When it comes to choosing a refreshing beverage, you can't do much better than a glass of water with a squeeze of lemon. Not only is it refreshing, but regular consumption of this drink can lead to better health in several ways. To indulge regularly, simply keep a bowl of lemons by your sink or water dispenser so that you can add a couple of slices whenever you pour yourself a glass.
Plays Role in Weight Loss
Many people don't enjoy the taste of water by itself. Unfortunately, drinking juice, soda and other caloric drinks can lead to weight gain. Adding lemon to your water provides a fresh taste, which may encourage you to drink more of it. Drinking plenty of water is a good thing for your body, as it can facilitate weight loss. In fact, a 2010 study funded by The Institute for Public Health and Water Research and presented at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society demonstrated that dieters who drank water before meals lost an average of 5 more lbs. in a 12-week period than dieters who did not, according to senior study author Brenda Davy, Ph.D.
Diuretic
Drinking water with lemon may seem counterintuitive when it comes to getting rid of excess water in your body, but it can be effective. Lemon has diuretic properties, which means that drinking lemon water can help you to lose some of the bloat you may have from carrying excess water weight. Getting rid of excess water in the body is not only beneficial for cosmetic reasons, however. Using lemon water as a diuretic could help to reduce problems associated with water retention, such as high blood pressure and PMS-related bloating.
Antiviral Properties
Lemon and lime juice has often been added to food and water in developing countries to prevent the spread of disease. Specifically, the acidity of these fruits may prevent the replication of viruses in food and water. A 2000 study published in the journal "Tropical Medicine and International Health" by Amabélia Rodrigues from the Department of Public Health in Guine-Bissau found that lime juice had a protective effect against cholera. Anecdotally, lemon is also known as an antibacterial agent. Sipping on a glass of lemon water could help to destroy bacteria and viruses lurking in the vicinity.
Flavinoids
Lemons provide several citroflavonoids that serve as anti-inflammatories and as a source of vitamin C. Drinking lemon juice with your water might help to relieve minor inflammation, and is a remedy that is completely safe to try. Squeeze an ounce of lemon juice into your water, and you will get approximately 12 mg of vitamin C. Sip on lemon water all day, and you will get as much vitamin C as if you had eaten an orange.The flavonoids in lemon juice also have antimutagenic properties, and may play a role in preventing cancer.
References
- "American Chemical Society"; Clinical Trial Confirms Effectiveness of Simple Appetite Control Method; Brenda Davy, et al.; August 23, 2010
- "PDR for Herbal Medicines"; Bette LaGow, et al.; 2004
- "Tropical Medicine and International Health";
- United States Department of Agriculture: Nutrient Data Laboratory
- "Planta Medica"; Inhibition of Bacterial Mutagenesis by Citrus Flavonoids; Mario Calomme, et al.; 1996
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