To some, it’s a habit and a way of life. To others, it’s all about the weight loss goals and probably the benefits that come with drinking lemon water for weight loss.

Whatever the case, let’s all of us agree to the fact that drinking water alone is not that much appealing. Right? The flavour lemon gives to water will make you enjoy your visits to your doctor. Do you know why? They will be full of quotes like ” I see that you are now taking my advice and taking more water.”

This article explores all you may need to know about lemon water for weight loss. Read along to find out

Lemon water has a lot of benefits including, but not limited to; keeping you hydrated, it’s low in calories, boosts metabolism, improves digestion and helps you feel fuller.

Can I drink lemon water every day?

Regardless of whether you are trying to lose weight or not, drinking a warm glass of lemon water each morning is very beneficial to your health and weight loss goals.

From boosting your energy levels, improving the mental concentration and promoting detoxification. The benefits of lemon water are countless which is why it’s worth considering at the start your day.  For its health and hydrating reasons, it’s a great thing to have a glass of lemon water every morning.

Benefits of drinking lemon water for weight loss

Lemon water is a must-have in your weight loss arsenal.

From a number of people replacing their morning coffee/tea with lemon water to almost all restaurants serving it habitually, there’s no doubt what this drink can add to your health. Here are some of the benefits we get from drinking lemon water.

1. It is low in calories

Lemon water is a very low-calorie drink. This means that if you replace most of your sugary drinks like; supermarket juices, soda and others of similar kinds, you could significantly reduce your calorie intake which eventually fuels your weight loss efforts.

Think about it; It is assumed that half a lemon squeezed into a glass of water will only have about 6 calories. This is pretty impressive!

2. It will keep you Hydrated

Water has always been the best drink for hydration which the right electrolytes need to keep the body in balance. Adding the lemon gives it the flavour suitable enough to ease drinking for anyone who thinks drinking water is boring.

Drinking water (staying hydrated) is very essential for weight loss, which means lemon water will give you as much of the benefits as water will do.

3. Boost Metabolism

Many studies have gone ahead to prove that metabolism is boosted by drinking lemon water. A high metabolic rate is very important for anyone looking to lose extra weight. You can read a detailed article on how metabolism affects weight loss.

Therefore kick start your day by glass or two of this beverage to enjoy its rich advantages aimed towards weight loss.

4. Boosts Digestion

You must be thinking; “Well digestion and metabolism are almost the same” Hold on a minute! Let’s examine the Wikipedia definition of digestion:

Digestion is the breakdown of large insoluble food molecules into small water-soluble food molecules so that they can be absorbed into the watery blood plasma. Digestion also involves the expulsion of waste food via the intestines. Lemon water does actually help this process smoothen.

To prevent constipation (caused by indigestion), drinking lemon water each morning will be a great help. Drinking lukewarm lemon water when you rise in the morning helps detoxify and cleanse your digestive system. This will jump-start the digestive system and ease the digestion of any foods.

5. It can help you feel more full

Drinking lemon water before or even after meals helps you feel fuller. While you feel fuller, you will not be able to take in more calories which in turn helps you lose weight. The good thing is; you can always drink as much lemon water as you can, which is different from those other sugary supermarket drinks.

6. It will give you every other benefit that water gives you.

 

A powerful quote from Rumi

 

Lemon water is actually water that has been mixed with lemon. It is just that plain and simple. You can make this at home, so there is no need to go buy it from the supermarket as it might be infused with some other chemicals which are always and most times harmful. ( Like killing you softly)

Water is the basis of human life, which means that your body will not function without water in the right quantity.  Lemon water will help you get all the benefits of drinking water, without ‘much damage’ to your body. (lemon water could erode your tooth enamel, it’s advisable to drink with a straw.

You can read about; Benefits of drinking water for weight loss

Other benefits of lemon water

Skin quality

The vitamin C in the lemons gives off an effect to the skin reducing wrinkling, aging, and damage from the sun. Drinking lemon water will keep you looking younger due to its effects on the skin.

Source to Vitamin C

Citrus fruits for example lemons are high in vitamin C –an important nutrient to protecting cells from damaging radicals. Even if the lemons don’t come in 1st on the list of citrus fruits but they contain a high percentage of vitamin C to affect your health positively.

Vitamin C can limit the chances of the common cold and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and lower blood pressure.

Improve your Concentration

A warm glass of lemon water in the morning, in whatever preference you opt for, will give the brain boost and greatly improve your concentration levels.

Prevention of Kidney stones

The acid in the lemons helps to prevent kidney stones. This lessens the acidity in the urine due to the citrate component and could break the small stones. The water will as well be helpful in the flushing out of the stones.

Breath freshness

I’m not certain if you have ever tried to get rid of any strong odour, lemons come handy at this. It’s not any different when you drink a glass of lemon water after eating foods with strong smells for example fish.

This will give you good breath. If you take lemon water, it can stimulate Silva. This also prevents a dry mouth which is another cause of bad breath.

Is lemon water bad for your teeth

 

A picture of a woman with mouth wide open

 

Is it true that this highly recommended lemon water for weight loss could be a danger to your teeth? Let’s find out.

The lemons, which happen to be a source of vitamin C, have lemon juice that is highly acidic and causes erosion in the tooth enamel over a period of time. Also, whenever you apply more sugar to your lemon water, you increase the risk of tooth decay.

Erosion to the tooth is simply the loss of the tooth enamel which is due to an acid attack. When the enamel is eroded, it exposes the dentin –a part which in case gets in contact with certain foods/drinks of varying temperatures may cause tooth sensitivity. The teeth may appear indented and yellower and also feel coarse to the tongue.

To counteract the reaction of the acidity of lemon, take the lemon water when warm or use a straw to bypass the teeth. Rinse your mouth immediately after drinking lemon water to remove any acid that may remain on the surface of the tooth.  Don’t brush your teeth right away as this could worsen the situation. Give them at least an hour before brushing. Take serious caution because the reaction leading to dental erosion is irreversible.

When should I drink lemon water to lose weight

While using lemon water for weight loss, it’s important to ask yourself such questions as; when, why and how. These questions have all been answered in this article but will all depend on if you take action or not.

Back to the question; When is it more effective to drink lemon water? Most nutritionists recommend taking a glass of warm lemon water first thing in the morning when the body is still dehydrated. This is a way to fully make use of the power of this drink and start your day on the right note.

This will as well boost your immune system due to the presence of vitamin C in it, thus ensuring good health for the skin and boosting your immunity.

Does lemon water flatten your stomach?

It’s extremely vital to know that reducing abdominal fat or flattening your stomach is not all about doing hardcore exercises but has a lot to do with your general health.

Drinking lemon water alone isn’t sufficient enough to flatten your stomach either, but part of a diet to keep your abdomen in shape. Lemons, like other citrus fruits, contain acids, vitamin C and minerals like iron, all which aid weight loss.

Lemons have a pectin fibre content that fights heavy food cravings. This, in turn, reduces your calories intake which is essential for calories deficit to lose weight.

Take lukewarm lemon water on an empty stomach each morning to accelerate your weight loss experience. It’s very necessary as well to reduce on the carbohydrates intake like wheat, and sugar if you are looking to flatten your stomach.

It will also be beneficial to increase your protein intake and have regular physical exercises like walking. This works towards overall body fat loss which in turn helps you flatten your tummy.

How does lemon water reduce belly fat

Regular drinking of lemon water will hydrate your body, promote fullness, boost the metabolism, and most importantly increase weight loss. It’s a tasty drink with a low-calorie count which is really key to achieving your weight loss goals.

When battling belly fat most people concentrate on the abdominal area because they badly want to kick this fat off. However, this is unrealistic and may not be beneficial in the long run.

It is always better to create workout routines that target your entire body for all-round fitness. It’s okay to put a little bit more effort on the belly, but not forgetting the rest of the body.

Researches have agreed to the fact that increased drinking of water (whether lemon water or not), especially before meals, will give the body the restorative power to lose body weight and fat over a period of time regardless of the diet and exercising.

Lemon water with its detoxifying properties will clean up the liver. A clean liver works better to metabolize fat hence not storing it in the stomach.

Read about: What causes belly fat in females?

Does lemon water detoxify the liver?

Adding lemon to your water will help to give it a flavour that will increase your water intake. This will help you reach your desired goals of weight loss and also boost your immunity in the long run.

Lemon water is high in Vitamin C than it is in fibre. This boosts the immune system and also cleans the liver. A warm glass of lemon water each morning will detoxify the liver. This is the best remedy to those heavy alcohol consumers that have suffered from the damaged liver.

Side effects of drinking lemon water for the weight loss

 

Side effects of drinking lemon water for weight loss

 

Drinking water with lemon, or simply put as lemon water, has an added kick to the water that’s undeniably good. This in most cases helps people struggling to drink the required amount of water per day.

Due to the acidic nature of lemon water, there are side effects to drinking too much of it. Let’s take a quick dive at some of these.

Tooth Decay

Continued consumption of lemon water will lead to demineralization of the tooth enamel. This is mainly associated with the acidity of the lemon.

Researches have come out to prove and display the corrosive effects of lemon water to the teeth which are actually of a similar effect as drinking soft drinks. The continuous acid attack on teeth can erode the enamel causing sensitivity to cold and hot foods.

Dentists go on to advise regular brushing of your teeth (at least twice a day) to nullify the erosion effects. Alternatively, use a straw whenever drinking lemon water to avoid tooth decay.

Canker Sores

The acidity (to be exact –citric acid) of lemon could give rise to mouth ulcers, worsen sores and even cause more. It’s highly recommended not to drink, or take, citrus fruits for example lemons when you have canker sores.

Heartburn

With excess consumption of lemon water (general emphasis on citrus fruits), researches have noted a cause of heartburns.  It’s assumed that lemons can awaken pepsin –a stomach enzyme, thus leading to heartburns.

The reflux, a process where acids from the stomach move upwards to the esophagus due to improper functioning of the esophageal sphincter, is mainly due to lemons.

It’s also stated that it may worsen peptic ulcers and as well bring to life GERD symptoms. However, it’s of good practice to consult with your doctor before concluding that the lemon water is the absolute cause.

Dehydration & increased urination

There has not been researched or study to have a confirmatory stand about this. Drinking a lot of lemon water tends to increase the times you visit the washrooms. Lemons constitute vitamin C or ascorbic acid, which has diuretic properties. The urine excretion by the kidneys is aided by that, thus getting rid of excess fluid and sodium quickly.

However, regular lemon water with a moderate amount of lemon juice or slices of lemon to the water may have a diuretic effect in some instances.

Still, then it should be noted that the increased urination is actually an outcome of drinking water, not a lemon. Therefore, whenever your urination is a bit alarming and causing a dehydration feeling, its best to consult with your doctor to get to the bottom of the matter rather than quickly narrowing down to lemon.

Migraine

Lemons can trigger migraines through an allergic reaction hence it’s advisable to keep away from lemons if you usually experience headaches or migraines.