more alert and energetic. While it didn't compare to the jolt of caffeine from a cup of coffee or tea, I noticed that I was drinking less of those throughout the day, which likely also contributed to my better blood pressure readings. Additionally, I found that I had fewer post-lunch crashes and felt more sustained energy throughout the day as I continued to drink lemon water.
6) The Benefits of Lemon Water in Encouraging Hydration
It may seem obvious, but adding lemon to my water helped me stay more consistently hydrated during my 30-day experiment. We've all heard that the best drink for hydration is water, and since our bodies are made up of about 60% water, it's no surprise that drinking enough of it is crucial for our physical and mental wellbeing. However, I've always found it easy to overlook my daily water intake, treating it as a routine chore like brushing my teeth or washing my hands.
Drinking lemon water every day for a month changed my perspective. By aiming for the recommended daily intake of water and adding lemon for an extra boost of vitamin C and potassium, I became more aware and accountable of my daily hydration habits. This experience has given me a newfound appreciation for the power of staying hydrated and hopefully, it will inspire others to reassess their own habits too.