Who knew there were so many benefits to drinking lemon water?

Weight Loss

Lemons contain pectin, a type of fiber that makes you feel full longer. Drinking lemon water throughout the day can help you keep the urge to snack at bay, making it easier to lose those few extra pounds!

Detox

Lemon juice is similar to digestive juices, so when you drink lemon juice, your body thinks it is digestive juice and your liver produces bile. This ensures food moving through the digestive tract smoothly. Also, the acid in lemon juice causes you to take more time to digest and absorb more of the nutrients in the food you eat. It also benefits enzyme function and stimulates your liver, which flushes out toxins. (Just a warning, you’ll probably be using the restroom a little more.) Plus, if you drink lemon water regularly, it decreases the acidity in your body and removes the uric acid in your joints, leading to less inflammation.

Just drink a glass 20 to 30 minutes before you eat breakfast for best results!

Vitamins

Vitamin C: Lemons have lots of it, which is important to your immunity. Vitamin C helps in the production of white blood cells and fights off colds and the flu!

Potassium: A vitamin great for heart, brain and nerve health.

Lemons also contain calcium, iron, magnesium, fiber, and protein.

Skin

Along with strengthening your immune system, the vitamin C in lemons also fights skin damage and helps with the production of collagen, which makes your skin look fresh, radiant, and wrinkle-free. (Also, as a bonus, it freshens breath!)

Mood and Energy

We all know we get our energy from our food. Lemon water contains negatively charged ions, which, when digested, lead to an energy boost! Sipping water throughout the day keeps you hydrated, which fights off fatigue and headaches. Also, just the simple scent of lemons helps decrease stress! So, try switching it out for your regular coffee and see how you feel!

Lemon juice, diluted with however much water you want, can be greatly beneficial to your health. For a general rule of thumb, aim for half a lemon’s worth of juice if you weigh less than 150 pounds, and a full lemon if you are over 150. (Personally, I like to also add a few strawberries with the lemon as well.)

Side note: while lemon water is great for you, it can be damaging to your tooth enamel, so try not to brush your teeth right after drinking lemon water.

Just in time for summer, and a perfect reason to make all the lemon-flavored desserts!

Keep hydrated, and enjoy!