It’s been a while since cut down on soft drinks and forced myself to drink more water. A former colleague told me he has been drinking lemon water for over a year. He explained the health benefits of lemon water, like helping digestion and keeping skin clear.
Google “health benefits of lemon water” and a ton of websites will pop up and reveal every minute detail of its effects on the body. At first, I was skeptical because I’m really not that much of a health buff (aside from the regular things I need to know when I exercise) but I too tried this citrus-y drink.
So what’s with lemon water?
For health-conscious people, lemon water is an elixir, providing that affordable youth-inducing mix. As part of the citrus fruit family, lemons are packed with vitamin C to help boost your immune system. Aside from that, it has a ton of other vitamins and essential nutrients. The infographic below from Dr. Axe lists some other benefits, like providing vitamin C and rejuvenating skin.
A lot of health blogs out there give similar accounts but what I find interesting is that hot lemon water can be a substitute for coffee or tea. I know it’ll be hard for caffeine lovers to shy away from their favorite drinks but lemon water is said to improve energy levels. Unlike caffeinated products, lemon water doesn’t dry the skin.
All good, no bad?
Ok, the benefits outweigh the side effects of drinking lemon water. Lemon juice is acidic and it can erode tooth enamel. One way to reduce it is to drink plain water afterward so that the juice doesn’t stay in the teeth.
Other accounts claim that lemon water can flush out toxins in the body but a nutritionist said there’s no evidence yet that it has detoxifying effects.
But anyway, lemon water is a nice and healthy departure from the usual mix we drink. Aside from being affordable, the high vitamin C content in lemons alone is simply irresistible and brings a yummy flavor to plain and unpalatable water.
Photos: 821764, kirahoffmann, and congerdesign via Pixabay; infographic from DrAxe.com
This post first appeared on beijingkids.